Favorite lens I have ever owned

Although more of a niche lens, when the 135 is on my camera I tend to have the most fun shooting photography. For portraits, especially of an individual or a couple, this lens has no competition. The lens is beautifully sharp wide open and produces a feel to the photo that cannot truly be described. AF is very quick, and the 135 is fairly unobtrusive and light to boot. I am not suggesting that it will completely replace a big 70-200, but I am content with having this one in the bag. For around $1000, this is honestly a steal. Coupled with a 35 or 50, I feel as though you have the proper equipment to shoot 99% of situations.

I just ordered one of these today off eBay for $720 in mint condition (we'll see about that).

I should have it Tuesday. I've already got this focal length covered by two other lenses, but they're both kit-level stm lenses, so they're 2-3 stops slower, but with IS.

18-135 stm
55-250 stm

From all the feedback I've read on this lens, it's one of Canon's best. I figured I can't go wrong. I also see full frame in my future, so I want to try and limit my ef-s lens purchases moving forward.

It has been one of my favorite lens for a long time. I don't use it much any more because Ive purchased the 70-200 2.8 IS II.

I can tell you that at 135 mm it does compete with the big lens.

I just finsished shooting a senior session for a friend of mine and I love the versatility of the 70-200 but you really have to be careful, as you zoom out (70-120) range you really loose the great background blur.

The 135 makes you zoom with your feet and think more about framing your subject. I shot almost all the shoot with my new lens but I did get the 135 out and took a series of shots. When I processed the pictures on my computer the 135 shots were really nice.

I've thought about selling the 135 but I'm still not just ready to let it go. It's a wonderful piece of glass that is a lot lighter than the  70-200.

i think there is a place for both in my camera bag for now!

This focal length actually changed me. The composition, the depth of field at f2 at 135mm, etc makes me think a lot before composing a shot.
Canon's 135mm f2L is one of Canon's finest. After much deliberation & hands on, I went with the Zeiss 135mm f2 APO.

Does anyone have real world comparisons of the 135 vs the 70-200 shot at 135? Would be interesting to see how they compare using the same settings.

Thanks

I love the 135mm focal length. My 135L and 5D became almost inseparable, for quite a while. 135mm also works well on APS-H (1.3x-crop) and APS-C cameras. Occasionally, I pair it with an Extender 1.4X III, though AF is notably slower when using the Extender.

I am not saying that a 135L is "better" than a 70-200/2.8 lens, but I have been in no hurry to add a 70-200mm. When I want much longer than 135mm, I tend to want 400mm+, though that is, obviously, an individual, personal preference. I would, indeed, like to add an EF 70-200/2.8L II IS, eventually, but it is not a priority, and may well become less of a priority if I add a 100-400L II. (I do have wide and mid-range f/2.8 "pro" zooms.)

I shoot with both Canon and Nikon cameras. When I say that I love individual lenses, made by each, too much to ever settle upon either brand, the 135L is one of the Canon lenses foremost in my mind.

I recently added a Zeiss 2/135 APO Sonnar, the ZF.2 for Nikon F mount, but as it lacks the 135L's AF, it will not displace the 135L.

I have both and tested them side by side for a while... The result was the 135L was left on the shelf.

so this summer I thought, hey get it out there again for a few weeks of comparisons and see if anything has changed....

well no it hasn't and the reasons are:

1. I use 1dx so zoom size is no problem. In fact prefer the balance

2. The major reason: zoom has faster focussing. I never miss a grab shot with the zoom. Suddenly I noticed that the first shot of a sequence was annoyingly out of focus - and it was always the 135L. Only other lens I have that also does this is the 100L macro.

3. Colour and contrast better on the zoom

4. The zoom is sharper

5. The zoom has IS - not a big deal for me but a nice to have

but I am keeping the 135L because of the bokeh! Zoom not so smooth.