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Canon RF 135mm F1.8 is shipping …

Started 2 months ago | Discussions thread
gcmedia New Member • Posts: 1
Re: Canon RF 135mm F1.8 is shipping …
11

Longtime reader, first time poster. Having switched to the R/RF system after shooting EF for well over 20 years, I was very excited about the RF 135 L announcement. I've had EF 135 L in my kit for 12 years, and from sports to portraits to a lot more, it's been my favorite lens. I've long told fellow shooters that it is easily the best Canon lens in terms of bang for your buck.

Of course, the RF 135 L has quite a bit more sticker shock than its predecessor, but I still preordered it (through B&H) the day it was announced because I knew if it were even just remotely better than the EF, it would be more than worth the investment for my business. It arrived on Friday, and while I've only had 30 minutes to mess around with it in the backyard, I can safely say it is quite possibly the best lens I've owned. I was expecting it to be both fast and sharp (it had a lot to live up to with the precedent set by the EF), but it is mind blowing just how fast and sharp it is. It's obviously heavier than the EF 135, but it feels very balanced and easy to use (I shot it with my gripped R5). My only complaint is a minor one, and I have a similar complaint to the RF 15-35 2.8 L – the overall length/size. I regularly use a Pelican 1535 Air case for my kit (it rolls and is carry-on size for air travel). Both the 15-35 and new 135 are just long enough to sit above the lip/rim of the case when stored vertically. The case will close and the foam padding inside the top cover offers protection, but you can feel the tightness created when locking the latches down. It's just enough to make somebody cautious like myself want to lay them down horizontally in the case, which takes up a lot more real estate and means less room for other lenses and equipment.

If you're curious about the fall-off and incredible blur of shooting this lens wide open, attached are some cropped (2,000px @ 200 dpi) and Lightroom-edited samples from my quick backyard shoot. Needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to shooting with it more, both for assignments/work and just for fun in the backyard.

RF 135mm f1/.8 L :: ISO 100, 1/1,000th sec, f/1.8

RF 135mm f1/.8 L :: ISO 100, 1/1,000th sec, f/1.8

RF 135mm f1/.8 L :: ISO 100, 1/1,000th sec, f/1.8

RF 135mm f1/.8 L :: ISO 250, 1/640th sec, f/1.8

RF 135mm f1/.8 L :: ISO 250, 1/1,000th sec, f/1.8

 gcmedia's gear list:gcmedia's gear list
Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 300mm f/4.0L IS USM Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM +2 more
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