Rokinon 135mm f/2.0 Review

If you're a Nikon shooter hunting for a dedicated portrait lens that won't break the bank, the Samyang Rokinon 135mm f/2.0 is a classic choice. It's a full-frame prime lens that gives you a tight, flattering focal length and a bright f/2 aperture for beautiful background blur. At around $389, it sits in that sweet spot between budget-friendly manual lenses and expensive first-party autofocus glass. People often ask, 'is this lens good for portraits?' With a 70th percentile score for that exact use case, the answer is a clear yes. It's built for one job and does it well, though its hefty 815g weight and lack of weather sealing mean it's not exactly a travel companion.

This lens is all about the image quality, and it delivers. Its optical performance lands in the 68th percentile, and you can see that in the sharpness and color rendering, especially when stopped down a bit from f/2. The bokeh quality is a real highlight, sitting in the 75th percentile. That means creamy, smooth backgrounds that make your subject pop, which is exactly what you want from a portrait lens. The autofocus is its main practical weakness, scoring in the 47th percentile. It's not slow, but it can hunt a bit in lower light and isn't as snappy or silent as modern Nikon Z glass. For controlled portrait sessions, it's perfectly fine, but you wouldn't want to rely on it for fast-moving subjects.

At $389, the Samyang 135mm f/2.0 represents strong value if your primary goal is portrait photography on a Nikon DSLR. You're getting pro-level bokeh and sharpness at a fraction of the cost of a Nikon 105mm f/1.4. The trade-off is in the autofocus performance, build features, and sheer size. If you need a more versatile walk-around lens or lightning-fast AF, your money might be better spent elsewhere. But for a tool dedicated to making people look great, it's hard to beat this price-to-performance ratio.

Let's name some names. If you're looking at other third-party options, the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 or Meike 55mm f/1.8 are much more versatile focal lengths but won't give you the same compressed, flattering look as the 135mm. They're also generally lighter. The real competition is from Nikon itself. The older AF-D 135mm f/2 DC is a legendary lens but often costs more used and has an older AF motor. For Nikon Z mirrorless users, adapting this Samyang is an option, but native Z lenses like the 85mm f/1.8 S will have far superior autofocus and stabilization. This Samyang wins on pure optical character for portraits at its price point, but loses on convenience and speed compared to most modern alternatives.

So, should you buy this lens? If you shoot portraits on a Nikon DSLR and want stunning bokeh without spending a fortune, this is an easy recommendation. Buy it, use it for headshots and full-body portraits, and you'll be thrilled with the images. But if you need a lens for travel, video, or fast-paced events, look elsewhere. The autofocus and weight hold it back from being an all-rounder. It's a specialist, and a very good one at that. For the right photographer, it's a tool that pays for itself in beautiful pictures.