A magnificent medium-telephoto prime

A standout performer among medium telephoto primes, this superlative ZEISS Sonnar design satisfies the most demanding technical requirements as well as artistic needs. If you’re considering a prime lens in this focal length class for portraiture, low-light photography, and more on a full-frame A-mount camera, the SAL135F18Z is simply the best.

Exceptional contrast and realistic rendering

Two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements in a precision optical design effectively compensate for chromatic aberration, and that supports high resolving power and stunning contrast that remain consistent throughout the lens’s aperture range. The deepest contrast and most delicate gradations are reproduced with natural realism.

Sharp subjects backed by smooth bokeh

An F1.8 maximum aperture and 9-blade circular aperture design offer broad depth of field control for razor-sharp foregrounds with smooth background bokeh when required. The large maximum aperture also makes it possible to use higher shutter speeds when shooting action in difficult lighting.

Get close for small subjects and details

This lens can focus as close as 0.72 meters centimeters for a 0.25x magnification ratio that makes it possible to capture small subjects and details with the same outstanding sharpness and overall quality as larger subjects. You can also use the lens’s smooth background bokeh capability to make tiny subjects really stand out.

Outstanding colour and contrast

ZEISS lenses are renowned for their outstanding colour reproduction and contrast. The ZEISS T* coating is an important contributing factor, effectively suppressing spurious reflections that can degrade overall image quality. Flare and ghosting are reduced for enhanced colour and contrast that give images a deep, three-dimensional feel.

Clear images in low light

With its large F1.8 maximum aperture the SAL135F18Z is a great choice for hand-held shooting in low light. Its low-light capability is further reinforced when used with a camera that features SteadyShot™ INSIDE, the in-camera image stabilization system that effectively compensates for camera shake in a wide range of shooting situations.