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70-200mm IS II f/2.8L vs 85mm f/1.2L II vs 135mm f/2L

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Thank you Kasra for the quick test..

this was exactly what i was looking for..

200 mm pic still looks the best for me ( although surprised by the lack of bokeh )

if only 200 mm was less bulky and cheaper ...:-)
 
This folio at 500px has really great portrait shots both by 135 f2 and 70-200 f2.8II. This can probably tell that 70-200 f2.8II need not rule or anything. Take a look:

500px

500px.com 500px.com

~CyberSimba
 
I think between 85 and 135, 135 would find more uses for both portrait indoors and outdoors for street photography. Many may think 135 is too long but I disagree. I myself have shot photos of my kids at home which is not a mansion or anything. Meaning even in tight places I have been able to use 135mm and get great portrait shots. Even the post by Keith will show you how good it can be even in tighter places at home:


You can certainly try both lenses for a week or two and figure it out for yourself because ultimately it will depend on what works for you.

~CyberSimba
 
Damoo said:
I am not interrupting Keith's response. But the 200mm you are referring here is the 11K USD 200mm f2.0 that Lisa uses. Not the 200mm f2.8 of the 70-200mm f2.8 II IS USM. Hope u get it.
Click to expand...
You nailed it Damoo, that's the 200mm f2, not that 200mm f2.8 or the 70-200 f2.8 IS II that is under discussion.
 
Kasra, thank you for writing such an excellent and useful review. This kind of lens comparison is exactly what I am looking for. Most people repeat the objective facts about the lenses - stuff that you can find on the Canon website. You have provided your subjective opinion on image quality especially bokeh and on using the lenses in practice.

Thanks also to Keith Z Leonard for sharing his excellent personal insights.

I would like to hear more personal opinions from people who have the 135mm AND the 85mm - which lens has made your best pictures?

lots of reviewers also mention that the 135mm gives more reliable results due to easier focusing, slightly more depth of field, etc. I only use one or two photos from each photo shoot, so I don't care how many bad ones I take. I make sure to take plenty of photos and bracket focus to make sure I get that special shot. So depth of field and focusing is a non issue for me. I would be just as fine with one of the stellar manual-focus Zeiss lenses if it wasn't for the price. Similarly, weather sealing, weight, etc are non issues.

i actually own the 70-200 IS I and would like to add either the 135mm or the 85mm for portraits. I feel like the 85mm would give me better results than the 135mm. Both lenses blur the background about the same, but the 85mm does not compress the background so much. It makes photos look more three dimensional, perhaps. Would you agree?
 
lightwine said:
Kasra, thank you for writing such an excellent and useful review. This kind of lens comparison is exactly what I am looking for. Most people repeat the objective facts about the lenses - stuff that you can find on the Canon website. You have provided your subjective opinion on image quality especially bokeh and on using the lenses in practice.

Thanks also to Keith Z Leonard for sharing his excellent personal insights.

I would like to hear more personal opinions from people who have the 135mm AND the 85mm - which lens has made your best pictures?

lots of reviewers also mention that the 135mm gives more reliable results due to easier focusing, slightly more depth of field, etc. I only use one or two photos from each photo shoot, so I don't care how many bad ones I take. I make sure to take plenty of photos and bracket focus to make sure I get that special shot. So depth of field and focusing is a non issue for me. I would be just as fine with one of the stellar manual-focus Zeiss lenses if it wasn't for the price. Similarly, weather sealing, weight, etc are non issues.

i actually own the 70-200 IS I and would like to add either the 135mm or the 85mm for portraits. I feel like the 85mm would give me better results than the 135mm. Both lenses blur the background about the same, but the 85mm does not compress the background so much. It makes photos look more three dimensional, perhaps. Would you agree?
Click to expand...
I'm glad you like the thread.

I personally like the 85mm look more, and it's easier to work with, because you can change your shot from a close-up to a medium shot, even to a full body by moving within a reasonable range. IMO, 85mm on FF is a very good focal length for portraiture. 50mm is too wide for close-ups, 135mm is too tight for full body.

135mm on the other hand, is too long for most indoor shots, and it's quite hard to get anything wider than a medium shot, or including the surrounding to your shot. But outdoors, where you have enough room to get distance from the subject, 135mm shines!

What they say about 135mm having a faster and more reliable AF is absolutely true. But you know what? it only matters if you're shooting fast moving objects. When shooting portrait, 0.3sec and 0.2sec doesn't matter, at least to me! I would pick up 135mm if I wanted to photograph a soccer game, but it don't see that much a differences when you shoot portrait.
 
This is a very good example of what can be achieved with a 135 and a FF camera.

www.boredpanda.com

Russian Mother Takes Magical Pictures of Her Two Kids With Animals On Her Farm

These wonderful photographs by Elena Shumilova plunge the viewer into a beautiful world that revolves around two boys and their adorable dog, cat, duckling and rabbit friends. Taking advantage of natural colors, weather conditions and her enchanting surroundings, the gifted Russian artist...
www.boredpanda.com www.boredpanda.com
 
It's more about good understanding of light and PS skill ;)
 
And yet they were shot with the 135 and the comment that they are possible remains valid. One was even indoors and the world didn't explode...shocking! :)
 
Nice images, lots of skill is evident. The background has lots of depth and dimensionality while being beautifully blurred.

I am leaning towards the 85mm 1.2 as I will be mostly photographing adults and like to leave as much background as in the images above, thus preferring a wider angle of view.
 
I feel one would need all three lenses....

I feel, the 70-200mm f2.8 L IS II would make for a nice outdoor portrait lens where one cannot freeze the distance with the subject and zooming gives better composition. For e.g. kids or wedding or a party. The candid moments could be captured better with this lens. We all know this.

The 135mm f2 may sound a misfit in so many ways. Neither too short nor too long. But then, this lens can be only understood by picking it up and going for a shoot out. Once we do this, it is impossible to say NO to this lens. The rendering is too good. Even for street photography, this is too good.

85mm f1.2 L II - If there is a lot of control on the subject, then this lens is marvellous. This lens is my next buy in spring this year.
 
All of them are wicked.

Personally I love the 85,

but it is impossible to go wrong with any of those lenses.

I grew up on primes, but for many a zoom may be the better choice.

(for instance, I really need the 24-70 for work - but wish I could cope without it)
 
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Exact same impression on 85/1.2 and 135/2 on AF. 85L AF is consistent on different distance and spot on every time.

I finally gave up the 135L because it needed different MFA values for different distances.
 
And I agree 85L is 1.7 stops better than 135L in light gathering. Aperture 1.2 to 2.0 is 1.3 times better, and 1/85 vs 1/135 is 1/3 better.

85L is very sharp wide open. This is my impression shooting into baby's eye. I am happy I have a good copy of this gem after heard some not so good review.
 
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