Trioplan 100 f2.8 II

The Trioplan 100 f2.8 II delivers the best soap-bubble bokeh we've ever seen — it's a 92nd percentile standout for that alone. It's a manual, all-metal, no-frills lens that costs a lot for a specialty item, but if you crave that vintage dreaminess, nothing else comes close. Just don't expect autofocus, weather sealing, or modern optical perfection.

The Trioplan 100 f2.8 II is a remake of a cult classic, and it's built for one thing: that ridiculously dreamy soap-bubble bokeh. If you've never seen it, imagine out-of-focus highlights turning into perfect little circles with sharp, bright edges — it's wild, and no modern zoom lens can replicate it. This version gets a mechanical overhaul and updated coatings, so it's sharper and more contrasty than the original, but still entirely manual and a bit quirky.

We're talking a full-metal, 391g prime for Nikon Z that feels expensive and looks the part. But don't mistake it for a do-everything lens — it's a specialist's tool. It's unapologetically old-school, with no autofocus, no stabilization, and no weather sealing. You'll work for your shots, but the payoff is that vintage, painterly look that stands out from every algorithmically optimized image out there.

The headline here is bokeh, and at the 92nd percentile in our database, it's among the absolute best. The 15-blade diaphragm stays circular at nearly every aperture, and the classic triplet optical design does its magic — backgrounds melt away into a swirling, bubbly dreamscape. Sharpness and contrast are noticeably improved over the original, though the lens still falls short of modern optical standards; its 16th percentile optical score confirms this thing is not about clinical sharpness across the frame. You'll get some glow wide open, and it's pretty susceptible to flare. But for portraits and creative street shots, it's a character lens that's genuinely fun. Just know that manual focus with a 900mm minimum distance means you're not getting tight headshots without cropping.

At $999 to $1369 depending on where you buy, this lens is a tough sell unless you're absolutely in love with the bokeh. B&H tends to have the best price, but even at the low end, you're paying a premium for hand-built German craftsmanship and a one-of-a-kind look. It's not a practical purchase — an 85mm f/1.8 lens with autofocus and modern coatings costs less — but if you're after that specific vintage vibe and you'll use it often, the price isn't insane for what is essentially a boutique optical instrument.

Competitors from Nikon, Canon, and Sigma are all pragmatic zooms with autofocus, stabilization, and far more versatility — they'll run circles around the Trioplan for everyday use, landscapes, and video. But none of them can touch the bubble bokeh. If you compare spec sheets, this lens looks like a disaster; next to a Nikon Z 18-140mm, it's laughably niche. The Viltrox AF 9mm is a completely different beast, and the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 offers speed and modern convenience. The Trioplan is in a league of its own — you're picking it for a specific artistic result, not because it scores well on any practical metric.

Skip this lens if you need autofocus, weather sealing, or any kind of versatility. Landscape and architecture shooters will hate the soft edges and flare, and anyone on a budget can get modern f/1.8 primes with better sharpness for less. If you're not specifically after the soap-bubble bokeh, you're paying a huge premium for a manual lens that underperforms on optical metrics.

This lens is for photographers who know exactly what they're getting into: a manual-focus, character-heavy prime that produces images with a truly distinctive look. If you're bored of clinical sharpness and want something that feels like shooting with a classic lens but on a modern Z body, the Trioplan 100 f2.8 II is a joy. It's not for beginners, not for landscape shooters, and definitely not for anyone who wants a set-it-and-forget-it experience.