You are spending my money! Just picked one up for $37 in good condition from reputable dealer. The images you had were amazing, and so I got one for my Nikkormats and my F2.
Hi Jules, to be honnest I was really delighted of the quality of the old non AI 105mm f2.5 : short , fast and sharp and Very handy to shoot with my Zf. but when I retry this one I was not so pleased. I found a lack of contrast on it and not an exquisite sharpness. So I definitely prefer the 105. About 135mm I recently discovered and old sigma manual lens which opens to 1.8… so can be the plena for not rich people :). It’s sharpness in the center is quite surprising full open and even if it’s large it s not as big as the plena. I will make some bokeh shots with it.
I recently bought this lens with the hood at a thrift store by waiting for the 1/2 half off date. I will need to count the blades. It fits my Nikon FE auto camera but does not mount on my D70s. and I have a Nikon to Canon EF adaptor, so it works okay. It does have a slight haze behind the front element, and I am trying to get the ring loose so I can clean it. For pictures of outdoor flowers, I don't see any negative effects as they are already soft. I also got the 24mm pre-Ai lens at the same time.
It’s funny how many lenses you review that I own! Anyway, this version (exactly the one I have) is the earlier Sonnar optical formula. Not only did they change aperture blade configurations, but also the optical formula. I also have later 135mm NIKKORS, including the excellent AIS version. Optically, that lens is superior to the Sonnar version, but then the bokeh and overall rendering for portraits might make this version special. It would be interesting to have you compare real portraits with this versus your new Plena…just for kicks :)
@@JaredTremper I will eventually, but I’ve done so much on the Plena that I figured people are sick of videos on that lens. Thanks for watching and your comments.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 perhaps, but I think it could be really interesting and impactful to compare and contrast Nikon’s first 135mm for SLR versus their latest and greatest…and maybe to say how and when the vintage one might be used in concert with the old. You could do a whole series of Nikon’s first SLR lenses versus their Z mount counterparts :)
I also have that lens and have so far only used it on my F & F2. Mine is also in excellent shape and is a 7 blade model. I have used my other F mount lenses with the FTZ on my Z7 and have been happy with the results but I'm not sure if I've used the 135 on it. At 72 my memory is a little fuzzy at times. I do like your memo idea as the biggest lie we tell ourselves is "I'll remember that"
I’ve got the 135/2.8 Q that someone AI’d with a file and it works great. I’ve also got the 135/3.5 AI-S and it seems to be just a bit more contrasts. I love both lenses and in many ways they seem to give the 105/2.5 AI-S a run for its money! Thanks for the video, Jules!
One of my favorite non-Ai Nikkor lenses. Several years ago I won an auction for one of these for $12.50. It arrived in the original Nikon box, in the Nikkor plastic bubble with the original paperwork and was absolutely pristine.. it had never been mounted on a camera before. I am keeping it in it’s bubble for now! I like my 85mm f:1.8 for lower light portraits and the 105/2.5 & this 135 for brighter condition portraits.
I own 3 pre ai lenses and I love them all. My favorite is the 105mm f/2.5 re ai. Great for portrait and it is very sharp. I usually have the 35mm f/2 on either my ZF or Z6ii for walking around.
I have 3 versions of the 105 2.5. I love them all. Also have the 35mm2.0. Most of the Nikon manual focus prime lenses are great. Thanks for watching and your comments.
@@mikaelwerner1 Thank you Mike. I’ve had it for a few years but never got around to using it. I’m very impressed with it, but I prefer auto focus lenses with subjects that may move.
You are spending my money! Just picked one up for $37 in good condition from reputable dealer. The images you had were amazing, and so I got one for my Nikkormats and my F2.
@@oldfilmguy9413 Sorry to cause you to spend money. It’s well worth the money. Enjoy. Thanks for your comments.
heyy just found out your channel ! I'm a fan of nikon lenses as well . keep on posting sir !
@@SayaAmirulSyamim I will. Thanks for subscribing.
Hi Jules, to be honnest I was really delighted of the quality of the old non AI 105mm f2.5 : short , fast and sharp and Very handy to shoot with my Zf. but when I retry this one I was not so pleased. I found a lack of contrast on it and not an exquisite sharpness. So I definitely prefer the 105. About 135mm I recently discovered and old sigma manual lens which opens to 1.8… so can be the plena for not rich people :). It’s sharpness in the center is quite surprising full open and even if it’s large it s not as big as the plena. I will make some bokeh shots with it.
@@philmtx3fr I need to compare the 105 and 135 side by side. The 105 is the one with the great reputation, so you are probably right.
I recently bought this lens with the hood at a thrift store by waiting for the 1/2 half off date. I will need to count the blades. It fits my Nikon FE auto camera but does not mount on my D70s. and I have a Nikon to Canon EF adaptor, so it works okay. It does have a slight haze behind the front element, and I am trying to get the ring loose so I can clean it. For pictures of outdoor flowers, I don't see any negative effects as they are already soft. I also got the 24mm pre-Ai lens at the same time.
@@robertsaunders5740 Thanks for watching and your comments.
Pretty amazing the level of sharpness that comes from such an early lens. Thanks again for the video.
@@leod1671 Yes. Nikon sure knows how to make lenses.
It’s funny how many lenses you review that I own! Anyway, this version (exactly the one I have) is the earlier Sonnar optical formula. Not only did they change aperture blade configurations, but also the optical formula. I also have later 135mm NIKKORS, including the excellent AIS version. Optically, that lens is superior to the Sonnar version, but then the bokeh and overall rendering for portraits might make this version special. It would be interesting to have you compare real portraits with this versus your new Plena…just for kicks :)
@@JaredTremper I will eventually, but I’ve done so much on the Plena that I figured people are sick of videos on that lens. Thanks for watching and your comments.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 perhaps, but I think it could be really interesting and impactful to compare and contrast Nikon’s first 135mm for SLR versus their latest and greatest…and maybe to say how and when the vintage one might be used in concert with the old. You could do a whole series of Nikon’s first SLR lenses versus their Z mount counterparts :)
I also have that lens and have so far only used it on my F & F2. Mine is also in excellent shape and is a 7 blade model. I have used my other F mount lenses with the FTZ on my Z7 and have been happy with the results but I'm not sure if I've used the 135 on it. At 72 my memory is a little fuzzy at times. I do like your memo idea as the biggest lie we tell ourselves is "I'll remember that"
@@sophietucker1255 Thanks Sophie. I’m a little younger than you but still forget sometimes. I love the memo feature.
I’ve got the 135/2.8 Q that someone AI’d with a file and it works great. I’ve also got the 135/3.5 AI-S and it seems to be just a bit more contrasts. I love both lenses and in many ways they seem to give the 105/2.5 AI-S a run for its money! Thanks for the video, Jules!
@@tsdelaney They are all great lenses. Thanks for watching.
Love mine! It's also had a factory Ai conversion.
@@ianhand5006 I love it as well, but prefer auto focus with telephoto lenses for subjects that may move. Thanks for watching.
One of my favorite non-Ai Nikkor lenses. Several years ago I won an auction for one of these for $12.50. It arrived in the original Nikon box, in the Nikkor plastic bubble with the original paperwork and was absolutely pristine.. it had never been mounted on a camera before. I am keeping it in it’s bubble for now! I like my 85mm f:1.8 for lower light portraits and the 105/2.5 & this 135 for brighter condition portraits.
@@flyingo You got a great deal. I paid 40.00 for mine, and it also came in the box with the bubble, shade and front cap.
I own 3 pre ai lenses and I love them all. My favorite is the 105mm f/2.5 re ai. Great for portrait and it is very sharp. I usually have the 35mm f/2 on either my ZF or Z6ii for walking around.
I have 3 versions of the 105 2.5. I love them all. Also have the 35mm2.0. Most of the Nikon manual focus prime lenses are great. Thanks for watching and your comments.
Great review Jules! I totally agree. It's a wonderful lens in every way and I use mine a lot both on aps-c and my F2 and FA.
@@mikaelwerner1 Thank you Mike. I’ve had it for a few years but never got around to using it. I’m very impressed with it, but I prefer auto focus lenses with subjects that may move.
I have the same lens!!! Its amazing!!! 🇦🇷👏👍🤙
@@arielgajda3335 Yes it is, but so are most Nikkor manual focus prime lenses. Thanks for watching.
I have the 135mm 2.8. It looks quite similar. Didn't use it for a couple of years though.
Thank you for the video, beautiful pictures. Makes me wanna go out and take pictures ❤
@@starscream25 Thanks for watching and your comments. It’s always the right time to go out and take pictures.
hmm.. no wonder the 9 blade version is more expensive..