The Angry Photographer: $1300 135mm F2 DC AF NIKKOR vs. $130 135mm F2.8 AI manual PART 2

[@marceldutoit1829]

Wouldn't mind seeing more of videos like this again from you! Learnt a lot over the years from your vids.

[@alhajem]

wtf this is the best photography channel I've seen! This really feels like knowing a secret! I have this lens for a day and its the best fking lens i have and the cheapest. Manual focus is no problem

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

heheheheeheh! kind words, thanks man

[@CoryJacobsen]

The DC is one of my favorite lenses in my bag. I don't regret buying it at all. But it is interesting to see that there may be a cheap alternative, maybe as a back up or as a lens to use when i feel like manually focusing with a true legacy lens. Its refreshing to hear about lenses that are available today, but you never knew existed as its not "production". Thanks :)

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

thanks man !

[@lonnieclemens8028]

I purchased the older 135 mm F 2.8 ai, on your recommendation. It is extremely sharp! I like photographing ducks in the water at a local park. Most of my shots are out of focus because the ducks move around too fast. Wouldn't mind purchasing a similar lens with autofocus someday. Not sure I want to spend $1300.00 though.

[@DJRANDYC1]

135mm 2.8 AI Lens is AWESOME!

[@ahall3823]

a couple of things... the typical price of the 135 ai is not $150. It's more like $400 (obviously second hand). The typical second hand price of the 135 DC is more like $800. So for the extra $400, you get a full stop wider aperture, AF & DC and nicer bokeh (only my personal opinion).

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

nahhhh, it IS NOW, but its been $150 OR LESS for OVER 10 years now. Most 135mm i bought over the years have been $80 its only SO HIGH now due to my video, 100%

[@maverick23041985]

Well, I just found one for 100 euros ... in perfect conditions, so, I suppose you just have to wait. And for this price, it's definitely an amazing value !

[@russells509]

What is your opinion on the Nikkor 135mm f/2 AIS? It has a 9 bladed aperture, and is just as fast of glass as the $1300 DC Nikkor, but can be had in perfect condition for about $400. It seems like a good step up from the 135mm 2.8 AI in regards to budget, but I take your opinion on these matters very seriously.

[@justinanderson2675]

To be honest my hamburger goes from the barn to the slaughter house back to our freezer, damn it is good. Good video and good way in making it easy to understand thanks

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

i LOOOVE good analogies, but sometimes I F up on those

[@0288mcortese]

I remember you posting these vids and ended up buying the 135 - but i accidentally purchased the f2 ai not the f2.8... is there a big different other than the price being higher?

[@steelbill9]

Thank you for the review. I've been thinking about purchasing the 135mm f2 for some time to fill the gap between my 105mm f2 and my 80-200 f2.8 for portraiture work. Now I need to find a copy of the 135mm f2.8 to try. (A little more difficult since your recommendation and probably even more so now after these videos). You have me thinking going totally all primes for potraits with the 105,135,180,and the 200mm f4 I picked up on your recommendation for $100. Now I just have to find the 135 and the 180. Thanks again for the no bs reviews and f*ck what others say about your vids being to long or the profanity. I can handle that all day when in the end we are left with wise and valuable information. Plus its funny as all hell too.

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

heheheh MY FAULT theyre more pricey now on ebay ! that will calm down Ohh, thank you for the thanks on the "no BS" !!!! well, i do flap my lips a bit too much sometimes, i must confess this fault. Like the slingblade voice eh?? !!!

[@steelbill9]

Theoria Apophasis f*cking hilarious. I"m going to check some camera stores here in Chicago to see if they have the 135 or 180 you recommend. Took some test shots with the 200mm f4 and got pretty excited. Cant wait to really use it for a shoot. You are awesome. I'll end up with three new lenses for less than the 135 f2.

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

FUCKING AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Im all about saving you PEEPS $$$$$$$ !!!! it makes me happy to hear that !!!! Im tired of gear whores saying "only the expensive shit is great" BS!!!! Ive got that expensive shit too!! Im out to recommend THE BEST,........the best is the best, and it doesnt have shit to do with a ton of $$$$ usually

[@mazennabulsi7246]

Ken You make the people love you hahaha... next day i saw this video i bought the lens,, 135. 2.8 ais... AWESOME..

[@gregory6488]

I have already 2 manual lenses. Don't make me buy a third!

[@encidgl]

Thanks for all your videos!!! I have a question regarding Ai versus Ais. Is there a price/quality difference with regards to the 135mm f2.8 being Ai or Ais? And how can I tell which one is which if I am buying from 3rd party? Thank you.

[@glowsticking]

Does the orange in the 4th pic change the exposure reading(spot?) even though your focus is single? Still like the the manual pictures. Amateur here speaking.

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

***** you mean the slight magenta shift? not on exposure no, and can be removed in a second in post.

[@raviishankarrptekumalla]

Found a 135mm 2.8ai for $150. I already have the Tokina 100. Should I get the 135mm 2.8ai?

[@DylanDisasterXD]

Ravi Shankar what?

[@mokotramp]

How does the Hoya 135mm 2.8 compare to the Nikon? Would Hoya have supplied the glass for the Nikon?

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

mokotramp Nikkor makes their own glass :)

[@gundilero01]

I'm very much interested to know the differences if any at all between the 135mm F2.8 Ai-S Manual and the 135mm F2.8 QC Auto Non Ai Manual Lens?

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

3 copies i notied the old nonAI has bit worse resolution and too much to flare, other than that….

[@norbertj3582]

It seems that you've done some serious mistake in your test - I checked the photos (the first pair which you compare) and I can clearly see that they are focused in different points. Just take a look at parts of hard drive which are in focus. I can clearly see that there is at least 1 cm shift between those photos. This 1 cm caused the shell to appear sharper on the photo taken with 135 f2.8 because in the photo taken with 135 f2.0 it is out of focus. I'm not stating that one lens is sharper than the other. I'm just saying that your test is inaccurate and doesn't prove much.

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

LIVE VIEW on tripod was used and multiple shots taken, the best example of both were chosen. however there is a diff. in the DOF between BOTH at the SAME aperture as must be necessarily so. 1cm you say? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm The ultimate point is that both are lovely valid examples, ............. separated by $1250

[@TasKarp]

Love you videos. Lens is on the way!

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

warm regards !! Sorry for my SLOW and late reply to you ,but Im on vacation on Sanibel island, and been taking a lot of pics now that my shoot is over, and I only have 3GB per month tethering on data, so I have to answer questions here at the coffee shop !!! Ive got a TON more videos to crank out when I get back, also Im making a few here on the island but I need a vacation pretty bad! me and my spandex G-string and my Nikon on the beach catching shots (NOT!) ...... shots yes, Gstring NO

[@anison1111]

links dont work - what the ffff

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

Just a question out of curiosity: There's a Nikon AF FX DC 135mm F2D and a Nikon AF FX DC 135mm F2, which has a cost difference of about 30%. What's the difference between this two?

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

+Aaron Yang the DC nikkor is a defocus portrait lens, its a premium lens, ive made a video about that lens.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

I know what "DC" means defocus control, however there are the DC 135mm F2"D" and the DC 135mm F2. Costs are different, but I can't find any article describing their differences.

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

post a link to the other lens you refer to the other is an AIS 135mm F2 nikkor. not the same lens at all

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

OK... but they are in Chinese. DC 135 F2D goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21435048716663 DC 135 F2 goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21501149433238 On this link, the ending of the title means that people looking for the "D" version can also take a look at this product. The currency of NTD:USD is 1:0.030

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

those links are BOGUS, try again

[@appleblows1]

Is 135 mm F 2.8 series E the same optically as the nikkor version?

[@xXDarkice]

looks good, I think people that buy the DC are looking for the extra control though.

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

that extra people think is there, is very very very LITTLE

[@xXDarkice]

Theoria Apophasis Take your word for it as I have never seen a DC in real life.

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

most havent, FEW own this lens, its just a EXPENSIVE Rolls Royce portrait lens. but its not better than the $130 manual 135mm

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

well, for MOST it isnt, but as said at end of video, if it your gig and do wedding, then $1300 isnt jack, and go ahead and get it. depends on if people CAN justify it, OR theyre just rationalizing that they "NEED IT" if someone is making good jack $$$ in weddings and portrait shoots, then hell yes get it! but 99% watching this video likely ARENT hehehhe

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

oh lord, Leica. I used to get to use so much of their gear, loved it, but my days of film are OVER i do miss my 4x5 however, transparencies were so much fun and i developed them myself

[@unstopable8711]

What does Nikkor-Q mean. I want to start buying some of the great old lenses that you like so I am on ebay and see that some of them are Nikkor-Q. I looked it up on internet so I would not bother you, but can't find a good answer.

[@CraigKratovil]

+Michael Stephen Q means 4 elements I believe. QC means 4 plus coated lens

[@lorseyjones4807]

Those Q lenses are non-ai and need to be refitted for your Nikon D camera

[@truthteller1-v7x]

If your using a portrait lens and only shoots very young subject then this lens will pull out the fine lines of the face. If your 98% of the real world people out there, the fine details are not what clients want. They don't want to see all the deep lines and fine hairs on their faces. Maybe Nick-con add in a plus + or minus - for drift in the manufacturing process...the same as Printed circuit boards. None are exactly the same unless a person hand picks the parts....that's the reality of the manufacturing process.

[@WayneFleshman]

The older Ai is sharper however sharpness isn't always go for portraits. Don't get me wrong always looking to save money on lens after all the 24-85 VR G is my go to lens. But not all models have perfect skin the 135 dc saves time in post and push a natural diffusion that makes it a better portrait lens. I would like to see a video comparing the 105dc to the 135dc?

[@godsakes]

+1 when I finally got my 135 dc I immediately sold off my 85mm 1.8g - the 85mm 1.8g is arguably sharper but the rendition on the 135 dc is great on women. As you say it's like it's been post processed, skin smoothed, stray hairs blends into the background bokeh. The time saving and the fact your preview gallery to the client looks much closer to the edited product helps to justify the expense... my main gripe is focusing accuracy, mine needs a +20 micro adjustment (and probably could do with a little more).

[@GeoAvila]

What's best between: Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC And Nikkor 135mm 2.8 AI-S The samyang has many good reviews but compared only with canon lenses. Thanks

[@patrickvanbaarle3483]

Got one for 60$ when I was looking for lenses in the 30$ lens bucket at an Adorama NewYork, I looked for all of them and the smart old salesmen took the 135 2.8 aside and he was like that lens is $60.. I was like, grrrr ok I still buy it *wink* he told his supervisor it was "just an old lens" *wink* I think I got a steal if I see the current prices up on ebay ;0.

[@wayneenterprises9702]

How is this lens so freakn cheapl! After taking your advice on the Zeiss distagon 35mm f2 I was blown away at how good the lens was so I decided to wager again and get the nikkor 135mm f2.8 ai that you recommended. TBH I was authentically expecting it to be blurry as hell but with possibly some good contrast. I figured its worth a shot for ($150 AUS) solid little 135 in minty used condition. This lens is astonishing! A test shot shooting a sultry model, www.flickr.com/photos/146504296@N08/31631719764/in/pool-1462620@N23

[@williamsawtell9184]

Theoria Apophasis.....My favorite shots on my DC 135 f2 are my favorites shots in my portfolio of people. I looked at the pictures and I preferred the DC pics without knowing they were the DC. That said the $130 lens is awesome. I'll pick up a 135mm 2.8 cause why the F not? My 135 DC is staying in my bag though. The bokeh is like butter baby! I still think its the Cats Ass! I thought you were going to shout me out on this video? Like a bad date that doesn't put out you are! All good.. as always thanks for the video!

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

yes, the 135 DC is a home cat , kinda , not for beating around the bush like the 135 Ai which is a TANK. Did i forget!!! thats what happens when i make these videos at 4Am, my brain is scrambled THE NEXT IS YOURS MAN!!! check and double check !

[@chriscameron4618]

Theoria Apophasis i think the ai looks better, i like the color in the photos through it also.

[@cjmadridtv4289]

Im going to buy 135 dc f2 for 400 wish me luck

[@awesomeinforensics]

Outstanding!

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

winks and smiles. i went too crazy on the voices!!!

[@awesomeinforensics]

You were great! Keep up the great videos!

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

im nutz sometimes , i overdo it with that crazy talk.

[@awesomeinforensics]

That is perfect, you keep our interest on the subject. If you were not crazy talking you would loose our interest and it would seem like just sitting in a class room. Hey I have an idea start you own accredit photo school.

[@awesomeinforensics]

You just have to have the school in Chicago!

[@cowboy6591]

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