I want a brand new 135mm :-)

FrenchRiviera

I can't imagine taking portrait picture with a monopod

WestEndFoto

Ever taken portraits with a supertele?

FrenchRiviera

Up to 300mm ...

donaldejose

:"I can't imagine taking portrait picture with a monopod"

I often use a tripod in the studio.

I saw a photographer taking fashion (?) shots in South Beach with a 300mm f2.8 on a monopod.

Golf007sd

Tripod & Monopods have their place of usage. Let it be up to the photographer to know what works for he or she...given a photo shoot. Personally, I would rather have one and not need it, vs. needing one and not having it. After all it take only a second to mount one on and off.

Golf007sd

@PitchBlack: You are absolute correct...with respect to the original question asked. Moreover, I fully agree that both a tripod and/or a monopod limit ones ability for creative composition at a given notice.

Within the 35-85mm prime focal length, I have yet to see any manufacture offer a lens with VR. Maybe one day....

Never the less, I think the image you captured above is very appealing...well done.

Golf007sd

As I said: Within the 35-85mm....not 24mm. Furthermore, we are talking about FF lenses, not DX. I'm fully aware of Nikon's own 85mm f/3.5G Micro.

SLWassets

I'd LOVE a new 135. My guess is that it would be optically on par with the Canon, VR, but north of $1400. That would be a non starter for me. My pride and joy in my EOS life was the 135 and its used price tag of about $900.

jimmyboy

I shoot my Nikon 300 f/2.8 all the time with on a mono pod ball head mount Wimberley side/kick. Most the time shoot my Nikon 105 f/2.8 on ball mount without sidekick. I love using mono pod's. I own two. I have better results on detail. With the 105 the VR is left on for macro shot's for breathing. The 300 for birds in flight the VR is off. I have no problem using these set up's with mono pod's. This is the only two lens I shoot with mono pod. My 135 & 105 D.C. freehand.

FrenchRiviera

I'd LOVE a new 135. My guess is that it would be optically on par with the Canon, VR, but north of $1400. That would be a non starter for me. My pride and joy in my EOS life was the 135 and its used price tag of about $900.

Who can tell the price ? ;-)

We may have a good surprise , event though best lenses can't be low-cost

Thanks to Sigma to show the way of splendid lenses with decent prices

FrenchRiviera

Of course people can and do use monopods ... obvious truth that they limit your ability to freely compose a photo ...

so true !

Golf007sd

For those that are seeking a new 135mm lens, lets see what the new Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC has to offer.

henrik1963

@PitchBlack: It is true that monopods and tripods limits your movements. But having a monopod or a tripod does not force you to use it every time you take a picture.

IMO monopods and tripods are for when there is no better way to get a shot.

Msmoto

I cannot see if anyone has properly pushed the Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135

http://www.zeiss.com/camera-lenses/en_us/camera_lenses/slr-lenses/aposonnart2135.html

One characteristic is seen in the MTF charts from Zeiss (Cannot be directly compared with Nikon's MTF charts due to different criteria listed for the graphs)....but, the lines tend to go straight out to the outer edges of the lens, whereas many others fall off at about 10mm or more from center.

Michael Erlwine suggest this Zeiss lens is one of the sharpest he has seen.

heartyfisher

I cannot see if anyone has properly pushed the Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135

http://www.zeiss.com/camera-lenses/en_us/camera_lenses/slr-lenses/aposonnart2135.html

One characteristic is seen in the MTF charts from Zeiss (Cannot be directly compared with Nikon's MTF charts due to different criteria listed for the graphs)....but, the lines tend to go straight out to the outer edges of the lens, whereas many others fall off at about 10mm or more from center.

Michael Erlwine suggest this Zeiss lens is one of the sharpest he has seen.

Thats awful ! as, i am in awe ! i am in love with that lense now !! :-( lucky for me its not AF and VR ! ;-)

FrenchRiviera

...
Michael Erlwine suggest this Zeiss lens is one of the sharpest he has seen.

Rendering of Zeiss lenses is quite hard ( I had 85 and 50mm Zeiss ) , not ideal for portraits , and the lack of AF is a real weakness for spontaneousness

TomB

http://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/lens-databases-for-nikon/other-lenses-for-nikon/samyang-135mm-f2-ed-umc.html

heartyfisher

That samyang looks good from the sample pictures ..

Msmoto

Michael Erlwine regarding a couple of Zeiss APO lenses:
:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=92276.0

He is probably one of the more reliable critics of lenses, and his arguments are quite valid, IMO.

The huge problem for us today is we do not have a good ground glass screen which would assist manual focus, but instead a screen for the best viewing, not so great for those of us who would like to manually focus.

studio460

Outstanding image, PitchBlack!

Vipmediastar_JZ

i'm just joining now. My 105mm does not focus hunt and it is probably one of the fastest to lock focus that it surprises me every time.

I do like what the DC offers but hey I wanted the macro lens. My previous one was the sigma 150mm 2.8 the previous model to the current one.

I just shot my last portraits with the lens on a Sirui video monopod. Really it was for stability and I had the monopod slighty loose and the ball head slightly loose for constant moving of angles. I would probably use the 70-200mm for 135 or 200mm next time only due to light placement but for beign sharp and great bokeh it is a good lens.

I use the 105 for alot things vs just macro here is my album I do have more photos that I haven't uploaded yet.

I have used the vr a couple of times and it saved the image better than my other vr lens.

WestEndFoto

I love my 135. Somehow my 85 is just not the same for a shot like this.

Swimming Together in the Bokeh Sea



D800, AF DC-Nikkor 135mm f/2D, ISO 100, 1/800 sec, f/2.0

I wonder what the refresh will look like. This lens has been in production since 1990.

JonMcGuffin

I love my 135. Somehow my 85 is just not the same for a shot like this.

Swimming Together in the Bokeh Sea



D800, AF DC-Nikkor 135mm f/2D, ISO 100, 1/800 sec, f/2.0

I wonder what the refresh will look like. This lens has been in production since 1990.

That's a gorgeous pic, if they don't put VR in it I'm not sure why even update it. Clearly the current version is an excellent performer, it's not really oversized either. It's one of the last of the great chunks of Nikon glass available before they all move to the plasticy 10 year disposable models they're pumping out now.

framer

If I had to pick one lens of any brand to shoot portraits in FX format I'd select the 105 f2 DC Nikkor.

framer

WestEndFoto

Why do you like that one? Better focal length for you?

If I had to pick one lens of any brand to shoot portraits in FX format I'd select the 105 f2 DC Nikkor.

framer

Why do you like that one? Better focal length for you?

JohnMcGuffin, another reason to update it would be better auto-focus. That is one thing that my 85 is noticeably superior to the 135 on.

Personally, I would prefer not to have VR. One more thing to go wrong and when I am shooting portraits, it is usually a controlled lighting situation. However, it would not be a deal breaker.