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Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM Lens

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Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM lens

Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM lens

Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM lens

Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM lens

MTF-charts

Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM MTF Chart

Optical design

Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM optical design

Format: 35mm SLR

Type: Prime lens

Focusing: Auto Focus (AF)

Lens mounts: Canon EF, EF-S

First year of production: 1996

Optical design: 10 elements in 8 groups

Features: Ultra-Sonic Motor
User reviews (5)

Photos (28)

Tests (0)

Owners (17)

Views (8777)

Average price: $1083

Specifications:

Focal lengthMax. apertureMin. apertureBladesMin. Focus (m.)Filter Ø (mm.)Weight (gr/oz)Length (mm/in)
135mmf/2.0f/3280.972750/26,5112/4,4

Additional information:

The Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM  is a professional L-series fast telephoto lens prime  for Canon EOS digital and film cameras.  It is considered to be one of the most successful EF lenses.

Equivalent focal length for APS-C cameras:   216 mm.

With the f/2.0 maximum aperture ratio the lens enables shooting with very shallow depth of field, as well as shooting in low-level-light conditions.

The aperture has eight blades.  It features a nice out-of-focus blurring (bokeh). Circles of confusion shapes are close to an ideal circle.

The lens is already rather sharp even at f/2. You'd better use this aperture setting for portraiture - besides sharpness, it provides flexibility. The lens is very sharp from f/ 3.5 onward. There may be drops in resolution at the frame borders on 35 mm digital cameras.

Vignetting is visible only when shooting wide open. Vignetting is usually an advantage for a portrait photography, as it provides a picture with additional volume. If necessary, it is easily edited in RAW-converters.  From f/2.8 vignetting is almost invisible.

The optical scheme includes UD glass elements, which affects aberrations, contrast and color rendering.

The  Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM is well resistant to  back and side light. In order to ensure a better image quality, it is recommended to use a hood.

Focusing is internal. The front lens does not rotate, which enables the use of a polarizing or gradient filter.  Manual adjustment of sharpness is possible at any time by turning the focus ring.

Color  rendering is natural, colors are saturated. Image contrast ranges from medium at f/2.0 to high at the rest aperture settings.

The built-in ultra-sonic motor makes focusing fast and silent especially if the lens is switched to 1.6 m - infinity mode. The lens provides steady focusing in poor lighting conditions.

The Canon EF 135 mm f/2L USM is perfectly fit as a portrait lens, as well as for the genres of photography where shallow depth of field is required.

Compatible hood: ET-78II

The lens comes completed with a hood and a soft case.


Links to online resources:
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Posted by: Sergei Borodin   Date of publication: 16.09.2010



Photos taken with this lens Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM:


Helena
Autor: schum
5 0 4191

Victory
Autor: Fotorex
5 0 4499

***
Autor: schum
5 0 3076

Helena
Autor: schum
5 0 2189

Mechanical quality4.5415
Optical quality4.6015
Usability4.3514
Pricing / Value3.6015
Bokeh3.7420
Overall lens rating
4.17

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Owner reviews: Canon EF 135 mm f/ 2 L USM

NerveNet 04.03.2018 03:37:20
Period of use: 4 years

Strengths:

Sharp wide open, quick AF motor, bright f/2 aperture


Weaknesses:

No stabilization, only focus down to 90cm.


Comments:

This is a very fast focusing beast well suited for sports photography, and its f/2 max aperture gives you a very creamy bokeh for portrait and the oportunity to take pictures in bad iluminated places.

 

Regarding image quality, nothing to complain, at f/2 this lens is very sharp and at f/2.8 it is perfect IMHO. Of course, there are better lenses now available, but they cost more than this one in any case.

I use mine mainly for taking Sports pictures, basketball or gimnastics in my case. It gives me nice results and keeps happy my 50D's frame per second rate.

 

This is must have lens.




Seti 1.1.2000 00:00:01
Period of use: 3 years

Strengths:

Excellent picture, beautiful bokeh with a slight twisting, very sharp

Weaknesses:

The design is not perfect - from the 2 lenses that I had both been with the problems. I first loosened the focus ring, the second it almost fell off =)

Comments:

Definitely should be in every amateur photographing portraits =)