my 135mm f/2 L story

A long time ago, in the spring of 2003, I bought a 6MP Canon 10D. It was a fine enough camera. My first lens was the Canon EF 20mm F/2.8.

On the 1.6x crop 10D, the 20mm was a usable focal length, and the system did fine.

Later, in the fall of 2003, I bought a 135mm f/2 L for the 10D, and the first few weeks were a wonderful surprise, where I saw what owning a great lens is all about.

This sparked a real interest in digital photography, and in the spring of 2004 I bought a Canon 1D Mark II.

Even if the 10D really wasn't so bad, the 1D Mark II was, and is, a fantastic camera. I own it still, and keep it around for sentimental value, and besides, selling it would not be for more money than it is worth to me, personally. The 10D, I sold, to help pay for the 1D.

There was one big of unfortunate news, but with a lucky side too.

One day in November 2006, I was looking at my 1D Mark II and wondering why I leave it around in open view in my apartment. I had never been a victim of a burglary before, but you know, one never knows. Things happen. And so I decided to hide the 1D Mark II, in my apartment. Just to be extra safe.

It was a strange thought to have out of the blue, but even more strange, ten days later, my apartment was burglarized. My first and last time being a victim of that, burglary.

The thieves saw the box for the 1D Mark II, and they looked around for it, but they didn't find it. Thanks to that, my 1D Mark II is with me still, many years later.

The 135mm f/2 L ... on the other hand, was in open view, and they took that.

They left my 85mm f/1.8 ... and other lenses too. But the 135mm f/2 L was gone.

I didn't buy another DSLR until November 2015. For 11 years, I had the 1D Mark II, and I did fine with it. And average lenses.

But finally in November 2015, I bought a 6D. The 6D was fine, but I never really started to adore it the way I did the 1D Mark II. I didn't have the impression that I really did anything that I myself find to be really remarkable, with the 6D. Good, but not super remarkable.

I thought about replacing the 135mm, but it is so long, even on full-frame. I was thinking about maybe the 50 L, or the Sigma Art 50mm.

But just this last Thursday, a bit suddenly, I decided to buy a new 135mm f/2 L.

And this morning, Saturday morning, I was out taking pictures in Jardin de Tuileries, in the center of Paris, with my new 135.

I am very happy with this purchase, and I am happy that my 12 year gap of not owning a 135mm f/2 L is over.

And I already like my 6D even more. It really is the lenses that make the system.

It's great to have a remarkable lens again. The spring will be fun. I am sure that I will get some great images with the 135mm f/2 L.

ffabrici wrote:

I fully understand your experience and appreciation of the 135L.

I had a similar eye opening experience with my analog Minolta when I bought a 80-200 APO f/2.8.

The same here. I had a 5D1 and then a 6d. Loved both of them and some good lens. Then I had a daughter getting married and rented a couple of L lens.  It wasn't to long after that I purchased one then another.

Not many years ago the lens out resolved the cameras. Now it is the other way around. You really need top quality lens to get the most of newer digital cameras.

I would love to see your photos from the Jardin des Tuileries!

I also have this lens and although it's my lesser used, I am certain to keep it for a long time.

Kind regards

pilou1253 wrote:

I would love to see your photos from the Jardin des Tuileries!

I also have this lens and although it's my lesser used, I am certain to keep it for a long time.

Kind regards

Thanks, I guess that I was hoping somebody would ask.

Not the super best photos … but a heck of a good start, for one morning. I know what this lens can do, and these images remind me of what it can do.

Thanks!

Interesting perspective for street shooting with FF indeed! Don't hesitate posting again

Do you feel like the 85 1.8 is a nice complement to the 135 or do you typically gravitate towards the 135 (or 50)?

Thanks.

MMACory wrote:

Do you feel like the 85 1.8 is a nice complement to the 135 or do you typically gravitate towards the 135 (or 50)?

Thanks.

My 85 f/1.8 is my second best lens. Up until 5 days ago, it was my best lens.

I went up to the tip of Denmark last August with only the 6D and the 40mm pancake, and I came back with plenty of fine photos from a somewhat unspoiled area... beaches and fields, et cetera.

During the last weekend I spent an hour or two going through my old photos from 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006... looking to see what I did with my previous 135mm, about 15 years ago. Just to copy the best ones into one directory on my PC. I remember them now, 15 years later.

The 135 just gives you images that you look at and say, « wow, that’s a great photo ». The colors, the sharpness, the bokeh... all in the same image. Images that you will remember, fifteen years later.

I remember seeing somebody in this forum making a joke about using the 135 as « a walk around lens ».

Obviously, it’s a joke. Because it’s so long, it really can’t be « a walk around lens », but yet, it’s so fine, you end up trying to use it as your « walk around lens ».

Clearly as recently as a week ago I was thinking about the Canon 50 L, or the Sigma 50 Art. That is what I was going to spend my money on, to have one really good lens for my 6D.

50mm is more usable. 50 or 40 is what I « gravitate » to.

But then I just realized that what I wanted is a lens that is just like the 135mm, but is 50mm.

And then from there I realized that what I wanted, is the 135. Some of what it is, is because of the materials it is made with. But half of what it is, is because it is 135mm.

The « subject isolation », the bokeh, that comes from the length of 135mm.

Trying to think of a humorous way to explain it... I realized that I wanted to buy a unicorn, but I wanted my unicorn to have « two corns ».

And then finally I understood, that I wanted a unicorn.

Is 135mm too long ? Heck yeah. But just that same, that’s it.

This guy had a nice video : https://youtu.be/avL_NVu6WCM

Fifteen years ago, this image, from my previous 135mm, it was the first time I really felt that I had created something a bit above average. But I am not sure how much of it was me, and how much of it was the 135, and luck.

But still, even now, 15 years later, I like this photo.

Do you ever find yourself putting your 135 on your camera and going looking for things to shoot with it?

Dave wrote:

Do you ever find yourself putting your 135 on your camera and going looking for things to shoot with it?

Even though it is longer, and that lessens the choices, if I head out the door with only the 135, it almost seems like it is more likely that I will come home three hours later with something memorable.

I was wondering, say for a short trip ... 4 days... leave with only the 6D and the 135, and my iPhone 8... and see what happens.

dmartin92 wrote:

I went up to the tip of Denmark last August with only the 6D and the 40mm pancake,

Speaking of that - Here's my "Italy" pics all taken with just the 40mm pancake as well -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/corysteiner/albums/72157701119935752

MMACory wrote:

dmartin92 wrote:

I went up to the tip of Denmark last August with only the 6D and the 40mm pancake,

Speaking of that - Here's my "Italy" pics all taken with just the 40mm pancake as well -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/corysteiner/albums/72157701119935752

Very nice. Colorful.