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Archive 2014 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII

  
 
kaycephoto
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


Hello Canon shooters,

I've owned both of these lenses but never at the same time - curious if other commenters can comment on the lowlight AF performance differences between these two lenses? I recall the 135L being just as quick to focus as my 70-200mkII but is it faster/better in lowlight?

(Not looking for other insights re: the f/2 prime vs f/2.8 zoom arguments)

Thanks!



Oct 12, 2014 at 03:54 PM
jasonpatrick
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


The f/2 has an advantage in low light for AF simply by being f/2 vs f/2.8, but I didn't notice a practical difference on my 5D3.


Oct 12, 2014 at 04:04 PM
Imagemaster
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


Since AF depends on the amount of glass that has to be moved around, f2 is not always faster AF than f2.8. Depends how low the light is.


Oct 12, 2014 at 05:46 PM
kezeka
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


jasonpatrick wrote:
The f/2 has an advantage in low light for AF simply by being f/2 vs f/2.8, but I didn't notice a practical difference on my 5D3.


Depends how low your idea of low light is. Up until the absolute extremes, the 70-200 mk II is a champ. If it stops tracking, I move straight to an 85L. The 135L is a good lens but just is too long a FL with too narrow an aperture to actually take part in truly low light stuff - in my opinion.



Oct 12, 2014 at 06:53 PM
scalesusa
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


I use my 135mml for extreme low light in photographing theater performances.
I have not really compared it with the 70-200L, they are so different. Both seem fast enough to me.



Oct 12, 2014 at 08:28 PM
Tom Dix
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


I find both to be very good in low light, however, if I was forced to pick, the 135 is quicker to accurate focus.


Oct 12, 2014 at 09:41 PM
ggreene
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


I had the 85/1.8, 135/2, and 70-200 2.8 non-IS at one point with 1D2's. My copy of the 85 was the best at initial lock and tracking. Probably a toss up between the 135 and the 70-200 after that. The 135 sometimes had trouble with the initiate AF lock but it held lock slightly better then the zoom. Since the IS II is slightly better then the non IS AF I would assume they are very close in AF performance.


Oct 12, 2014 at 10:07 PM
kaycephoto
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


Thanks everyone - I agree that if the light is so low that the 70-200mkII loses tracking abilities, I'd switch to the 85L.. or, a better solution would be to throw on a Speedlite & disable the flash so that you have the help of the IR beam for auto-focus (works like a charm)

From my memory, I'd think there's not too much difference in the target acquisition speeds & tracking consistency with these two lenses.. but was hoping for some feedback from those with definitive experience on the subject.



Oct 13, 2014 at 01:12 PM
canon pants
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


My 70 200 2.8 vr2 is much more accurate and consistant than my 135L. Everyone with these lens should experiance the same thing.


Oct 13, 2014 at 07:47 PM
Jim Heine
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


70-200 seems a little better and more consistent overall


Oct 14, 2014 at 01:54 AM
kaycephoto
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Lowlight AF (speed + consistency): 135L vs 70-200mkII


Jim Heine wrote:
70-200 seems a little better and more consistent overall


canon pants wrote:
My 70 200 2.8 vr2 is much more accurate and consistant than my 135L. Everyone with these lens should experiance the same thing.




thanks for the feedback! much appreciated,



Oct 14, 2014 at 12:22 PM





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