Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena — Editorial Review

Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena — Editorial Review

The Plena is Nikon's specialist 135mm f/1.8 portrait and telephoto prime, named for the way it renders a "full" frame of beautifully even background blur. It exists for one purpose: the finest possible bokeh and subject separation. As Cameralabs and other reviewers agree, it delivers — among the best out-of-focus rendering of any lens on the market.

Featured Video Review

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Reference-grade bokeh and sharpness

SLR Lounge highlights the Plena's standout trait: bokeh discs stay remarkably round all the way to the frame edges rather than collapsing into the cat's-eye shapes most fast lenses produce. Dustin Abbott's testing finds it scary-sharp — excellent central sharpness from f/1.8 through f/8 and edge-to-edge crispness by f/2.8. In DPReview TV's hands-on — featured above — the reviewers walk through why this lens has become a benchmark for portrait rendering on the Z system, while noting it's a specialist rather than an everyday lens.

What it's built for

At 135mm and f/1.8 it compresses perspective and melts backgrounds in a way an 85mm can't — ideal for headshots, editorial portraits, and isolating subjects at distance. It's a deliberate, controlled-shooting tool.

Honest cons

• Longitudinal chromatic aberration. Reviewers note LoCA that requires stopping past f/2.8 to control — and it can be more pronounced than on the 85mm f/1.2 S.
• Susceptible to colored ghosting. A bright light source in frame can produce ghosting fairly easily.
• Large, heavy, and expensive. It's not an everyday-carry lens, and the price is firmly in specialist territory.
• 135mm is inflexible in tight spaces. The long focal length needs working distance — awkward for portraits in small rooms.

Where this lens fits

• Portrait and editorial photographers who want the ultimate background separation and the cleanest bokeh available on Z mount.
• Studio and outdoor portrait shooters with room to work at 135mm.
• Nikon Z owners building a no-compromise prime kit who value rendering above portability.
• Not photographers needing an everyday walk-around lens, working in cramped spaces, or on a budget — the 85mm f/1.8 S is lighter, cheaper, and more flexible.

Sources & Citations

1. Cameralabs, "Nikon Z 135mm f1.8 S Plena review," cameralabs.com (accessed 2026-05-25)
2. SLR Lounge, "Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Review | Portrait Perfection?," slrlounge.com (accessed 2026-05-25)
3. Dustin Abbott, "Nikkor Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena Review," dustinabbott.net (accessed 2026-05-25)

Last verified: 2026-05-25