Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena 135mm
Its 16-element optical design with ARNEO and Meso Amorphous coatings delivers edge-to-edge sharpness and perfectly circular bokeh across the entire frame, even at f/1.8. The multi-focus system provides fast, silent autofocus in a weather-sealed, 995g magnesium-alloy body that handles like a much lighter lens. This is the definitive tool for portrait and wedding photographers who demand flawless subject isolation and background rendering without compromise.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A convenient all-in-one zoom for RF-mount cameras that now struggles to justify its price against sharper, more versatile competitors. Best suited for casual shooters who prioritize focal range over image quality.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent 10x zoom range in a single lens 96th
- Effective 5-stop image stabilization 91st
- Fast, quiet Nano USM autofocus
- Solid weather-sealed build
Cons
- Soft corners at 240mm, even stopped down
- Heavy barrel distortion at wide end
- Slow f/6.3 aperture limits low-light use
- Price feels high given the optical trade-offs
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q2 202696/100
Customers love this 135mm f/1.8 for its stunning bokeh, sharpness, and 3D subject separation—ideal for portraits and versatile for events or landscapes.
- Exceptional bokeh and subject separation with creamy, round bokeh bubbles.
- Very sharp at f/1.8, with minimal vignetting and strong optical performance.
- Versatile for portraits, landscapes, events, and indoor sports.
- Slightly heavy, but picture quality outweighs the inconvenience.
- Q1 202695/100
Buyers in this period rave about the lens's superb optics, sharpness, and bokeh, but note it is heavier than expected.
- Optics, sharpness, and bokeh are universally praised as outstanding.
- Weight is a common concern but considered manageable for the quality.
- Lens is often permanently attached due to excellent performance.
- Unique character and color rendering are highlighted as assets.
- Q4 202562/100
Reviews show a split: some praise exceptional bokeh, sharpness, and character; one prefers older Nikkor and Sigma alternatives.
- Bokeh is spectacular and colors exquisite; lens produces sharp images with high contrast.
- Lens has special character ('Special Sauce') adding desirable look beyond modern sharpness.
- Rendering inferior to older Nikkor 135mm f/2 DC and Sigma 135mm f/1.4.
- Nearly no vignetting, excellent flaring resistance, and versatile performance.
- Q2 202492/100
Buyers praise the Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena as an exceptional portrait lens with superb bokeh, fast focus, and excellent buying experience.
- Outstanding image quality with superb bokeh and shallow depth of field.
- Fast and accurate autofocus with intuitive use.
- Excellent buying experience with fast shipping and rewards.
- Step above other S lenses in performance and quality.
- Q4 2023100/100
Buyers in Q4 2023 praise this lens as the best they've owned, citing quick autofocus, sharpness, and beautiful bokeh, matching well with Z-series cameras.
- Outstanding image quality with sharpness and beautiful bokeh.
- Fast, reliable autofocus.
- Excellent build and balance with Nikon Z bodies.
- Versatile — replaces 70-200 for portraits.
Based on 32 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 135 |
| Focal Length Max | 135 |
| Elements | 16 |
| Groups | 14 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
| ED Elements | 4 |
| Coating | ARNEO and Meso Amorphous Coatings |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 |
Build
| Mount | Nikon Z |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 1.0 kg / 2.2 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 82 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 820 |
| Max Magnification | 1:5 |
vs Competition
The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM now faces a much tougher crowd than it did at launch. The Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS and Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD both offer significantly more reach in similarly compact packages, often with sharper mid-frame performance. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR redefines what a superzoom can cover, though at a higher price. Even within more modest ranges, the Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 and Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM deliver better optical consistency. The RF 24-240mm still wins on convenience for RF-mount owners who want a single lens, but the alternatives have eroded its standout status.
| Spec | Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena 135mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 135mm | 28-300mm | 18-50mm | 12-35mm | 18-135mm | 27mm |
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/1.2 |
| Mount | Nikon Z | Sony E | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 995 | 590 | 290 | 306 | 326 | 560 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor | stepping motor | Autofocus | Linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | prime |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena 135mm | 53.9 | 42.9 | 43.2 | 48.1 | 91.1 | 40.6 | 63.7 | 33.6 | 96 | 36.8 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 98 | 78.2 | 65.1 | 85.8 | 96.7 | 66.3 | 91.2 | 97.7 | 55 | 82.4 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 86.9 | 82.1 | 86.1 | 91.7 | 82.2 | 84.2 | 80.9 | 78.6 | 89.6 | 36.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.9 | 82.1 | 85.4 | 51 | 86.5 | 84.2 | 63.7 | 80.6 | 85.1 | 96.9 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 98 | 75.7 | 72.5 | 40.3 | 78.5 | 77.6 | 44.7 | 95.8 | 89.6 | 82.4 |
| Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 Compare | 86.9 | 98.5 | 67.4 | 38.5 | 82.2 | 98.6 | 91.2 | 33.6 | 89.6 | 36.8 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At its current price, the RF 24-240mm sits in an awkward spot. You are paying a premium for the RF mount and the convenience of a 10x zoom, but the image quality does not always back up that premium. When you can grab a Tamron 18-300mm with more reach and better sharpness for less money on other systems, the Canon tax stings. If you find it used or on sale, the value proposition improves, but at full retail it is a harder sell than it was a few years ago.
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Verdict
The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is a lens I wanted to love more than I actually do. It nails the convenience factor for RF-mount travelers, but the optical compromises are harder to ignore now that the competition has caught up. Soft corners at the long end, noticeable distortion, and a slow aperture make it feel less like a Swiss Army knife and more like a tool that does everything just okay. If you absolutely need a single-lens solution for an RF body and can find it at a discount, it still makes sense. For everyone else, the alternatives are simply more compelling in 2025.
