Wait for Sigma 50mm Art or purchase Canon 135 f2L.

[metacove]

I'm in the market for a new lens to add to my collection and I've narrowed it down to the upcoming Sigma 50mm Art or the Canon 135 f2L. I realize these are for very different purposes.

I currently have a nice arsenal of lenses and mostly do portrait photography as a hobby (35 f1.4, 85 f1.8, 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f4).

I really enjoy portrait photography. I'm torn between the versatility of an extremely sharp 50mm vs a magical 135mm f2L portrait lens.

Can anyone offer any advice to help me seal the deal ?

 

[Dylan777]

You forgot the portrait KING, Canon 85L II

 

[metacove]

You forgot the portrait KING, Canon 85L II

I think my wallet forgot it ;-) I'm going to be in the $1100 range on this.

I also forgot to mention I'm shooting on a 6d.

 

[sagittariansrock]

You forgot the portrait KING, Canon 85L II

Last night I dreamt of discovering I owned an 85L. It was pretty sweet until I woke up :'(

Can anyone offer any advice to help me seal the deal ?

Just got the 135L and love it already. If you have a crop sensor camera, you should probably avoid the 135mm.
In any case, shouldn't you wait until the lens is announced (along with the price)?

Envy you for the 35L by the way, it is a sweet focal length/aperture combination.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

If money is no obstacle, buy 135mm L now, and at the end of the year to buy Sigma 50mm Art with discounted price.

 

[Random Orbits]

If the Sigma lives up to the hype, I'd go with that after the prices settle a bit, but it comes down to which you would use more.

The question then becomes how much will you use the 24-70 if you have 35/50/85 primes. If you prefer using the primes over the zoom, then you might be able to sell the zoom and acquire the 135L.

 

[drolo61]

If you can rent the 135 prior to buying, do so - but make sure that you can deduct the retal cost if you decide to buy (within a reasonable period of time, I guess). I bet, if you rent it out on Friday for the weekend, you end up (at least wanting) to buy(ing) the next following work day. It is "just" soooo nice...

 

[AcutancePhotography]

In my opinion, since you have a 35mm and an 85mm but no primes longer than that. I would wait on the 50mm. Realistically is there anything that you would like to shoot at 50mm that simply would not work on the 35/85?

Eventually, you might want to fill your prime kit with something between 35 and 85, but I would not put that high on the list.

A 35-85-135 is a pretty good spread of glass.

 

[surapon]

You forgot the portrait KING, Canon 85L II

yes, Plus 1 for me too, Dear friend Dylan777.
But, I do not have the " ART" of Sigma yet, Just old Sigma 50 mm F/ 1.4
I Agree with you, I use my dear EF 85 MM F/ 1.2 L MK II for all Portraits and Wedding Photography---And 50 mm, Plus 135 mm are sit on the shelf most of the time , Yes, I use 24-70 F/ 2.8 L and 70-200 f/ 2.8 L IS. with me all the time too.
Have a great work week, Sir.
Surapon

 

[SoullessPolack]

In my own personal experience, I skipped out on the 50mm lens as it just wasn't an interesting enough focal length, and even more so, I felt like I could use my 35mm or 85mm to get a similar (but obviously not completely the same) shot. I'd rather keep one lens mounted than keep switching back and forth between the 35/85 and a 50. My opinion is get the 135. It's almost like a slightly longer focal length version of the 85L, and that's a truly special lens. I know some people who actually prefer it to the 85L.

Either way, I think you've got an outstanding lens you're adding to your lineup soon

 

[BLFPhoto]

For my $, you already have the 50mm range covered with the 24-70 f/2.8 and even the 35 f/1.4. But the 70-200 f/4 leaves you with a slower medium telephoto. So I would go with the 135 f/2L. I have had mine for nearly as long as it has existed and would not give it up.

As you can see in my signature, I have the Canon prime trinity of 35 f/1.4L, 85 f/1.2L II and 135 f/2L. I replaced my 85 f/1.8 with the L series only in the last couple of years, so can speak about having used that 1.8 lens with the 35 and 135 Ls for nearly a decade. I can almost always cover any shoot with those three lenses.

I had the original 70-200 f/4 non-IS for a while when it first came out, but I found it was often too slow for the more active shooting I do. I always prefered the 135L when I could get away with that focal length.

Even now that I also cover that range with the 24-70/70-200 f/2.8 duo, I more often use the primes in most non-sports situations.

That's a disjointed way of saying go for the 135L now. You won't regret it, even on APS-C. It makes a great ~189mm focal length equivalent and the f/2 keeps the shutter speeds up without jacking the ISO.

 

[captainkanji]

I just got the 135 used, but haven't had a chance to get out much with it. The few photos I got are pretty nice, but I had to do a bit of focus adjustment in the menu. I love the 50mm focal length, but I have the 50 1.4. It's kinda meh wider than 2.8. I will probably get the Sigma if it lives up to the hype. I think you would probably get more use out of the 50. It's perfect on the 6D. From what I've seen so far, the 135 has a special quality that I love, I just won't get as much use out of that focal length.

 

[helpful]

If I could only choose one lens to do photography with, it would most likely be a 50mm f/1.4, and ideally the upcoming 50mm f/1.4 ART.

However, the truth is I am blessed to be able to choose any lenses I want to. And the fact is that I have used the current Canon 50mm f/1.4 almost never in the past three years, despite shooting half a million photos each year of a wide range of subject matter. There is simply something more effective for almost every niche and specific photographic circumstance than the 50mm.

When I look at the lens lineup that you have right now, I believe that the 135mm f/2L will add much more photographic power to you than would the purchase of a 50mm f/1.4, even the ART. So the 135mm f/2L is my strong recommendation to you, especially given your penchant for portraits.

 

[jdramirez]

You forgot the portrait KING, Canon 85L II

Last night I dreamt of discovering I owned an 85L. It was pretty sweet until I woke up :'(

Can anyone offer any advice to help me seal the deal ?

Just got the 135L and love it already. If you have a crop sensor camera, you should probably avoid the 135mm.
In any case, shouldn't you wait until the lens is announced (along with the price)?

Envy you for the 35L by the way, it is a sweet focal length/aperture combination.

I had a dream like that once... it wasn't a 85L... but it was a 5D mkiii... I was soooo happy. It was such a great surprise... and then I realized it was a dream... and I didn't care... I was going to embrace the fantasy... then I woke up... kinda happy still and finally disappointed.

As for the 50 v. the 135L... I'd wait until you hear about the bokeh. From other 50's... I have come to the impression that @ that focal length, it is balance between bokeh and sharpness... and with the Sigma being so sharp... it might... might have a pleasing magic bokeh... But I know the 135L DOES have a magic bokeh... so if I were to suggest going with one over the other at this exact moment... I'd lean 135L... which I did own... but not for nearly that long.

 

[jdramirez]

If I could only choose one lens to do photography with, it would most likely be a 50mm f/1.4, and ideally the upcoming 50mm f/1.4 ART.

However, the truth is I am blessed to be able to choose any lenses I want to. And the fact is that I have used the current Canon 50mm f/1.4 almost never in the past three years, despite shooting half a million photos each year of a wide range of subject matter. There is simply something more effective for almost every niche and specific photographic circumstance than the 50mm.

When I look at the lens lineup that you have right now, I believe that the 135mm f/2L will add much more photographic power to you than would the purchase of a 50mm f/1.4, even the ART. So the 135mm f/2L is my strong recommendation to you, especially given your penchant for portraits.

In fairness to the 50mm focal length... the current canon 50mm f/1.4 isn't good wide open... and I used to shoot it only at f/2.8 and the like... so at that range and that aperture... it is boring. The bokeh is ok... but it isn't as good as the 50L (per Dylan). So we all know that canon 50 f/1.4 isn't SPECIAL (though it could be special to some), but that really shouldn't completely eliminate all 50's thereafter.

 

[jdramirez]

If money is no obstacle, buy 135mm L now, and at the end of the year to buy Sigma 50mm Art with discounted price.

Agreed... but if you buy it used, you might not lose any money. I bought it for $650ish... and sold it $840ish... That is obviously atypical... but if you buy it for $850... you can probably sell it for $850.

 

[sagittariansrock]

If money is no obstacle, buy 135mm L now, and at the end of the year to buy Sigma 50mm Art with discounted price.

Agreed... but if you buy it used, you might not lose any money. I bought it for $650ish... and sold it $840ish... That is obviously atypical... but if you buy it for $850... you can probably sell it for $850.

JD, you live in some parallel universe (read: you are incredibly resourceful with second hand lens buying and selling).
Wish I had your skills in getting me a 35L...

 

[jdramirez]

If money is no obstacle, buy 135mm L now, and at the end of the year to buy Sigma 50mm Art with discounted price.

Agreed... but if you buy it used, you might not lose any money. I bought it for $650ish... and sold it $840ish... That is obviously atypical... but if you buy it for $850... you can probably sell it for $850.

JD, you live in some parallel universe (read: you are incredibly resourceful with second hand lens buying and selling).
Wish I had your skills in getting me a 35L...

I had a chance to buy a 35L for $900... but the new 35 art just came out and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I regret that one... Then last December I had a chance at a 35 art for $700... and I didn't pull the trigger. There's something about the 35's that just cause me waffle.

 

[metacove]

Thank you all so much for your input. What an incredibly helpful community.

I ended up ordering a new 135L today. I'm quite excited. I imagine I will be getting the 50mm Art later this year.

Someone mentioned that I didn't really have a lens in the telephoto department and I feel like this will add to my capabilities. It was an agonizing decision as I feel both lenses are amazing.

I'm really looking forward to playing with the 135L this weekend in the spring weather.

 

[sagittariansrock]

Thank you all so much for your input. What an incredibly helpful community.

I ended up ordering a new 135L today. I'm quite excited. I imagine I will be getting the 50mm Art later this year.

Someone mentioned that I didn't really have a lens in the telephoto department and I feel like this will add to my capabilities. It was an agonizing decision as I feel both lenses are amazing.

I'm really looking forward to playing with the 135L this weekend in the spring weather.

You'll love it. Cheers!