Canon's 135 f/2L vs 70-200 f/2.8L (non IS)

TheBiles · Dec 17, 2011

So, I currently rock the big white beast that is the 70-200, but I'm thinking about trading for the legendary 135 prime. I'm probably never going to shoot a football game again since I'm graduating, and the NFL bans "professional" cameras, so I don't see myself needing the range any more. The lack of IS really hurts the 70-200 for nature photography on a non-sunny day, so the extra stop is looking attractive. The 70-200 also sticks out like a giant flag on the street, so there's no hiding it. Anyone own both of these lenses? Opinions of each?

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Overread · Dec 17, 2011

If I covered the hood you wouldn't even think there was an L lens hiding underneath

I can't comment on the two lenses you have specifically, but you might want to have a mind for the 70-200mm f2.8 IS L MII; same size and weight as the other f2.8 versions, but with a much improved optical formula (I've known some to swap their 135mm for the new zoom so its very much at a point where its the choice of prime or zoom on personal taste rather than pure rendering quality). Plus you've got the IS in there and the ability to push up to a 2*TC for nature work (good for closeups and general wildlife snaps)

Derrel · Dec 17, 2011

Lack of IS really hurts the 70-200? I think that's something you've cooked up in your head...the 135/2 also lacks IS...the versatility of the 70-200 is its strength...the moderate size and moderate weight of the 135/2 is its strength. Last year, I shot my 70-200 L-IS USM without the IS on for a couple of weeks..I was surprised how well I did with it OFF...

I dunno...the 135/2 L has this "legendary" status, but it's no better than Nikon's 20+ year old 135/2 AF-D Defocus Control lens...in fact I own both the Canon and Nikon 135/2's and one summer I shot LOADS of images with both lenses, swapping one in for the other ALL DAY LONG one summer day, using the Nikon on the Canon 5D body, and the Canon on the 5D...at the end of the day, I converted all the images to large, high-quality JPEGS in a batch process...I couldn't remember which shots were made with which lens...they looked virtually identical.

I am not sure where this "legendary" 135/2-L mystique comes from, I really am mystified by it...I prefer the focal length flexibility of the 70-200 lenses, especially on crop-body cameras, where a 135mm prime is very limited in where it can be deployed. Most 135mm f/2.8 primes of quality manufacture are quite good lenses as well...and are HUGELY smaller and less-obnoxious. Canon's small 135 f/2.8 SOft FOcus is a nice, small,compact,light lens. I have one I picked up cheap...people simply do not like the idea of that lens--it is a terrible lens for re-sale, so buy it used,like I did.

The way I look at it, the idea is to keep building one's lens collection, not trading off lenses, or losing money when selling off lenses. if you have a FF body, the 135/2 makes at least some sense. If you have a 1.6x camera, it makes very little sense, except for certain,specific types of scenarios.

TheBiles · Dec 18, 2011

The lack of IS hurts the 70-200 pretty much any time I'm indoors in natural light or outside in shade (usually have to shoot at ISO 1600 or use a flash to stay at 1/200sec). I know the 135 doesn't have it either, but it is a stop faster, which would help a lot. I think I might tape my zoom at 135 for a day and get a feel for the focal length, but I usually find myself shooting at 200 in most situations with the zoom. I mainly want to use it for more candid shots in naturally lit situations in large rooms or outdoors, but I don't want to get up in people's faces.

Oh, and I'd make around $300 by selling the zoom.

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Robin Usagani · Dec 18, 2011

135L is awesome. But I only recommend it if you dont plan to use it with off camera flash mixed with ambient light a whole lot. Limiting your shutter speed not faster than 1/200 will give you a lot of blurry photos. But if you go with all natural, awesome lens! Dont get me wrong, I still use off camera flash with this lens. Also 135 is pretty darn long for a full frame. Not sure if this lens would be my choice with a 7D. I probably go with an 85.