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Lately we've seen a real boom in the segment of fast 135 mm lenses designed for full frame mirrorless cameras and that's why we had no problem whatsoever with compiling the following chart.

As you see the majority of producers chose the f/1.8 aperture with an exception of the Chinese Mitakon that prepared a real show of force by presenting the monstruous f/1.4 model that weighs as much as 3 kilograms. The second place, when it comes to the weight, occupies another Chinese product, the Viltrox. The third place belongs to the Nikkor.

Most of lenses of this class features a filter diameter of 82 mm and eleven aperture blades with an exception of the Canon that has nine blades. The Samyang sticks out with the shortest minimum focusing distance and you have to notice the fact that in this category the tested Nikkor lags noticeably behind most of its rivals.

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When it comes to optical construction the Canon is the most complex of all in this group but this lens is equipped with optical image stabilization that usually makes the whole system more complicated. Among the non-stabilized lenses the Nikor's construction is the most complex of all.

In the photo below the Nikkor Z 135 mm f/1.8 S Plena is positioned between the Nikkor Z MC 105 mm f/2.8 S VR and the kit Nikkor Z 24-70 mm f/4 S.

The tested lens starts with a metal mount that surrounds contacts and a rear element that is flat and 39 mm in diameter. The area around that element is properly blackened and matted, without even a glimpse of electronic parts. From this side the lens seems to be beyond reproach.

An immobile, black ring made of metal is the first part of the Nikkor's proper barrel. On this ring you see a white dot, making an alignment with a camera easier, an inscription with the name and parameters of the lens, an AF/MF switch that allows you to control focusing mechanism modes, the serial number, the focusing mechanism working range (∞–0.82m/2.69ft), and information that the lens was produced in Thailand.

Further on you see a ribbed ring as wide as 8 mm – it can be used to control noiselessly the aperture or for exposure compensation. It moves smoothly and is properly damped.

The next part of the lens is an immobile part of the barrel made of metal on which you find an inscription with the series name 'Nikon S' and the name of the lens – 'Plena'. Additionally you get two programmable L-Fn function buttons which can be alloted one of several available functionalities.

A manual focus ring covered by rubber ribbing is the biggest part of the lens, being as wide as 30 mm. The ring is a focus-by-wire construction, it works smoothly and is properly damped. You can't find any distance scale or DOF scale on it and its focus throw amounts to about 400 degrees, a very high value, allowing you very precise settings. Its performance depends weakly on the speed of your turning.

The next part is a plastic ring that doesn't move, also partially covered by rubber ribbing. It turns into another ring, smooth this time, with the name and parameters of the lens. The instrument ends with a hood mount and an appropriate hood is added to the box.

The front element doesn't move, is relatively flat and 72 mm in diameter. It is surrounded by a ribbed tube and a non-rotating filter thread, 82 mm in diameter.

The lens is weather-sealed and the fluorine coating applied here offers different benefits like non-stickiness, dirt resistance and easier cleaning.

When it comes to the optical construction you deal here with 16 elements positioned in 14 groups. Four elements were made of low dispersion ED glass, one of SR glass and one is aspherical in shape. Inside you also can find a round aperture with eleven blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum.

Buyers get in the box: both caps, a hood, and a soft pouch, so thin that it's difficult to imagine what protection it might offer. At this price-point and in this class of equipment you would expect something more solid and stylish.