Carl Zeiss Apo-Sonnar T* 135mm f/2 Review

Carl Zeiss Apo-Sonnar T* 135mm f/2 Handling and Features

As is the case with other Carl Zeiss ZF lenses, the lens barrel is hewn from metal and feels of the utmost quality as a result. The lens is quite large although if the high quality materials used are considered, it's not all that heavy at around 930g and it balances well with the Nikon D600 used for testing, with or without the MB-D14 battery grip attached.



Manual focusing is buttery smooth and there is three quarters of a turn between infinity focus and the closest focusing distance of 80cm. This is either a blessing or a curse, as it makes applying fine adjustments for accurate focusing at fast apertures a pleasure, but this also makes it makes it more difficult to make large changes in focus distance. A metering chip with electronic contacts is included so matrix metering is supported on all Nikon cameras. Hyperfocal distances for apertures between f/11 and f/22 are marked on the barrel, as is a mark for infra-red focus.



The lens extends by approximately one inch at closest focus, although the 77mm filter thread does not rotate as a result, which should make this lens ideal for use with graduated or polarising filters. A deep aluminium circular hood is also supplied with the lens, which clicks firmly into the metal bayonet on the front.

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