The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena and the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR is the longer of the two lenses at 268mm. The Nikon Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena with a length of 140mm, is 128mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR also has a larger diameter of 124mm compared to the Nikon Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena's 98mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Nikon Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena weighs 995g, which means it is 1855g (65%) lighter than the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR which has a weight of 2850g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 135mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
202.5mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 450mm.
