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The Many Possibilities of 135mm Lens

If you’ve ever wondered what a 135mm lens is good for, this guide may highlight a few surprises. The 135mm focal length offers more flexibility than many photographers expect, spanning portraiture, detail work and selective compression. Our video creator Gareth explores what makes this telephoto lens so appealing, along with recommendations on which 135mm lenses are worth considering.

Quick summary of 135mm lens pros and cons

Pros

• More versatile than you might think
• Desirable subject separation and natural compression
• Excellent for studio and location portraits
• Wide apertures allow shallow depth of field and low-light shooting
• Encourages more deliberate framing

Cons

• Tend to be larger and heavier than shorter focal width primes
• Often more expensive than shorter focal lengths
• Greater working distance can be challenging indoors
• Less flexible than zoom lenses for fast-paced subjects

With that in mind, let’s explore the kinds of subjects a 135mm prime lens works particularly well for.

Nick Dautlich with Sony FE 135mm F/1.8 GM lens. Camera settings: 1/8000 sec. f/1.8. ISO 100

What is a 135mm lens good for?

A 135mm lens is good for a surprisingly broad variety of subjects. This short telephoto focal length is often paired with a wide maximum aperture, making it a strong choice for portraits of people and pets, as well as selective landscapes, street photography and product work. There are also specialised 135mm lenses available, including macro and tilt-shift options.

Although commonly associated with portrait photography, the usefulness of a 135mm lens extends well beyond that. The focal length allows you to isolate subjects with precision while maintaining a comfortable working distance, which helps when photographing people, details, or scenes where subject separation is important.

In practice, 135mm lenses are often used for candid photography, events, stage performances and tighter documentary framing, where stepping back slightly improves composition without intruding on the scene. The natural compression and perspective can help subjects stand out cleanly from their surroundings.

Because most 135mm lenses are prime designs, they typically offer wide apertures that support low-light shooting and shallow depth of field effects. This balance of reach, optical quality and subject isolation is what makes the 135mm focal length appealing to photographers looking to move beyond more common focal lengths.

Marc Haers with Sigma 135mm F/1.4 DG Art Lens For L Mount. Camera settings: 1/100 sec. f/1.4. ISO 50

A quick list of potential subjects this lens covers include:

• Portraits and studio portraits
• Fashion and lifestyle photography
• Events and weddings
• Sports and action
• Food and product photography
• Detail and close-up compositions
• Stage performances and live music
• Video and cinematic detail shots

Sample photo 1 with Sony FE 135mm F/1.8 GM lens. Camera settings: 1/2500 sec. f/1.8. ISO 100 © Cristiano Ostinelli

Why choose a 135mm prime lens?

Many photographers prefer prime lenses because they can potentially capture higher image quality, and have a brighter maximum aperture than similar zooms. With a prime lens, working at a single focal length also encourages you to refine your technique for that specific perspective, helping you become more confident in recognising compositions for the frame.

This combination is particularly useful at 135mm, allowing you to shoot handheld in lower light while experimenting with shallow depth of field to separate your subject more effectively. The focal length naturally lends itself to closer framing and considered positioning, which many photographers find rewarding.

Compared to zoom lenses, a 135mm telephoto prime typically has fewer optical compromises and often delivers better edge-to-edge sharpness. If you’re weighing up whether a prime or zoom lens is right for your style of photography, our guide to prime vs zoom lenses explores the key differences and any trade-offs you make in far more detail.

Sample photo 2 with Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 lens. Camera settings: 1/125 sec. f/1.8. ISO 200

What does a 135mm focal length look like in practice?

We’ve included several sample photos to show how a 135mm lens compresses an image across different subjects. This is a tighter focal length, framing subjects more closely than lenses such as an 85mm prime, which is another popular choice for portraits and similar types of photography.

At this range, it’s easy to create more selective compositions. When shooting in the landscape or city, a 135mm lens allows you to isolate distant features and create abstract-style images, whether that’s architectural details, trees, or rock formations.

Many 135mm prime lenses also offer wide maximum apertures, which can be used to excellent effect. Shooting wide open at apertures such as f/1.8 produces a very shallow depth of field at this focal length, helping isolate your subject and render smooth out-of-focus areas that reduce visual distractions.

This can result in pleasing bokeh and subtle light separation, whether you’re photographing portraits, food, or carefully framed details within a wider scene. The tr

Sample photo 3 with Canon TS-E 135mm F/4L Tilt Shift Macro Lens. Camera settings: 1/125 sec. f/4. ISO 100

Using a 135mm lens for portraits

A 135mm lens is especially popular for portrait photography because it produces a flattering perspective and natural-looking compression. Facial features appear well balanced, and the increased working distance helps subjects feel more relaxed, which can be useful in many situations.

Studio photographers often favour 135mm for headshots and portraits when they have enough space to step back. The focal length also makes it easier to separate a subject from the background. When paired with the wide apertures typical of many 135mm prime lenses, you can achieve a shallow depth of field with buttery smooth background blur, helping keep attention on the subject without distracting elements in the frame.

Because you’re positioned slightly further back when shooting, a 135mm lens works well for outdoor portraits, events and situations where you don’t want to intrude on the scene. It does, however, require more working distance, which makes it less suitable for small indoor studios or confined spaces.

This combination of compression, subject isolation and comfortable shooting distance is why the 135mm focal length is such a favourite among portrait photographers. But how about other subject such as sports?

Nick Dautlich with Sony FE 135mm F/1.8 GM lens. Camera settings: 1/800 sec. f/1.8. ISO 100

Is a 135mm lens good for sports and action?

Yes, a lens of this type can work well for certain kinds of sports and action photography, particularly when you’re shooting from the sidelines or need to capture subjects at a moderate distance. This focal length allows you to frame individual players and moments tightly without needing a telephoto zoom, but you should expect to crop-in at times.

That said, a 135mm lens is generally better suited to indoor sports, performances and more controlled environments such as weddings, rather than fast-moving outdoor sports where longer reach and zoom flexibility are more practical. Autofocus performance and shooting distance are also important considerations, as tracking moving subjects becomes more demanding at this focal length.

Nick Dautlich with Sony FE 135mm F/1.8 GM lens. Camera settings: 1/500 sec. f/1.8. ISO 200

Can a 135mm lens work for both photography and video?

A 135mm focal length is widely used for both photography and video due to its ability to isolate subjects and create strong separation. The same characteristics that appeal to photographers also make it popular with filmmakers, particularly when a compressed perspective and shallow depth of field are desired.

In video, 135mm lenses are commonly used for interviews, detail shots and cinematic cutaways, where tighter framing helps draw attention to specific elements within the scene. There are a number of video-centric brands that produce dedicated cinema lenses, including Samyang, XEEN and Canon, offering features for filmmaking such as geared focus rings and consistent aperture control.

If you’re a hybrid creator a 135mm lens is a versatile choice for photo and video. Because of the longer working distance, you can capture more natural performances without being super close to the subject, which is useful for documentary, live performances or scenes where discretion is favourable.

The 135mm perspective can add compelling visual emphasis that works for narrative and factual filmmaking.

Sample photo 4 with Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 lens. Camera settings: 1/400 sec. f/2.8. ISO 100

Specialised 135mm lenses

There are a small number of specialised lenses at this focal length that offer creative options beyond standard prime designs. These lenses are typically aimed at photographers who want greater control over perspective, focus or close-up capability.

One example of a specialised stills lens at this focal length is the Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L Macro. This tilt-shift lens combines telephoto compression with selective perspective control, along with the ability to capture close-ups at up to 1:2 magnification.

With a ±10° tilt range and ±12mm of shift, the lens allows you to correct converging verticals, experiment with selective focus effects, or create a miniature ‘toy-town’ style look. These features make it particularly useful for architectural photography, striking portraits and other controlled subjects.

Browse our range of used Canon lenses to find specialised options of this kind.

Sample photo 5 with Canon TS-E 135mm F/4L Tilt Shift Macro Lens. Camera settings: 1/1300 sec. f/4. ISO 100

Which 135mm lens should you buy?

Although 135mm isn’t as common as focal lengths such as 50mm or 85mm, there are options for every camera system. Most modern 135mm lenses are made for mirrorless cameras, although some well-regarded DSLR lenses remain in use via adapters.

To help you decide which 135mm lens to buy, we’ve put together a table of popular options for various camera systems below, with a special mention for the recently released Sigma 135mm F/1.4 DG Art Lens, which launched as the fastest lens of this kind for mirrorless cameras.

Please note that on APS-C cameras, lenses around 90mm provide a similar field of view to a 135mm lens on full-frame.

Video review

Watch Gareth’s video here, where he explores the many possibilities of a 135mm lens.

Summary

A 135mm telephoto prime is surprisingly versatile. It lets you tackle portraits full of character, landscape vignettes, street, details, indoor sports and more, while giving you beautiful subject separation and compression. Wide apertures are common at this focal length, which is ideal for low‑light shooting and smooth background blur. It may not be as ubiquitous as 35mm or 50mm, but it is well worth considering when choosing a telephoto prime for your own kit.

On a personal note, I’m fortunate to shoot with the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM. If restricted to just one lens from my current kit, this would be a strong contender as it really suits the way I like to shoot.

Browse our huge variety of camera lenses from every brand to find your own perfect focal length.

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By Nick Dautlich on 28/06/2022

Nick Dautlich

Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer

Nick Dautlich is the Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer at Park Cameras, with over 15 years of photography experience. A Sony Imaging Professional and expert reviewer, Nick has worked with major brands such as Canon, Sony and Nikon. His work is also featured on Vanguard World UK’s website, Capture Landscapes, and Shutter Evolve. Nick’s photography includes National Trust projects and magazine covers and he is passionate about landscapes and storytelling. Nick also enjoys hiking and teaching his children about nature. Learn more on his profile page.