We’re always REALLY excited when a new Zeiss lens comes out, and Zeiss just released a 135mm lens that continues their long tradition of high quality, professional grade lenses. We were able to take a quick look at it at Photo Plus and test it out on the 5D Mk II.
Tech Specs
Taken from Zeiss’s product page
Technical Specifications:
| Focal length | 135 mm |
| Aperture range | f/2,0 – f/22 |
| Focusing range | 0,80 m (2.62 ft) – ∞ |
| Number of elements/groups | 11/8 |
| Angular field, diag./horiz./vert. | 18,7° / 15,6° / 10,5° |
| Coverage at close range | 145 x 96 mm (5.71 x 3.78″) |
| Image ratio at close range | 1:4 |
| Filter thread | M77 x 0,75 |
| Dimensions (with caps) | ZF.2: 128 mm (5.03″) ZE: 130 mm (5.12″) |
| Weight | ZF.2: 920g (2.03 lbs) ZE: 930 g (2.05 lbs) |
| Camera mounts | F Mount (ZF.2) EF Mount (ZE) |
Ergonomics
Zeiss always makes really well-built lenses and the 135mm is no exception. The action is smooth and precise, and the fit and finish are superb. You will actually enjoy having to manually focus your lens.
As you can see, the barrel extends quite a ways when focusing, revealing distance marks that extend the entire length of the barrel. You’re going to have to crank it quite a bit to reach the other end of the focus distance, but it’s also very precise.
The lens isn’t extremely heavy in the hand despite the all metal build. There is a lens hood for the product as well, but Zeiss didn’t have it available on display at the show.
Example Shots
We only had time to pop off one or two shots, but from what you can see you get an excellent creamy bokeh that just begs you to shoot wide open.
First Impression
As a slightly long portrait lens or for non-macro closeups the Zeiss 135mm f/2.0 is an upper class contender. It is super sharp with the typical micro-contrast that Zeiss optics give, and it also provides a clinically clean and beautiful look that is valued by many photographers willing to pay top dollar for what they put in front of their camera sensor. In fact, when a Zeiss lens is put on a Canon body, it only seems like the white balancing right out of the camera just becomes better vs actual Canon glass. We’re looking forward to putting this one through its paces.
Additional reporting was done by Chris Gampat
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