In the past six weeks I have reviewed two amazing 135mm lenses – both in Nikon Z mount.  That’s great, as 18 months ago we had zero 135mm lenses.  Both of them have tremendous strengths and a lot of similarities…but they are priced radically different, with the LAB coming in at $900 USD and the Plena closer to $2500 USD.  Is the Plena worth it?  Does the LAB make the Plena irrelevant?  It’s complicated…so let’s dive in. You can get my full thoughts in the video review below or by checking out a summary of my findings in the article below.

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Thanks to Chris at Nikon Canada for sending me a review loaner of the Plena and to Chloe from Viltrox for supplying me a review copy of the LAB.   As always, this is a completely independent review.  All opinions and conclusions are my own. *The tests and most of the photos that I share as a part of my review cycle have been done with the 45MP Nikon Z8, which I reviewed here.

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Plena Reviews: Text | or Video

Viltrox Reviews: Text | Video

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Similarities

• Same focal length and aperture
• Mostly similar feature set (Aperture/Control ring, AF | MF, Function)
• Both weather sealed
• Autofocus speed and feel pretty similar*
• Optically very similar (portrait comparisons)

Neutral Differences

• One is wider (Plena); one is longer (LAB) – within 1% of volume

Reasons to Choose LAB:

1. Price (currently $899 (less with discount), so -$1600
2. More customizable – LCD screen allows you to set A – B focus
3. Has focus limiter and click/declick aperture
4. Slightly less distortion
5. Nicer build? (definitely nicer hood)
6. Sharper in mid-frame and corners
7. Higher magnification

Reasons to Choose PLENA:

1. Much lighter at 995 weights 273g less than LAB (1268g)
2. Can do smooth aperture racks
3. Manually focuses smoother
4. Rounder specular highlights
5. About half the vignette
6. More focus consistency
7. More reactive focus
8. A few less video focus quirks*
9. Sharper center

Conclusion

I think it is safe to say that differences in performance between the two lenses are subtle.  They are both incredible optically, but I did encounter more quirks with the Viltrox (needs a firmware update – 16mm).  There were moments using them side by side where I was reminded that one was a first party lens and the other a third party lens.  I would still call the Plena the better lens, all things considered.  BUT – $1600 is a lot of money, and I think the case can be easily made that the LAB is giving you at least 90-95% of the performance on the Plena – and you could buy 2.7 LABs for the price of one Plena.

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GEAR USED:

Purchase the Nikkor Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena @ The Camera Store | B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

Purchase the Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 LAB @ Viltrox (use code DUSTINABBOTT for 5% off) | B&H | Adorama | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

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Purchase the Nikon Z8 @ B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

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