Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

Sharp, Sharp, Sharp.. I can not fault this lens. It performs as specified with no noticeable issues at all. Just finished a shoot at Disney's Animal Kingdom and captured incredible detail. I do use a 24MP camera that helps with fine detail, but the lens is just perfect. Imagine 1.8 at 135mm.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

Im basically a streetshooter and like a sharp and fast lens, mostly primes. This lens is beautiful, sharp and with a creamy bokeh. Im using it with the Sony Alpha 850 Full Frame dslr and i'm getting excellent results. The lens is slightly heavy and should have weather sealing.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

I am using this lens on a Minolta Maxxum 7D and the lens functions like a 200 mm instead of a 135 mm. I needed a lens for taking gymnastics photographs (low light, no flash). I am getting superior photographs with this lens. I am an amateur, but some of the photos rival those taken by the professionals at the gymnastics meets. With the shallow depth of field, the gymnasts just "pop" out from the blurred background (bokeh), as long as I'm not too far away when shooting.

The focusing is the only issue since, as others pointed out, the autofocus is slow. Depending on the circumstance, then, I often am using manual focus. I set the manual focusing to smooth, which makes it a bit easier. I can sometimes get away with the continuous autofocusing, but not always.This is the reason for the deduction of a star. If you are taking photographs of non-moving or slow-moving subjects, the focusing is not an issue.

As others stated, it is heavy, but when you see the results you get, you really don't mind!

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

If I was any happier with this lens, I would have to be twins. I have wanted a Carl Zeiss lens for years and I am more than satisfied with it. I won't repeat all the positive things said in the above reviews, but I do agree with those reviewers. I will say this though. I find the auto-focus to be very quick and positive. Also, the narrow DOF possibilities are mind boggling. The auto-focus only works with the camera set on live view. Maybe that's normal or maybe I need to dig into my camera manual to see if I need to change a setting or maybe it's because it's an older camera(Alpha350). But that is minor. The lens is solidly built and, yes, it is heavy, but I don't mark that as a 'con'. It is a Zeiss, it's big, so of course it is heavy. Just make sure you always have a good grip on it when you are doing things like changing lenses or taking it out of a bag. I also find that my hands get tired using it, but I'll acclimate to that. Last, always have a filter on it for protection. Good lens, good buy. Good bye.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

After years of wanting a Carl Zeiss lens I was finally able to afford one. After weeks of looking at the 85mm and 135mm, I decided on the latter, [...] the 135mm being more versatile. [...]

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

This lens is great for wildlife photography. I have taken some photos of deer low light conditions and they turned out sharp. It also yields sharp photos of sporting events.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

This lens is great for wildlife photography. I have taken some photos of deer low light conditions and they turned out sharp. It also yields sharp photos of sporting events.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

Perfect lens for portraits and tight depth of field control with beautiful bokeh. The lens is even sharp at wide open aperature. Great for low light photography.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

After my first Zeiss lense, had to get a second. Feels great on a850, incredibly fast and sharp.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

I have unabated praise for this lens. It's dangerous: it led me to go for the ZA 85 prime and the Zeiss 16-80! Beware: it may be seductive! Seriously, this is my clearest, sharpest and most pleasurable lenses to use. The fast speed, brilliant colour reproduction and fast AF make using this lens a joy. I have used it for wildlife shots and the resolution and clarity cropped outweigh a longer but slower lens, so this remains my choice for distant subjects and intimate shots. On an APS-C it makes a mid-range tele or on an full-frame sensor camera, it can even be a portrait lens. CA and distortion are minimal and detail is startling. This is about the longest prime you can buy at a bright, fast wide open aperture, without either slowing down or sinking a complete fortune. It is well worth the price and feels very good quality. The metal barrel and focus ring sets it apart from other Sony lenses and lower G range lenses, instilling a feeling of confidence and durability. Supplied with good hood, velvet-lined and round, not petalled. The lens has its own AF button. Nice colours, extra sharp. Close it down with a small aperture and you have an outstanding range of DOF from the bright shallow with beautiful bokeh (portrait or nature) to a deep and clear landscape capability.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

I had been using A100 with 50mm 1.4 for 3 years for my kid since his birth. After I upgraded to A900 with CZ 24-70mm 2.8 I was happy with the zoom function, the sharpness and Super Sonic focusing motor but missing low light capability of the fast prime lens. I found that I can run more with a prime lens but can't make a zoom lens brighter(faster).
I bought a CZ 85mm for my A900 about 2 month ago and had been thinking CZ 85mm 1.4 is the best potrait lens before I met CZ 135mm 1.8. I researched a lot before I chose CZ 85mm. Many people are saying both CZ85mm and 135mm are great potrait lens but 85mm is for whole body and 135mm is for head and shoulder. I found it's true for adult but not for kid. It's still good for whole body shot for my kid. My CZ135mm is always on A900 now. I know compairing 85mm and 135mm is like compairing orange and apple. Both of them are extremely sharp and fast. Everybody agrees that both of them are great lenses. But if I had to choose only one it would be 135. I use CZ85 almost always over 1.8 because too shallow DOF below that. CZ135 is very sharp from 1.8 with reasonable DOF(OK for whole body not for head and shoulder at 1.8). I think 135 is sharper, faster for foscus and quieter than 85. Of course it's bigger and heavier than 85.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

must have with sony dslr alpha 900 camera.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

The most amazing thing about this lens is not just the fact that it's the fastest 135mm lens for 35mm photography. It also focuses all the way down to 0.72m! something most 85mm lenses out there cannot achieve.

I use an a900 with this lens and AF is very reliable, unlike what I suspected before getting it since it does not have the latest SSM system. But there's nothing to worry about.

The focus stop button on the lens barrel is a very useful feature and something that helps me to compose and nail the focus every time.

24MP FF + f/1.8 + SteadyShot in the body gives me something that no other system can offer (I normally shoot Canon) This really is one of the key reasons why I bought a Sony camera in the 1st place.

I'd even go as far to say that this lens is under-priced for what it is. Performance at f/1.8 is superb most of the times, despite lateral CA being visibly present under certain conditions, but no lens is perfect. Kudos to Sony and Zeiss for coming up with something that's unique and performs.

An additional nice touch is that the lens hood is made out of metal. Love it!

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

If you want the best lens in the 135mm range, this is it. There is none better anywhere. The low light capability is outstanding.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

turn off the camera's image stabilization and mount on a tripod with a solid head and you'll never want to use another lens. at f/1.8 subjects explode from the background. at f/8 or smaller the details have details.

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

This lens is razor sharp! Beyond just sharpness, the lens has amazing bokeh and I find a much better focal length than 85mm, but that comes down to personal opinion. When used on a film body or my A850 it is a dream to use. Wide open this lens is great, and stopped down this lens is amazing as well.

I would be curious to see the results of using it on a cropped sensor, and am sure it would still be quite stunning.

Build quality is great, I honestly can't think of a single complaint for this lens. Perhaps one complaint could be the size and weight of this lens, but it is to be expected for the aperture, build quality and focal length.

Som complain about not having SSM in the lens, and that is just starting to nit pick with this camera, I honestly am happy it doesn't because I can shoot with my Maxxum 7000 throwaway body if I want to!

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

This (135mm full frame) what I consider a "normal" lens on a full frame camera and have 135 for years most of the time. This is the best one I have ever had of any focal length! The only way to equal this lens in optical and build is with a cine lens like they use in Hollywood to make movies and these are ((house) expensive they are only rented. Wide open at F1.8 is where I use this lens almost all the time, I only stop down if I have to for effect. Mechanically there is no room for improvement. If can get it, get it!

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

This is a lens you have to experience to really understand what a sharp picture is. The clarity, contrast and sharpness this lens delivers on the Sony a900 defies words

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

...You Get What You Pay For!I am just getting started with DSLR and am trying to acquire tools that will keep me interested in this new hobby. I use this lens on my recently purchased Sony a550. I won't try to dazzle you with camera jargon that I've not yet mastered, but will say that even I can tell a dramatic difference with this lens and the one that came with my camera (SAL-1855 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT AF Zoom Lens). I did a lot of research before deciding upon this lens and couldn't find anyone unimpressed. The only negatives were price and weight; check some popular used-equipment sites and see just how many people are trying to get rid of this lens. I'll save you some time, you're not going to find any. Obviously these negatives are comparatively inconsequential. This lens is extremely well built and displays excellent workmanship. Some of my reading revealed the lens is actually made in Japan vice Germany. However, I also learned that Carl Zeiss enforces all their standards and provides QC inspections at the Sony provided manufacturing sites. This is not something you should quibble over. Most people providing reviews were using the a900 or a850. Hopefully one of these days my skills will warrant such capability, but until then, my a550 drives this lens quite nicely. No hesitation in the autofocus and very balanced with the body. OK, I will speak jargon for just one moment. This huge aperture is absolutely amazing! I am taking some photos with very low light without the need of flash... and I'm not even using a tripod. In fact, now I am not even looking forward to experimenting with lens from my old Minolta Maxxum 7000, which was the very reason I decided upon the Sony, i.e. old lens interchangeability. In my short experience, a $200 - $500 lens is a waste of good money when you could use it toward a lens such as this one. Incidentally, my next purchase will be a SAL-1635Z 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens. And it's going to be from B&H. I bought my a550 from another reputable company, but after later learning of B&H, they have everything, and it's available at the most competitive prices. [...]Happy shooting...

Comments about Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens:

This lens is great, especially when you are working under low light conditions. It is pretty heavy, but that is to be expected when you have such a low fstop lens. Very sharp - but I am struggling with my camera's auto focus because (under low light) it tends to focus behind the subject sometimes - I think this is an issue with the camera and NOT an issue with the lens.