Quick answer
A Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 telephoto for A-mount, widely admired for portrait rendering. It uses body-driven screw-drive autofocus and is built heavy at about 1,050 g.
Pros
- Bright f/1.8 aperture at 135mm
- Famous for smooth, natural rendering
- Min focus 0.72 m
- Full-frame coverage
Cons
- Heavy at about 1,050 g
- Screw-drive AF is not as fast as SSM
- Slow to refocus in low light
Verdict
A beloved portrait telephoto for A-mount shooters. Expect a substantial lens and body-driven focusing.
About this lens
The Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z) is a fast short-telephoto prime lens covering 135mm at f/1.8 for Sony A mount cameras. A Zeiss-designed lens for Sony cameras with T* coating.
Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z) specifications
- Brand
- Sony
- Mount
- Sony A
- Focal length
- 135mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/1.8
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 2006
- Optical construction
- 11 elements in 9 groups
- Aperture blades
- 9
- Autofocus motor
- screw-drive
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.72 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.25x
- Filter thread
- 77 mm
- Weight
- 1050 g
- Length
- 115 mm
Specification source: dyxum.com
What can you shoot with the Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z)?
- Portraits with strong subject separation
- Weddings and events
- Indoor sports and stage work
Its fast maximum aperture helps in dim light and gives good subject separation.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 135mm | 15.2° | 18.2° |
| APS-C | 1.5x | 203mm | 10.2° | 12.2° |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 ZA good for portraits?
Yes, it is one of the best-known portrait telephotos for A-mount. The f/1.8 aperture gives a thin plane of focus and smooth background blur at a comfortable working distance.
What kind of autofocus does the Sonnar 135mm F1.8 ZA use?
It relies on the screw-drive motor in the camera body, not a motor in the lens. Focus speed therefore depends on which A-mount body you use.
Is the Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 ZA stabilized?
No. It has no stabilization of its own, so use a camera body with SteadyShot or keep shutter speeds fast.
Alternatives for Sony A from other brands
All Sony A lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
