DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

18-135 IS STM on a 650D... Is it worth getting a higher end lens?

Started Mar 19, 2013 | Questions thread
MAC Forum Pro • Posts: 18,502
Re: Keep your 18-135 STM + 50 f/1.8 combo

I would strongly advice you to keep 18-135mm STM + 50mm f/1.8 combo.

STM is very useful for smooth video transition in focus pulling. While Canon USM are faster, that quick AF makes for jerky video transition, that is why smooth manual focusing is prefer over traditional AF with usm lens.

50mm f/1.8 is actually sharper than 50mm f/1.4 wide open. 50/1.4 also need to be step down to f/2.2 to avoid halation and softness wide open. The trouble is that bokeh highlight has an obvious octagon shape @f/2.2.

An expensive 24-70 f/2.8 zoom won't give you much more subject-to-background isolation as your 50mm f/1.8. Comparing 70@f/2.8 vs 50@f1.8, I take 50f/1.8 for portrait any day.

You're better off invest in a real portrait prime like 85mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2, or 135mm f2L

isn't octa better than penta?

also what about this?

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/widget/Fullscreen.ashx?reviews=24,26&fullscreen=true&av=1,1.667&fl=50,50&vis=VisualiserSharpnessMTF,VisualiserSharpnessMTF&stack=horizontal&&config=/lensreviews/widget/LensReviewConfiguration.xml%3F4

 MAC's gear list:MAC's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS RP Canon EOS M6 II Canon EOS R8 Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM +7 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum PPrevious NNext WNext unread UUpvote SSubscribe RReply QQuote BBookmark MMy threads
Color scheme? Blue / Yellow