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Archive 2017 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless

  
 
charlyw
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p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


jcolwell wrote:
Zeiss MTF diagrams are from tests at infinity focus.

I saw a Canon document that claimed the same, but I couldn't find it, last time I looked.



Good on Zeiss for providing those. Canon MTF are calculated...



Apr 18, 2017 at 03:33 PM
rstoddard11
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p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


My 200mm 2.8 MTF tests way far below my 70-200. That is at 2.8. However, to me, the rendering is much better, bokeh is better, contrast is better and colors as well. The image looks better.

By f3.5 the prime pulls ahead on MTF charts.

If you were to go by the charts only, you would conclude that the lens is a piece of junk. However, using some logic and real world viewing, it is far from the truth.

I'm sure the Sigma is impressive and I know the Canon is. Choose one or the other. I doubt anyone will notice major differences unless they are inspecting full size prints with a loupe.

There is too much brand loyalty and "I own this lens so I have to shut down every other option" going around. I shoot Canon. My reasons were that when I got into shooting, the Canon went on sale. Does that mean the Nikon D810 is a piece of junk? No. Does it mean that my system in superior in all regards? Far from it. It is almost as dumb as the "Ford vs. Chevy" people. Both get you from A to B. The same with cameras and lenses.



Apr 18, 2017 at 03:48 PM
TeamSpeed
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p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


^If you only look at charts, and didn't read the article, sure... but the lens rental articles says all that already.


Apr 18, 2017 at 04:02 PM
rscheffler
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p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


The only thing that will inspire me to upgrade my 135L is a version with IS.

Lack of IS and shooting 99.9% hand held is the greatest cause of poor image quality for me, with this lens. Gaining 1/3 stop doesn't really do anything for that if it just means a sharper rendition of camera shake, nor is the size of the Sigma appealing. Then there are the persistent doubts about AF consistency with anything non-Canon made...

I suspect there are a few reasons we haven't yet seen a 135L upgrade. Yes, there wasn't anything from the competition that was quantifiably better, with AF, until recently. But I'd be surprised if the 135L unit sales volume is even 5% of the 70-200s (maybe it's less than 1%). Look how long it took for the probability of a true 85L update (and not just a makeover). Here's to hoping that whenever the 135L is updated (my guess within three years), Canon finds a happy balance of size, features and performance. IMO, the Sigma 135 is too large. Give me a half stop slower if it means keeping the lens similar in size to the current 135L. If it's going to approach 70-200/2.8 size and mass, then give me a 2x f/2L IS zoom topping out at 135-150mm.



Apr 18, 2017 at 04:39 PM
rstoddard11
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p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


Guilty. I only looked at the embedded chart.


Apr 18, 2017 at 04:53 PM
garyvot
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p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


Yep, useless.

In all seriousness, there is something lovely about the rendering of the Canon 135L that transcends the MTF charts, at least for me. It's not merely the shallow depth of focus, but the way that the focus falls off; it just kind of melts away, nothing harsh or nervous about it at all. And there is a three-dimensional quality to most images that many lenses do not achieve.

But I suppose we all know this. In my mind, if the Siggy can replicate these qualities while being that much sharper, all the better. But better sharpness does not automatically trump all of the other lens qualities.




© Gary R. Voth




Apr 18, 2017 at 05:06 PM
JohnBrose
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p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


The newer Sigmas are so large also, it's nice to have a lens to shoot with that doesn't hurt your back and doesn't draw so much attention to yourself. I'll keep using my 135 f2, i enjoy the look of the images and the minimum focus distance of the lens.


Apr 18, 2017 at 09:53 PM
TeamSpeed
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p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


I doubt 13oz is going to make that large a difference between the 2 lenses. Also length-wise, they just aren't that different, diameter wise, the Sigma is a bit larger, but again nothing that will draw any attention.


Apr 18, 2017 at 10:12 PM
artsupreme
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p.3 #9 · p.3 #9 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


Unless shooting in very low light I can't see how any new 135 would affect the final image even if it's slightly sharper. I don't crop to 100% with this lens as I like to see the subject isolation and the great bokeh it produces. The 135L is plenty sharp wide open, so I guess it might be those who are excited about this new lens must be wanting IS.

The 135L will stay in my bag, but how about a new 50L?



Apr 18, 2017 at 11:02 PM
moondigger
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p.3 #10 · p.3 #10 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


TeamSpeed wrote:
I doubt 13oz is going to make that large a difference between the 2 lenses. Also length-wise, they just aren't that different, diameter wise, the Sigma is a bit larger, but again nothing that will draw any attention.


Sorry, 13 oz is nearly a pound. That's a significant penalty for a 1/3 stop gain in light gathering. And that light gathering might not improve shutter speeds much or at all, given the 30% increase in the number of lens elements.



Apr 18, 2017 at 11:12 PM
ggreene
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p.3 #11 · p.3 #11 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


rscheffler wrote:
If it's going to approach 70-200/2.8 size and mass, then give me a 2x f/2L IS zoom topping out at 135-150mm.


I would agree. I wish Sigma had lengthened out the FL range of the 50-100/1.8 and dropped back to f2. A 50-135/2 would have been sweet.

As is, the prime is a good compromise for the Sony brigade with adapter. They get IBIS and seem to prefer MF anyways.

In the meantime, waiting for Canon to update this and the 85. I just have far more confidence in them regarding AF.




Apr 18, 2017 at 11:26 PM
garyvot
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p.3 #12 · p.3 #12 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


ggreene wrote:
I wish Sigma had lengthened out the FL range of the 50-100/1.8 and dropped back to f2. A 50-135/2 would have been sweet.


And with IS. WANT!




Apr 19, 2017 at 12:11 AM
charlyw
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p.3 #13 · p.3 #13 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


garyvot wrote:
Yep, useless.

In all seriousness, there is something lovely about the rendering of the Canon 135L that transcends the MTF charts, at least for me.


Just compare the way the sagittal and meridonal MTF curves do diverge towards the edge of the frame - or rather how they do not diverge on the Canon 135L. There is a direct correlation between this property of the MTF chart and the bokeh...



Apr 19, 2017 at 01:18 AM
garyvot
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p.3 #14 · p.3 #14 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


charlyw wrote:
Just compare the way the sagittal and meridonal MTF curves do diverge towards the edge of the frame - or rather how they do not diverge on the Canon 135L. There is a direct correlation between this property of the MTF chart and the bokeh...


I didn't know that, thanks for sharing.



Apr 19, 2017 at 09:26 AM
Kathy White
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p.3 #15 · p.3 #15 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


I would really, really like the IS but not the added weight. I find the lighter weight of the 135L nice compared to my 70 200 IS II. If buying now, I'd probably look more closely at Sigma's new offering, but for now, I think I'll stick with what I've got. I've been very pleased with the 135L and like others have stated, I really appreciate the look you get from it.

I do admit, I look forward to seeing images posted from those who do go with this new Sigma.



Apr 19, 2017 at 10:52 AM
garyvot
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p.3 #16 · p.3 #16 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


Messing around today with the 5D Mark IV.



© Gary R. Voth




Jul 09, 2017 at 12:38 AM
George Orwell
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p.3 #17 · p.3 #17 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


artificialyello wrote:
Fred's pal Roger Cicala has MTFed it side by side with the Siggy 135/1.8:

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/04/sigma-135mm-f1-8-art-mtf-charts-and-a-look-behind-the-curtain/

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/media/2017/04/sigcan.png


What a truly embarrassing subject and thread. Nothing whatsoever to do about photography.




Jul 09, 2017 at 05:20 AM
RobertLynn
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p.3 #18 · p.3 #18 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


I considered my 135 useless when I bought my 70-200 2.8II. Yes it's not f/2, but I hardly ever shot it wide open. With that said, the rendering/bokeh of the 135 is truly something to appreciate.


Jul 09, 2017 at 09:20 AM
artificialyello
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p.3 #19 · p.3 #19 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


artificialyello wrote:
Fred's pal Roger Cicala has MTFed it side by side with the Siggy 135/1.8:

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/04/sigma-135mm-f1-8-art-mtf-charts-and-a-look-behind-the-curtain/

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/media/2017/04/sigcan.png

George Orwell wrote:
What a truly embarrassing subject and thread. Nothing whatsoever to do about photography.


Que? Whatever! You had the chart link muddled, hence this reply...

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/media/2017/04/sigcan.png



Jul 09, 2017 at 12:34 PM
level1photog
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p.3 #20 · p.3 #20 · The Canon 135/2.0 Is Now Officially Useless


I owned the Sigma 135 1.8 and it's now my primary portrait lens. It replaces my Sigma 85 1.4 Art and Canon 70-200 II. If I have room, my go to lens is 135 1.8


Jul 09, 2017 at 12:56 PM
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