Nikon Nikkor Z 135 mm f/1.8 S Plena review - Image resolution

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Nikon Nikkor Z 135 mm f/1.8 S Plena

2 May 2025

Maciej Latałło

4. Image resolution

All Nikon Z system lenses we test on the Nikon Z7 body and the RAW files we develop with the help of neutral software such as dcraw. We have been able to check thoroughly optical properties of several fixed-focal instruments of this system so far, so we think we are able to determine proper reference levels. Lenses reaching record revels should be able to exceed 85 lpmm; maximum results of other excellent system prime lenses might fit the range from 80 to 85 lpmm. The decency level we set at 41–43 lpmm.

Let's see how the Nikkor Z 135 mm f/1.8 S Plena compares; its results, reached in the frame centre, on the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor and on the edge of full frame, presents a graph shown below.

Nikon Nikkor Z 135 mm f/1.8 S Plena - Image resolution

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Even a quick glance at the graph below allows you to say that we will have to change the intro of this chapter for the next Nikon Z7 tests. The Nikkor 1.8/135 performs so exceedingly well that it breaks all record results and it does it with ease.

Already at the maximum relative aperture you deal with a very high level of 77 lpmm. A slight stopping down of the aperture to f/2.0 allows you to increase the resolution to almost 83 lpmm and the aforementioned records happen by f/2.8 and f/4.0. In the first case you deal with a value of 92.4 +/- 1.3 lpmm, and in the second case the result is even higher, reaching 93.5 +\- 0.5 lpmm. I suppose I don't have to comment such resolution performance.

When it comes to the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor the situation remains very good and should be praised profusely. Even by f/1.8 you deal with a result of almost 56 lpmm, very high above the decency level. The highest results you can admire by f/4.0 and f/5.6 where the MTF50 function values reach an excellent level ranging from 79 to 81 lpmm.

There are no reservations whatsoever when it comes to the edge of full frame. Images at that place is fully useful up from the maximum relative aperture and, at the same time, the peak resolution is able to reach very high level of 73-74 lpmm.

We have no doubts that, when it comes to resolution, Nikon offers you an outstanding lens, definitely sharper than such models as the Sony FE 135 mm f/1.8 GM or the Samyang AF 135 mm f/1.8 FE, tested by us earlier.

At the end of this chapter, traditionally, we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart which were saved as JPEG files along the RAW files, used for the analysis above.

Nikon Z7, JPEG, 135 mm, f/1.8