Back to Canon Lenses

Canon 135mm f/2 USM 'L' Review

95

The Canon 135mm f/2 USM 'L' lens is a highly versatile and fantastic piece of equipment. It is designed for use on both film and digital cameras and is ideal for portrait and event photography. The lens has a very bright maximum aperture of f/2, giving you the ability to capture very compressed backgrounds and strong subject isolation. It has a stellar performance on both full-frame and APS-C cameras, offering fantastic resolution and sharpness. The build quality is exceptional, with a large, smoothly-turning focus ring and a fast and quiet autofocus motor. The lens also produces soft and dreamy bokeh even with difficult backgrounds.

The Canon 135mm f/2 USM 'L' lens is a highly versatile and fantastic piece of equipment. It is designed for use on both film and digital cameras and is ideal for portrait and event photography. The lens offers a very bright maximum aperture of f/2, allowing for compressed backgrounds and strong subject isolation, especially when used at a distance from the subject. Despite the lack of image stabilization, the lens provides a fantastic photo and video performance. The build quality of the lens is exceptional, with a large and smooth focus ring and a fast, quiet autofocus motor.

Pros
  • Exceptional build quality
  • Stellar performance on both full-frame and APS-C cameras
  • Produces soft and dreamy bokeh
  • Great value for money considering the quality of the lens
Cons
  • Weaknesses against bright lights
  • Lack of image stabilization
  • Average close-up image quality

The lens is not without its flaws, however. It exhibits some weaknesses against bright lights, showing strong flaring and plummeting contrast levels. Additionally, the lack of image stabilization may be a downside for some users, especially for video work. Finally, while the lens can focus reasonably closely, the close-up image quality is only average.

The Canon 135mm f/2 USM 'L' lens is a highly versatile and fantastic piece of equipment. It is designed for use on both film and digital cameras, and its 135mm telephoto focal length makes it perfect for portrait and event photography. The lens offers a very bright maximum aperture of f/2, allowing for compressed backgrounds and strong subject isolation, especially when used at a distance from the subject. Despite the lack of image stabilization, the lens provides a fantastic photo and video performance. The build quality of the lens is exceptional, with a large and smooth focus ring and a fast, quiet autofocus motor. It offers a stellar performance on both full-frame and APS-C cameras, providing exceptional resolution and sharpness. The lens also exhibits minimal distortion and vignetting, making it a great choice for various photography needs.The lens is not without its flaws, however. It exhibits some weaknesses against bright lights, showing strong flaring and plummeting contrast levels. Additionally, the lack of image stabilization may be a downside for some users, especially for video work. Finally, while the lens can focus reasonably closely, the close-up image quality is only average. Despite these drawbacks, the Canon 135mm f/2 USM 'L' lens remains seriously rewarding and can deliver interesting and unique photographs.1. Exceptional build quality2. Stellar performance on both full-frame and APS-C cameras3. Produces soft and dreamy bokeh4. Great value for money considering the quality of the lens1. Weaknesses against bright lights2. Lack of image stabilization3. Average close-up image quality

The Canon 135mm f/2 USM 'L' lens is seriously rewarding and can deliver interesting and unique photographs. It is a great value for money considering the quality of the lens.

Source

This article is based on the review by

Christopher Frost

Christopher Frost

Christopher Frost is a YouTube channel dedicated to providing in-depth reviews and analyses of photography equipment, particularly lenses. Christopher Frost, the creator and host of the channel, is known for his thorough and detailed evaluations of various lenses from different manufacturers, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and others.  To learn more, please visit the channel here.

See reviews