NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ Lens

The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ is a professional full-frame power-zoom lens designed specifically for cinema, documentary, commercial and live-event production. Its broad focal-length range moves from a useful wide angle to a compressed telephoto perspective, while the constant f/4 aperture maintains consistent exposure throughout the zoom.

Internal zooming keeps the lens’s length and center of gravity stable, making it particularly well suited to gimbals, shoulder rigs, robotic systems and other professional support equipment. Eleven selectable zoom speeds, smooth acceleration and minimal focus shift while zooming provide the precise, repeatable control required for serious video production.

🎥 Key Benefits

• Professional 28-135mm full-frame power-zoom range

• Constant f/4 maximum aperture

• Internal zoom with stable center of gravity

• Eleven selectable power-zoom speeds

• Smooth ease-in and ease-out zoom movement

• Minimal focus shift while zooming

• Video-oriented optical and mechanical design

• Three ED and four aspherical elements

• One aspherical ED element

• Nikon Meso Amorphous Coat

• Fast, quiet stepping-motor autofocus

• Customizable lens controls

• Detachable tripod collar

• Standard 95mm filter thread

• Fluorine-coated front element

• Dust- and moisture-resistant construction

🔭 Wide-to-Telephoto Production Coverage

The lens covers an extensive range of perspectives:

• 28mm: Establishing shots, interiors, groups and environmental scenes

• 35mm: Documentary work, interviews and natural wide compositions

• 50mm: General coverage and natural perspectives

• 70–85mm: Interviews, portraits and medium close-ups

• 105–135mm: Tight portraits, details and compressed perspectives

This 4.8-times range allows a single operator to move from a broad scene to a tight detail without changing lenses.

On a Nikon DX-format camera, it provides an angle of view comparable to approximately 42-202.5mm on full frame.

⚡ Smooth Power Zoom

The built-in power-zoom mechanism provides repeatable, electronically controlled zoom movement.

Eleven selectable speed settings allow operators to choose between very slow cinematic zooms and rapid reframing. Smooth acceleration and deceleration create natural-looking ease-in and ease-out transitions rather than abrupt starts and stops.

Power zoom can be especially valuable for:

• Live events

• Documentary production

• Interviews

• Commercial video

• Concerts and performances

• Corporate presentations

• Remote-camera operation

• Single-operator productions

🔄 Internal Zoom Design

The lens remains the same physical length throughout its entire zoom range.

Internal zooming provides several important production advantages:

• Stable center of gravity

• Consistent gimbal balance

• No extending outer barrel

• Easier use with matte boxes

• Predictable operation on sliders and jibs

• Reduced interference with rig accessories

• Improved resistance to dust and moisture

Once a rig is balanced at 28mm, it remains substantially more stable as the lens is zoomed toward 135mm.

🌟 Constant f/4 Aperture

The lens maintains its f/4 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range.

Exposure therefore remains consistent as the composition changes from wide angle to telephoto. This prevents the visible brightness shifts associated with variable-aperture zoom lenses.

A constant aperture is particularly important for:

• Live zooms during recording

• Manual-exposure video

• Multi-camera productions

• Controlled studio lighting

• Interviews

• Stage and event coverage

The lens can be stopped down to f/22 when greater depth of field is required.

🎬 Minimal Focus Shift While Zooming

The optical and electronic design minimizes unwanted focus movement as the focal length changes.

This helps a selected subject remain sharp during a live zoom, reducing the need for visible focus corrections. The result is more natural, polished footage for documentary, event and narrative production.

No photographic zoom is perfectly parfocal under every condition, so critical professional work should still be monitored carefully.

🔎 Video-Oriented Optical Design

The lens contains 18 elements arranged in 13 groups, including:

• Three ED glass elements

• One aspherical ED element

• Four aspherical elements

These specialized components help control:

• Chromatic aberration

• Color fringing

• Distortion

• Spherical aberration

• Loss of resolution toward the frame edges

The lens provides strong detail and consistent image quality throughout its extended zoom range.

✨ Meso Amorphous Coat

Nikon’s Meso Amorphous Coat helps suppress internal reflections and maintain contrast when strong light sources appear within or near the frame.

This is valuable during:

• Stage productions

• Concerts

• Backlit interviews

• Commercial lighting setups

• Bright interiors

• Outdoor productions

• Nighttime city scenes

The coating helps reduce flare and ghosting while preserving natural color and clarity.

🎯 Fast, Quiet Autofocus

A stepping motor provides quiet, responsive autofocus for video and still photography.

The lens works with the eye- and subject-detection capabilities of compatible Nikon Z cameras, assisting with focus on people, animals, vehicles and other recognized subjects.

Smooth focus transitions and quiet operation help reduce distractions during audio recording.

🌸 Close-Focusing Performance

Minimum focus distance is approximately:

• 0.34m at 28mm

• 0.57m at 135mm

Maximum reproduction reaches approximately 0.25x between 55mm and 135mm.

This provides useful close-up capability for:

• Products

• Food

• Hands and demonstrations

• Musical instruments

• Event details

• Documentary inserts

• Commercial B-roll

🎛️ Production-Ready Controls

The lens provides dedicated controls for efficient video operation, including power-zoom control and customizable lens functions.

Depending on the connected camera and production setup, zoom operation can be controlled from:

• The lens

• Compatible camera controls

• Supported remote controllers

• Compatible computer or network workflows

The ability to control zoom remotely is especially useful when the camera is mounted on a jib, gimbal, crane or fixed remote position.

🎥 Gimbal and Rig Compatibility

The fixed physical length and stable center of gravity make the lens suitable for a broad range of professional equipment:

• Motorized gimbals

• Shoulder rigs

• Cinema cages

• Matte boxes

• Follow-focus systems

• Sliders

• Jibs and cranes

• Tripods and fluid heads

• Remote-camera systems

At approximately 1.21 kilograms with its tripod collar, the lens requires support equipment rated for the complete camera-and-lens payload.

🦶 Detachable Tripod Collar

The supplied tripod collar allows the lens to be mounted directly to a tripod or other support system.

Mounting through the collar improves balance and reduces stress on the camera’s lens mount. The camera-and-lens combination can also be rotated more easily for vertical still photography when supported through the collar.

🛡️ Camera-Based Stabilization

The lens does not contain optical Vibration Reduction.

Compatible Nikon Z cameras provide in-body stabilization, including:

• Nikon Z5II

• Nikon Z6II and Z6III

• Nikon Z7II

• Nikon Z8

• Nikon Z9

• Nikon Zf

For professional video, the lens can also be supported using a tripod, monopod, shoulder rig or gimbal.

🔘 Standard 95mm Filters

The lens accepts professional 95mm screw-in filters, including:

• Neutral-density filters

• Variable neutral-density filters

• Circular polarizing filters

• Protective filters

Neutral-density filtration allows filmmakers to maintain the desired shutter speed and f/4 aperture in bright conditions.

The front does not rotate during focusing or zooming, allowing polarizing and graduated filter settings to remain consistent.

🌦️ Professional Weather Resistance

Sealing around moving components and controls helps resist dust and moisture during location work.

The front element uses a fluorine coating that helps repel water, fingerprints and dirt while making the glass easier to clean.

The lens is weather resistant rather than waterproof, and appropriate protection remains necessary during severe conditions.

📐 Important Specifications

• Focal length: 28-135mm

• Zoom ratio: Approximately 4.8x

• Maximum aperture: Constant f/4

• Minimum aperture: f/22

• Lens construction: 18 elements in 13 groups

• Minimum focus distance: 0.34m at 28mm; 0.57m at 135mm

• Maximum reproduction ratio: Approximately 0.25x

• Diaphragm: Nine rounded blades

• Filter size: 95mm

• Maximum diameter: Approximately 105mm

• Length: Approximately 177.5mm

• Weight with tripod collar: Approximately 1,210g

• Weight without tripod collar: Approximately 1,120g

• Zoom design: Internal power zoom

👤 Ideal For

The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ is especially well suited to:

• Professional filmmakers

• Documentary crews

• Commercial video production

• Corporate and educational productions

• Live events and stage performances

• Wedding filmmakers

• Interviews and talking-head productions

• Gimbal and shoulder-rig operators

• Remote-camera applications

• Small production teams

• Solo creators who need broad coverage from one lens

• Hybrid photographers who require controlled power zoom

🆚 28-135mm f/4 PZ vs. 24-120mm f/4 S

Choose the 28-135mm f/4 PZ when you prioritize:

• Powered zoom movement

• Internal zooming

• Stable gimbal balance

• Remote zoom control

• Minimal focus shift while zooming

• Greater telephoto reach

• Professional video production

Choose the 24-120mm f/4 S when you prioritize:

• A wider 24mm starting point

• Much lower weight

• Smaller 77mm filters

• Travel and handheld photography

• Premium S-Line still-image versatility

• A compact general-purpose system

Both provide a constant f/4 aperture, but the 28-135mm is purpose-built for production while the 24-120mm is an all-purpose photo-video lens.

🆚 28-135mm f/4 PZ vs. 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

Choose the 28-135mm f/4 PZ when you need:

• Power zoom

• A much longer focal-length range

• Remote operation

• Stable rig balance

• Controlled cinematic zoom movements

• One-lens production coverage

Choose the 24-70mm f/2.8 S II when you prioritize:

• A wider 24mm perspective

• A brighter f/2.8 aperture

• Lower weight

• Shallower depth of field

• Weddings and low-light events

• Handheld hybrid photography

The 28-135mm is the specialized production zoom, while the 24-70mm f/2.8 S II is the faster general professional zoom.

📦 In the Box

• NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens

• Detachable tripod collar

• LC-95B 95mm front lens cap

• LF-N1 rear lens cap

• HB-116 bayonet lens hood

• CL-C5 lens case

• Documentation

🧩 Recommended Kit Pairings

Complete your production system with:

• Nikon Z8 or Z9 for internal 8K RAW and 4K/120p recording

• Nikon Z6III for compact professional hybrid production

• Nikon ZR for dedicated cinema-focused operation

• High-quality 95mm neutral-density filters

• Professional video tripod and fluid head

• Heavy-duty motorized gimbal

• Camera cage and support rails

• Matte box

• External monitor

• Professional microphone or audio recorder

• High-capacity CFexpress Type B cards

• Additional camera batteries or continuous power supply

• Protective hard case

🏪 Why Buy from Cameragraphics?

Cameragraphics is an authorized Nikon dealer staffed by professional photographers who can help configure the 28-135mm f/4 PZ for studio, documentary, event or cinema production.

We specialize in current mirrorless camera systems and do not stock DSLR products. Our team can help you select compatible cameras, filters, memory cards and support equipment for a complete Nikon Z production system.

Cameragraphics — Serving Auburn Since 1974.