This refers to a specific photographic lens manufactured by Nikon. It is a manual focus lens characterized by its 135mm focal length and a very fast f/2.0 aperture. The “AIS” designation indicates that it is part of Nikon’s Advanced Integrated System, a feature that allows for compatibility with a wider range of Nikon cameras, particularly those with automatic exposure modes.
The significance of this lies in its optical qualities and build. The fast aperture enables photographers to capture images in low-light conditions and to create a shallow depth of field, resulting in appealing background blur (bokeh). Its manual focus design demands precision and skill from the user, contributing to a more deliberate and controlled photographic process. Historically, such lenses were highly valued for portraiture, photojournalism, and general purpose photography due to their ability to isolate subjects and render them with clarity.
