135DC lens & D800

jimmyboy

Nikon 800E, 135 D.C.f/2

donaldejose

But for those who cannot afford a $6,000 Nikon 200mm f2 a $1,000 Sigma Art 135mm f1.8 or f2 would be great.

heartyfisher

I think a 135 F1.8 or F2 would be nice too .. but my 150 F2.8 sigma is going well :-)

WestEndFoto

I really like the idea of a 135/f2 or 135/f1.8, but I think for now I'll either step closer with the 85/1.4g, or back up with the 200/f2. I've never seen a photo from this lens that makes me go wow.

I doubt that I would ever be able to make you go "Wow!" regardless of the lens I used, but I will keep trying.

I am saving for a 200 and I suspect that Nikon will have upgraded it to fluorite when I am ready. I also suspect that I will not be able to resist buying the latest of anything in the 85 to 200 focal range where I shoot wide open and really pixel peak. Less than 85, and what I have seems good enough.

Msmoto

My eyes are on the Zeiss 135mm f/2 Apo Sonnar T. But, I have to get the courage to work on my manual focus techniques. I found that I can actually focus my Nikkor manually on the D800E as well as it does auto, but the time factor to get the focus nailed is much longer when doing manual.

More to come...

WestEndFoto

@WestEndFoto: I wasn't looking at anything other than the technical aspects of the photos... sharpness/color/blur/etc. Additionally, it was a *blanket* statement not directed at any photos here. As I've said, I find the photos this lens produces to be unremarkable. Of course any lens can produce a great photo, but the characteristics of this lens have never made me want it in my bag.

I was trying to complement your work, but perhaps it is best not to be so vague on this forum. I did catch your meaning.

jimmyboy

Nikon D-700 135 D.C. f/2

nek4life

Is it me or do a lot of images taken with this lens tend to be on the cool side?

WestEndFoto

I have sometimes thought that, but am not sure.

jimmyboy

Nikon D-300, 135-D.C. F/2 controller ring at zero.

controller ring rear 5.6

controller ring front 5.6

Camera body wide open at f/2

WestEndFoto

300 D.C?

Ironheart

The EXIF says 135mm

Msmoto

Here is my test....even with a screw up....I shot all the images with a -1.0ev....dumb! But, the less sharpness is what I am going to demonstrate:

Full image:



Cropped:



Super sized:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/16630532826/sizes/o/

Exif:
D800E, 135mm f/2 Nikkor, at f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 100, ev -1.0 (accidentally)

More images at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/sets/72157630044833773/

IMO, the combo works quite well. Especially when one recognizes I did this quite ineptly. LOL

Msmoto

OK, I shot some with correct exposure...the results are good, IMO. Same set on Flickr
From this full frame cones the one in the link:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/16655740451/sizes/o/

When one can see noise in an enlargement from a D800E at ISO 100...this is BIG

hawkdl2

I had the 135 DC for about 6 months and could never get it to focus well on my D800. At the time, I researched online and found a number of people complaining about the same problem though an equal number of people extolling its sharpness. I do understand how DC works and spent a lot of time experimenting and testing with it. DC worked beautifully and I could see the benefits of the feature, but nothing was ever very sharp - at least as compared to my 85 f1.8, 24-70 and 70-200 II. I ended up selling it. However, a few months later, I ended up having to send in my D800 for general focus problems will all lenses, so even though my other lenses worked fine while I had the 135, my problem with the lens could have been due to the camera, or a bad [used] copy of the 135DC.

Since my camera has had no problems with focus for some time, I've been considering getting another copy of the 135 as this is one of my favorite FL for portraits.

jimmyboy

300 D.C?

Sorry

WestEndFoto

300 D.C?

Sorry

No worries.

WestEndFoto

Nikon D-300, 135-D.C. F/2 controller ring at zero.

controller ring rear 5.6

controller ring front 5.6

Camera body wide open at f/2

The Defocus Ring is designed to be set at the same setting, front or back, as the aperture. If you shoot at f/2, the Defocus Control should be set at 2. If you set it at a higher number, the image will start to go soft and you will end up with a soft focus. I can see that in your images.

It does go a little bit soft if you set the defocus control to the proper setting, but you have to pixel peep to see it.

And of course, not to say it is wrong. Sometimes I intentionally overset it to get a pleasing soft focus - Pitchblack, I know you are gagging.

jimmyboy

No Shit, I set it up just, to show the effects to the extreme what this lens can do.

WestEndFoto

Another example of the 135 on a D800.

Msmoto

@WestEndFoto

I think you may need to change your "permissions" on Flickr. What I see is "This photo is no longer available."

Photobug

Same here.

WestEndFoto

Hmm.....I can see it on my desktop but not my IPad. Interesting. I shall re-post it.

Photobug

Hmm.....I can see it on my desktop but not my IPad. Interesting. I shall re-post it.

Nice image