Camera Review: Canon 135mm f/2 L - the Lord of the Red Rings?

12 years 10 months ago #107991 by PhotographyTalk
Canon's 135mm lens is one of Canon's lenses that has gained a strong reputation for it's sharpness and has been labelled as the "Sharpest L Lens". The folks with DigitalRev put this lens though the test gauntlet and share with you the results!

Enjoy!



The following user(s) said Thank You: Chilli
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12 years 9 months ago #116107 by momen
Hi,

Thank you for sharing this video. I'm actually about to go shopping for my zoom lens and I finally narrowed down my options to primes (not sure if it actually makes sense to not have a zoom, but I'm willing to trade that for the image quality of the prime). I'm now with 2 finalists; namely the 135mm f/2.0L and the 200mm f/2.8L. The 135mm is around $250 more expensive than the other one, but I don't mind the difference. The question here is, since this is probably going to be my only lens before a long time, which one do you recommend between the two? Obviously the 135mm is faster, but I could also use the 65mm extra focal length, any advice from someone who tried both?

Sorry about the lengthy post.. :blink:


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12 years 8 months ago #131039 by fm48
I own this lens and it is sharp as heck across the frame .Fast focus color contrast etc .Excellent. no complaints here on this end.


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12 years 8 months ago #131437 by advaitin
The 135mm L will take Canon's superb new 1.4 and 2X teleconverters. this will give you either a 189mm f2.8 or 270mm f 4. But by the time you have spent the money for all of that, you could easily have the equally superb 70-200mm f2.8 L IS II lens--which mates even better to the two TCs.

See, it's a never-ending cycle.


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12 years 8 months ago #131439 by MLKstudios
He made the point if you are going to shoot models professionally, use a professional hair and makeup person as well. Any tiny flaw gets magnified.

:)

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 8 months ago #131452 by Stealthy Ninja

momen wrote: Hi,

Thank you for sharing this video. I'm actually about to go shopping for my zoom lens and I finally narrowed down my options to primes (not sure if it actually makes sense to not have a zoom, but I'm willing to trade that for the image quality of the prime). I'm now with 2 finalists; namely the 135mm f/2.0L and the 200mm f/2.8L. The 135mm is around $250 more expensive than the other one, but I don't mind the difference. The question here is, since this is probably going to be my only lens before a long time, which one do you recommend between the two? Obviously the 135mm is faster, but I could also use the 65mm extra focal length, any advice from someone who tried both?

Sorry about the lengthy post.. :blink:


Depends what you're gonna use it for. I use to own a 200 2.8L and a 100L (I know it's not the 135, but it's close).

If you're doing portraits, then go for the 135 I'd say.

If you want to shoot things a bit further away, then the 200 would be good.

Depends on what camera you have too. If it's a FF camera (5DII for example) then I'm right, if not then IMHO 135mm is a bit long for a crop camera (if you're shooting portraits).

The 200 2.8L is just as sharp as the 135mm and only a touch slower. However you'll likely get a nicer look for portraits if you use the 135mm.

If I were you I'd get the 135mm and a 70-200 2.8L IS II. The 70-200 2.8L IS II is just as sharp as the 200 2.8L and it has IS. BUT it might be a bit hard on the pocket.
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12 years 8 months ago #131454 by Stealthy Ninja
Alternatively, get yourself a 85mm 1.4 from sigma and the 70-200 2.8L IS II. 85 1.4 is great for portraits (FF or Crop) and the 70-200 2.8L IS II will do the rest. :)
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12 years 8 months ago #131469 by momen
Thank you all for sharing those valuable information! I have actually went ahead and bought the 135mm as I couldn't resist all the GREAT reviews on its sharpness! :owned:

I got a chance to try it very briefly and I have already fallen in love with it (FYI, it's my first L series lens)! I use a cropped sensor body and I will use it for various purposes. Portraits is just one of them, but I would also do some street candids, travel (not sure what I would need it for then) and possibly some close ups (not micro). I needed a longer focal length as the longest I had before was 85mm.

Over time, I will asses my need for having an even longer focal length and will decide whether to get a 70-200mm 2.8 or an extension tube (depending on the pocket size then :))


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12 years 8 months ago - 12 years 8 months ago #131480 by Stealthy Ninja

momen wrote: Over time, I will asses my need for having an even longer focal length and will decide whether to get a 70-200mm 2.8 or an extension tube (depending on the pocket size then :))


Oh the visual picture that typo created is NOT pretty. LOL maybe you should assess your need next time :p ;) :thumbsup: LOL the difference one "s" can make.


70-200 2.8 IS II (and the Nikon variant) is/are excellent lenses, equally as awesome. I strongly recommend all Canon/Nikon users get one.
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