Nikon 135mm f/3.5
(1977-1986)
© 2008 KenRockwell.com

Nikon Nikkor 135mm f/3.5 AI. enlarge. You ought to be able to find them used at Adorama.

January 2008

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Introduction     top

Intro   Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

This was Nikon's cheapest telephoto lens for many years. It is the discount alternative to the 135mm f/2.8 AI-s and exotic 135mm f/2. This 135mm f/3.5 may be inexpensive, but it's still built for decades of continuous 24/7 professional use, unlike the dinkier 135mm f/2.8 Series E.

The Nikon 135mm f/3.5 has extremely high image quality and works wonderfully on the Nikon D3.

Nikon 135mm f/3.5 AI at f/5.6.

Compatibility

On the D2, D3, D200, D300 and F6, use the "Non-CPU Lens Data" menu option to input 135mm and f/3.5. This gives full matrix metering and EXIF data, and finder read-out of set aperture. It works great in aperture-preferred as well as manual modes on these cameras.

It won't couple well to the cheaper digital (D80 and below) and cheaper film cameras (N80 and below). It works perfectly every professional film camera (F, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6), with Matrix metering on the FA, F4 and F6.

See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details on your camera. Read down the "AI, AI-s"column for this lens.

Nikon 135mm f/3.5 AI.

Production History

Nikon has been making 135mm f/3.5 lenses since 1950; longer than Nikon has been making SLRs. This rangefinder lens had 4 elements in three groups.

The first SLR 135mm f/3.5 came out with the Nikon F in 1959. It also was a 4 element, 3 group design.

Another 4 element, 3 group design came out in 1969 and was made through 1977.

The newest multicoated, 4 element, 4 group design (as seen in this lens) was made from 1977 and was available new until about 1986.

There have been numerous mechanical variations. The AI version seen here was made from 1977 through 1981. The newer, but optically identical, AI-s version replaced it in 1981.

In June 1986 at bottom NYC discount prices, the f/3.5 AI-s version sold new for only $70, while the 135mm f/2.8 AI-s sold for $170 and the 135mm f/2 AI-s sold for $410. General consumer-price inflation, excluding the huge increase in the value of the Yen versus the US Dollar, these prices would be double today in 2008.

Nikon has made about 400,000 F-mount 135mm f/3.5 lenses. Of these, 100,000 were AI like this one, and 20,000 were AI-s.

Specifications    top

Intro   Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

Name: Nikon calls this the Nikon Nikkor 135mm f/3.5 AI.

Focal Length: 135mm. Used on a DX camera it gives angles of view similar to what a 206mm lens would give on an FX or 35mm film camera. See also Crop Factor.

Optics: 4 elements in 4 groups. Multicoated. Traditional spherical design.

Diaphragm: Classic Nikon 7 blades, stopping down to f/32.

Close Focus: 4.5 feet (1.3m).

Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 1:7.5.

Nikon 135mm f/3.5 AI focus panel.

Depth-of Field Scale? Yes.

Infra-Red Focus Index? Yes.

Filter Thread: 52mm, Nikon's standard since 1959.

Size: 3.211" extension from flange (focused at infinity) x 2.530" diameter (81.56 x 64.26 mm), measured. The widest thing is the focus ring.

Weight: 14.435 oz. (409.25 g), measured, including JCII sticker.

Hood: Built-in telescoping. No lock, often gets pushed back in use.

Nikon 135mm f/3.5 AI.

Performance    top

Intro   Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

The Nikon 135mm f/3.5 AI works great. Optically, it puts many more expensive lenses to shame.

This is because its a simple lens with an easy job to do. It doesn't have to zoom or autofocus or be fast or have a long or short focal length or have VR. All it has to do is focus light. Its optics aren't subject to any mechanical play: they are bolted together in solid metal forever, unlike zooms.

Therefore the 135mm f/3.5 is extremely sharp and has no visible distortion.

Bokeh

Bokeh is only fair. The backgrounds, even though well out-of focus, still retain some bothersome detail.

Want great bokeh? Get the extraordinary 135mm f/2 DC.

Distortion

Distortion is invisible, unless you shoot a D3, blow it up to 200% and drop a ruler on it in Photoshop.

If you need to split pixels, plug these figures into Photoshop CS2's lens distortion filter to correct the distortion. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires me waiting for an extraordinarily clear day at the beach and then hours of data collection and computation.

© 2008 KenRockwell.com

Mechanics and Construction

The 135mm f/3.5 AI is made like they used to. It is built to the highest mechanical standard I have ever experienced.

Filter Threads: Metal.

Retraceable Hood: Metal, internally flocked.

Barrel: Metal.

Focus Ring: Metal, rubber covered.

Aperture Ring: Metal.

Finish: Black enamel over black anodize.

Mount: Chromed brass.

Internals: Metal.

Markings: All engraved and filled.

Noises when Shaken: Clicking from the diaphragm blades.

Sharpness

Sharpness is excellent.

Sharpness on the D3 full-frame camera:

The Nikon 135mm f/3.5 is sharp and contrasty at every aperture, edge-to-edge on the D3. Who hoo! It seems to have a tiny bit less resolution at f/3.5, but not enough to notice in anything but side-to-side 100% comparisons of test subjects at infinity.

Sharpness on the D200 camera:

The Nikon 135mm f/3.5 is a tiny bit less sharp and contrasty at f/3.5, and perfect from f/5.6. I'd never notice this except in side-to-side 100% comparisons of test subjects at infinity.

Sharpness on the D300 camera:

The D300 is tough on lenses because of it's very high linear resolution. Even with this, the 135mm f/3.5 looks great. It's a tiny bit softer at 3.5, and excellent by f/5.6. Even at f/3.5, it's much better than many other lenses.

Recommendations    top

Intro   Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

Want a super-sharp, compact, inexpensive lens to run your D3 to its technical limits? Get one of these.

The 135mm f/2.8 AI-s is faster and not much bigger, but from very preliminary tests I don't think it was quite as good at the largest apertures.

I'll be doing head-to-head comparisons one of these days of the f/3.5. f/2.8, and f/2 AI-s and f/2 DC 135mm lenses.

PLUG

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Ken