Sell my 135 f2 lens?

I've owned the 135/2 since the early 2000s and although it's not used daily, it's a lens I expect to hold onto for the duration.

There's not much that makes as 'pretty' of an image. This is a given.

One aspect not mentioned often is it's relative smaller size When traveling, I don't want to drag a 70-200/2.8, so for tele purposes, the 135/2 gets packed.

I have no intention of ever selling the 85 1.4. it is hands down the best lens in my kit besides the 35 1.4. The 70-200 is definitely a heavy lens, i have rented one and shot an entire wedding with it, but to be honest it was well worth the weight due to the image quality it gave.

24-70ii is a must have lens for events, studio, versatility. The only drawback is lack of IS which makes me keeping 35 f2 IS. The latter is a very good performer even though not L. I sold 135L after acquiring 85L (1.2). 135L is the most affordable pro portrait lens but it’s not versatile at all. Not only you need lots of working distance but on my 5div I need to keep shutter speed at 1/500s to get consistently sharp photos so it is not at all a low light lens. Also, 135L can’t handle shooting against bright background - huge loss of contrast where 85L simply excels. I’d say you can pretty much anything people/portrait related with just two lenses 24-70ii and 85L.

I agrre i'm good with the lenses i have when it comes to portraits, but when it comes to weddings, they aren't as versatile as I would like them to be, especially the 135. The point of my question was to see if maybe selling the 135 to acquire a 70-200 would be a more beneficial move for me. The last wedding I shot i had to constantly change lenses to get the shots i needed and to be honest, made the job a bit more tedious for me.

Take a look at this

https://neilvn.com/tangents/review-comparison-canon-135mm-f2l-vs-canon-70-200mm-f2-8l-is-ii/

diness wrote:

Take a look at this

https://neilvn.com/tangents/review-comparison-canon-135mm-f2l-vs-canon-70-200mm-f2-8l-is-ii/

It does show that what we 'know' is true - the 135/2 was a great lens in its day, but both the f/2.8 and f/4 zooms are on a par with it for focussing, sharpness and even bokeh (which can be finessed in post anyway).  I loved mine but sold it (to someone else who would love it) and now I have the Fuji 90mm f/2 (= 135mm FF) - plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!

The 135 length is a bit long for most weddings.  My wife, who is the lead photographer when we do weddings, uses the 24 - 70mm while I stand back and use the longer lenses for details and single portraits.

One has to learn how to use the 70-200L at weddings, the ceremony, the portraits, and during some reception opportunities.

And once one learns that lens, one cannot help but use it a lot for weddings.

1Dx4me wrote:

Dmatrix Photo wrote:

Hi all, so i have a 5d4 along with 3 primes: a 35Lii, 85L 1.4, and the 135L. I want to invest in a 24-70 or a 70-200 as my next lens, but I am wondering if it is a bit redundant to have the 135 since i already have the 85l and if i get the 70-200 i will have that focal range covered. I love my 135 as it was my very first pro grade lens and I have taken some of my best photos with it. I do mainly portraits and weddings, so what do you think i should do?

to avoid dreaded changing lenses or carrying multiple cameras, i only use the canon 24-70 f2.8 II! it works for me very well, i don't miss the primes at all

Agreed.  The 24-70L F2.8 Mark II, and the 70-200L F2.8 Mark II both provide sharpness, and bokeh that rival the best primes.

So why all the primes?  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE primes, but I think to use them instead of L zooms at a wedding means MANY shots will get missed.

I've done it both ways...most of my wedding career I was a L prime-only shooter, but once the Mark II's came out, I had a change of heart.  I think primes still have their place in weddings but not as the primary lenses....only as the secondary.

Dmatrix Photo wrote:

Hi all, so i have a 5d4 along with 3 primes: a 35Lii, 85L 1.4, and the 135L. I want to invest in a 24-70 or a 70-200 as my next lens, but I am wondering if it is a bit redundant to have the 135 since i already have the 85l and if i get the 70-200 i will have that focal range covered. I love my 135 as it was my very first pro grade lens and I have taken some of my best photos with it. I do mainly portraits and weddings, so what do you think i should do?

I've sold off most of my non-IS lenses with the expectation of rebuying them when Canon provides them with IS.

I sold my 100mm Macro F2.8 a few years ago, then rebought the 100L F2.8 Macro with IS recently  Oh man what a lens!!  It doubles as a wonderful portrait lens too.

HeyItsJoel wrote:

You have the best line-up of primes for what you do.

Wanting to add the zooms you mentioned is just GAS.

https://neilvn.com/tangents/review-comparison-canon-135mm-f2l-vs-canon-70-200mm-f2-8l-is-ii/

Lenshoodie wrote:

diness wrote:

Take a look at this

https://neilvn.com/tangents/review-comparison-canon-135mm-f2l-vs-canon-70-200mm-f2-8l-is-ii/

It does show that what we 'know' is true - the 135/2 was a great lens in its day, but both the f/2.8 and f/4 zooms are on a par with it for focussing, sharpness and even bokeh (which can be finessed in post anyway). I loved mine but sold it (to someone else who would love it) and now I have the Fuji 90mm f/2 (= 135mm FF) - plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!

The 135 length is a bit long for most weddings. My wife, who is the lead photographer when we do weddings, uses the 24 - 70mm while I stand back and use the longer lenses for details and single portraits.

70-200L F4 is not "on par with 135 bokeh"....and how could it when it's 2 stops slower, however the F2.8 sure is.

135mm too long? Its PERFECT for portraits, and many wedding ceremony shots, as well as reception.   You'd be hard pressed to find a real pro that would agree with you.

BAK wrote:

My general recollection is that the 135 f2 is at the top of the list (if anyone makes a list) of lenses DPReview members have sold and now regret.

I'm trying to think of what the second lens on the list would be. Maybe the 85 f1.8

BAK

https://neilvn.com/tangents/review-comparison-canon-135mm-f2l-vs-canon-70-200mm-f2-8l-is-ii/

EOSSpeedLite wrote:

Lenshoodie wrote:

diness wrote:

Take a look at this

https://neilvn.com/tangents/review-comparison-canon-135mm-f2l-vs-canon-70-200mm-f2-8l-is-ii/

It does show that what we 'know' is true - the 135/2 was a great lens in its day, but both the f/2.8 and f/4 zooms are on a par with it for focussing, sharpness and even bokeh (which can be finessed in post anyway). I loved mine but sold it (to someone else who would love it) and now I have the Fuji 90mm f/2 (= 135mm FF) - plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!

The 135 length is a bit long for most weddings. My wife, who is the lead photographer when we do weddings, uses the 24 - 70mm while I stand back and use the longer lenses for details and single portraits.

70-200L F4 is not "on par with 135 bokeh"....and how could it when it's 2 stops slower, however the F2.8 sure is.

True - I was linking too many examples together.  Let's say at f/4, which I know is not quite the same thing.

135mm too long? Its PERFECT for portraits, and many wedding ceremony shots, as well as reception. You'd be hard pressed to find a real pro that would agree with you.

I suppose it depends how far away you are.  Must try to find weddings with bigger venues.