7Artisans AF 135mm f/1.8

This 2026 prime from 7Artisans pairs a 135mm focal length with a bright f/1.8 aperture. That combination suits portrait photographers above all. The focal length frames tight head shots from a polite distance, and the aperture admits plenty of light.

It also suits stage performances, indoor sport and weddings, where light is often poor and you need reach across a room without crowding people.

Each version covers full frame, and the lens comes in Leica L, Nikon Z and Sony E mounts. Choose the version made for your camera system. The trade-off is weight. Large f/1.8 glass at 135mm makes this a heavy prime. The fixed focal length also removes a zoom's framing flexibility.

The lens weighs 2 lb 3.8 oz (1014 g) and runs 5.12 in (130 mm) long, so it feels substantial on the camera. The Leica L version is 3.58 in (91 mm) wide; other mounts differ. A screw-in filter attaches directly and must match the 82mm thread.

At 135mm, portraits benefit most. A head-and-shoulders framing leaves room between you and the sitter, which helps relaxed expressions. The view also compresses the scene behind a subject, so a busy background sits close and blurs softly. The same reach works for stage, outdoor sport and distant detail on location.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture is generous for a 135mm prime. It admits more light than a typical zoom, so evening stage light needs less ISO gain. Wide open, depth of field is shallow enough to lift a face from a cluttered background. Stopped down a stop or two, more of the face stays sharp.

Twelve aperture blades help keep the opening round as it stops down. That helps background highlights stay circular in portraits shot at f/2.8 or f/4. Round highlights suit street lights and sunlit foliage behind a subject. The lens focuses to 2.2 ft (68 cm), close enough for tight head shots. It also reaches 0.25x magnification, which frames detail such as hands and jewellery.

The optics specification score is 88/100.

The lens is weather sealed, which helps guard the moving parts against dust and moisture. Outdoor portrait sessions and sport on changeable days benefit, since you keep shooting rather than sheltering the camera.

A fluorine coating on the front element helps water and oil slide off. Rain spots and fingerprints wipe away from the exposed glass more easily, which is handy when you work close to people.

There is no built-in image stabilisation, so steadying the camera falls to your technique or a support. At 135mm, camera shake shows more readily than at shorter focal lengths, so plan for a tripod in dim light. The features specification score is 52/100.

Inside sit 16 elements in 13 groups. Six of them are low-dispersion glass, which helps reduce chromatic aberration. Without that correction, colours can focus at slightly different points and leave fringes along high-contrast edges, such as a pale face against a bright sky.