7Artisans 135mm f/1.8 AF Brings Budget Telephoto to Nikon Z

Nikon Z shooters have had slim pickings for affordable fast telephotos. That gap just got smaller. 7Artisans is shipping a 135mm f/1.8 with STM autofocus for Z-mount, and if the price holds where their other Max AF lenses have landed, it undercuts Nikon's native options by a significant margin. For portrait photographers and event shooters who need reach and light-gathering without spending flagship money, this is the lens to watch. Third-party glass closing the Z-mount gap is a real trend right now, and 7Artisans is one of the few brands actually delivering AF, not just manual focus novelties.