Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Review
When we talk about Canon’s L prime lenses, the EF 135mm f/2L USM in my post holds the second place fist after the amazing EF 35mm f/1,4L USM. This is one of the most popular Canon L series lens and with the rather affordable price tag of $899 US it deep down offers great value for the means. The Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM was introduced by Canon as a portrait lens but this isn’t in any come up to snuff or form the end of usability spectrum this lens can be defeated into.
The optical design of the lens is made of 10 elements in 8 groups including two UD elements. The min. hub distance is 0.9m resulting in a apogee object magnification of ~1:5. The crevice mechanism features 8 aperture blades. With a scope of 83×112mm it’s fairly closely-knit but due to the big glass elements required for the ultra-beneficent max. aperture it is a quite heavy lens at 750g. The pass through size is 72mm. The mechanical & built standing of the lens is absolutely amazing. Everything looks and feels reliable therefore I would give the highest mark in this department. The AF is extraordinarily fast and the USM drive makes AF hand very silent and full-time manual focusing remains credible in one-shot AF mode.
This is one of the Canon L primes that exhibits no distortion what so ever. These results are based on tests I did when shooting with Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM on full shape EOS 5D and 1Ds Mark II and naturally you wouldn’t foresee any problems with this focal length. I’ve noticed some vignetting at f/2.0 but from f/2.8 this “poser” completely disappears.
When comes down to sharpness and end result, the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM produces the results not some many other lenses can vie with. The center & corner resolution is categorically stunning. Images taken at f/2.8 – f/5.6 are wonderful sharp and clear and so many times I whim I can keep this lens all the time on my camera. I think the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM shines around f/4.5 to f/5.6 and for me this is its “perfumed spot”. As far as I’m caring, the resolution and sharpness really doesn´t get raise than this.
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