Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM

[CarlTN]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

I've had my 135L for 4 years, love it. Probably never sell it. However, color rendition isn't necessarily its strongest asset. It's really just part of the whole package that makes it such a great lens. The color balance itself is a tad cooler than I like, and sometimes too green, so I compensate with some magenta bias in-camera. In my opinion, bokeh smoothness is its strongest asset. Sharpness, and both global and micro-contrast, are all a close second. I will find it hard to believe any current or future lenses in the 135mm focal length, will be a better overall lens. An f/1.4 or faster zoom of some kind, could possibly be a better overall lens, but would be pricey and hard to design and build. I find that much of the wildlife I like to shoot, needs such fast aperture for the low light...that none exist.

I certainly would be interested in a replacement with IS (which would be huge for my event work), and I wouldn't mind if they could tighten up the CA a bit. It isn't as bad as my 85mm f/1.8, but still shows it on occasion. It's interesting what you say about color. It probably is a bit cool, which is ironic, since I'm partial to my Tamron 24-70VC which is probably on the warm side.

Canon color rendition overall, is generally considered to be "cool". I've read it many places...but certainly not all Canon lenses have a cool temperature. Interesting you mention CA. My copy really doesn't have any, or if it does, I haven't found it. One troubling thing I'm noticing with the 6D, is that with the 135...sometimes AF is slower than my 70-200 f/4...especially in servo mode. Hard to believe. Also seems to hunt a bit more in very low light, than the "slower aperture" f/4 zoom. Very odd.

As far as color goes, I have never seen a color rendition and spectrum, as good as the 200 f/2L that I rented. I want one...but again, would prefer something a bit shorter that is an even faster zoom, with identical optical performance. I think it could be done, but if Canon did it, it would cost $15k !!

The Zeiss 100mm f/2 I rented, might have the best color for fall foliage, or possibly even green foliage. However, it also had some weird contrast, where it didn't go "black" enough...yet the bright end seemed very contrasty. The red end of the color spectrum was really alive and "analogue" looking.

I could really tell a difference when I was doing a head to head between the 24-105L and the Tamron 24-70 VC for my lens review. The color temperature was noticeably cooler on the 24-105L, and when I was comparing them side by side, my preference was always the Tamron (that is certainly just a matter of taste). What the 135L does so wonderfully well is the transitions in color and focus. So smooth, and the end result is typically very pleasing.

Very well said, and I'll take it one step farther. The end result...is...PURE ART. Most everything out of either of the 3 cameras I have shot with the 135 f/2, looks like some kind of art piece...to varying degrees of success, of course. I will post a few images in the future...don't have time to sift through and edit them now.

Btw Dustin, any thoughts or tips about LR 4? I only recently bought it for use with the 6D. I'm used to CS5 and ACR. I kind of am getting used to how to make use of the changes to the sliders in the basic section (the "fill light" is gone, etc.)...but frankly, my main complaint is that I am a slow learner, and there are just too many choices and customizations in LR...regarding file management...where they get imported and exported, and how they're archived...etc. Once I get more used to it, I will make use of it.

Carl, one of my best recommendations is to watch some of these tutorials (the LR specific ones, obviously). This woman from Adobe is a whiz with LR and it really helped unleash my creativity and flexibility in LR. http://tv.adobe.com/show/the-complete-picture-with-julieanne-kost/

Secondly, I would encourage to either purchase or create some good presets. The use of the presets saves so much work in LR. I use import presets that add metadata, basic lens specific settings, and even common keywords. I have a ton of develop presets. The image I posted in the thread today literally took me about 30 seconds to process in LR other than writing the description.

I've already stored a ton of develop presets, but I thank you very much for the advice and info! I will study it carefully. One thing I need, is for my creativity to be unleashed !! ;D

 

[CarlTN]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

I'm a recent purchaser - partly because of this thread!

FoCal says it is my sharpest lens - and I believe it!

After AFMA, I took it to the Philippines and put it to use...

Really love this piece of glass!

Nice pics, and glad you're enjoying it! Frankly, this lens alone will probably always keep me with Canon as my primary DSLR system company...although certainly there are many other reasons.

 

[J.R.]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Love this lens ... straight out of the camera - no processing.

 

[Dylan777]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Love this lens ... straight out of the camera - no processing.

Nice shot JR

I just ordered this lens from BH....will arrive this coming friday. Can't wait

 

[J.R.]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Love this lens ... straight out of the camera - no processing.

Nice shot JR

I just ordered this lens from BH....will arrive this coming friday. Can't wait

Good choice. This is a great lens.

 

[Dylan777]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Love this lens ... straight out of the camera - no processing.

Nice shot JR

I just ordered this lens from BH....will arrive this coming friday. Can't wait

Good choice. This is a great lens.

I wish 85L II has similar AF speed as 50L or 135L, then I could have completed my dream set :

What happen to your 70-200 f2.8 IS II? I thought you use to have this lens?

 

[J.R.]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

What happen to your 70-200 f2.8 IS II? I thought you use to have this lens?

Just got the 24-70 II a couple of months back so the savings account is blown. Started again ... maybe by July/August.

 

[Crapking]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM


WPIAL-87 by PVC 2012, on Flickr


WPIAL-65 by PVC 2012, on Flickr


Love this lens....

 

[Crapking]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM


WPIAL-117 by PVC 2012, on Flickr

 

[Harry Muff]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Umm… Should his arm do that?

 

[Studio1930]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

I just ordered this lens from BH....will arrive this coming friday. Can't wait

Better than arriving on Monday!

You will love this lens. Take some time to get to know it. I found that it needed a bit faster of a shutter speed than I expected to keep things sharp. Crank up the shutter speed and enjoy.

 

[Crapking]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Umm… Should his arm do that?

At 1/1000, a lot can happen that we don't see in real time . Always makes me appreciate how hard they hit. Some of his serves launch at over 60 mph...

 

[Dylan777]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

I just ordered this lens from BH....will arrive this coming friday. Can't wait

Better than arriving on Monday!

You will love this lens. Take some time to get to know it. I found that it needed a bit faster of a shutter speed than I expected to keep things sharp. Crank up the shutter speed and enjoy.

Thanks for headup with shutter speed. With my kids, lowest shooting is 1/125. 1000-2000 when they start running etc

 

[Dylan777]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Love this lens ... straight out of the camera - no processing.

Nice shot JR

I just ordered this lens from BH....will arrive this coming friday. Can't wait

Lens arrived with date code UB(2013) ;D and here are first couple shots straight out from camera. ZERO PP. @ f2. No AFMA yet, I don't think I need it ;D

 

[J.R.]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Love this lens ... straight out of the camera - no processing.

Nice shot JR

I just ordered this lens from BH....will arrive this coming friday. Can't wait

Lens arrived with date code UB(2013) ;D and here are first couple shots straight out from camera. ZERO PP. @ f2. No AFMA yet, I don't think I need it ;D

Congrats ... Enjoy the new love affair

 

[Dylan777]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Congrats ... Enjoy the new love affair

Thanks JR...85L II might be next on my list

 

[Zv]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Congrats on getting your 135L! I've only had mine a few months but it's by far my fave!

 

[J.R.]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Congrats ... Enjoy the new love affair

Thanks JR...85L II might be next on my list

Ha ha ... the hits just keep on coming! ;D

 

[Pi]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

I hope I have not posted this before, f/2:


The Caribbean Festival in Toronto, 8/2012, on Flickr

And this was my post popular photo on Flickr until recently (not necessarily because of its technical merit ), heavily cropped on the left and on the right, f/4:


Belly Dancing, on Flickr

 

[Old Shooter]

Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

Congrats ... Enjoy the new love affair

Thanks JR...85L II might be next on my list

Ha ha ... the hits just keep on coming! ;D

Dylan, we have seen this before... It is a serious condition that depletes bank accounts and infuriates spouses... You have --- Red Ring Acquisition Syndrome... There is no known cure - but sitting on the floor surrounded by L lenses will alleviate the symptoms... ;D