85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

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Archive 2007 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

JackF
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p.2 #1 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

The 135L blows away the 85/f1.8 IMO. Not for sharpness - but for bokeh, CA etc. The 85/f1.8 is excellent though, but hardly to use wide open when it comes to available light with a lot of contrast - please notice the purple fringing

Cheers, Jack

Sep 16, 2007 at 05:43 PM

Stuart Bell
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p.2 #2 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

The 100/2 has far less CA than the 85/1.8 and is far cheaper than the 135/2. Perhaps the perfect compromise?

Stuart

Sep 16, 2007 at 08:07 PM

Kucera
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p.2 #3 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

i wast hinking about the 100 f2 might be able to get a 135 for cheap.. ill let you guys know what i end up with!

Sep 17, 2007 at 02:08 AM

Pixel Perfect
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p.2 #4 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

Don't forget the underrated 135 f/2.8 SF lens either.

Sep 17, 2007 at 02:17 AM

Jarette Howell
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p.2 #5 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

The 85mm f/1.8 is really and truly a gem for the price. The AF is lightning fast and IQ is incredible; however, it does exhibit some CA when shot wide open (you can see it in this photo). If you can learn to live with the CA, it really is a great lens. I love it so much that I sold it and then bought another copy recently. I also own the 135mm f/2L, and it's really in a league of its own in terms of contrast and sharpness wide open. Like someone else said, it really comes down to which focal length you need. I don't know if this has been posted already, but here is a review for the 85 f/1.8, 100 f/2 and 135 f/2L.

http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/85_100_135/index.htm

Sep 17, 2007 at 02:17 AM

mh2000
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p.2 #6 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

Pixel Perfect wrote:
Don't forget the underrated 135 f/2.8 SF lens either.

The 135SF is a nice lens, especially nice for the price, but the bokeh is not nearly as nice as 135L... somewhere in between the 85/1.8 and 100/2... I guess... the 100/2 is much nicer though...

Sep 17, 2007 at 02:59 AM

_ECK_
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p.2 #7 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

Another vote for the 100 f2 USM.
Excellent bang for the bucks, I had one from this forum for $250 in very good+ condition.

I used to own the 85 f1.8 and found the 100 f2 a little bit sharper at f2.

here are some sample shoot at f2 on 1Ds MK1 (notice that we can even see pores !):

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Sep 17, 2007 at 04:03 AM

mh2000
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p.2 #8 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

_ECK_, the OOF rendering shown in your photos are good examples of what I think is special about the 100/2 (and lacking in the 85/1.8). Yes, the 135L is a bit sharper, but the 100/2 has a similar "feeling" IMO. I know it's all a matter of taste... but thanks for posting!

Sep 17, 2007 at 04:57 AM

akivisuals
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p.2 #9 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

My 135L is my favorite lens EVAR! In contrast, I own a 85 f1.8 but have used it only a handful of times. It typically sits in my closet gathering dust.

Sep 17, 2007 at 07:14 AM

canondoc
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p.2 #10 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

The 135L and the 85mm 1.8 aren't even comparable.

Sep 17, 2007 at 06:40 PM

hkitty
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p.2 #11 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

My 135L, together with my 85L II are my favorite lenses. On the other hand, I also own the 85/1.8 but it is usually in my closet gathering dust. From what I can see, as good as the 85/1.8 might be, both my 135L and 85L produce images that have a special look that the 85/1.8 just couldn't match.

Sep 17, 2007 at 08:16 PM

Kucera
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p.2 #12 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

i bought an 85 but also found a 135 for so cheap i had to get it too! haha

Sep 18, 2007 at 11:36 PM

DrPablo
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p.2 #13 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

I sold my 85 f/1.8. I was never entirely happy with it. It had nice bokeh, but it was somewhat soft, had a lot of autofocus issues, and had very noticible CA. I sent it in to Canon for a tuneup, and it marginally helped the autofocus, but nothing else. My 70-200 f/4L is a vastly superior portrait lens at 85mm, notwithstanding the smaller max aperture.

Sep 19, 2007 at 02:58 AM

k1n3t1k
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p.2 #14 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

I own the 135L and have shot the 85 1.8 on several occasions. I used it several times - once being during a soccer game lit by field lights. Let's just say that there were no white jerseys or ball to be seen, but instead, a nasty shade of purple/blue ones. (PF/CA)

From that point, I knew the 85 1.8 was never going in my bag. The only 85 I'd consider is the L-series, either Mark 1 or Mark 2.

The 135L is an amazing lens - great for sports photography in low-light situations, ridiculously sharp at any aperture, and is light and unobtrusive to boot.

Sep 19, 2007 at 06:38 AM

Kucera
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p.2 #15 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

thanks k1n3t1k

Sep 20, 2007 at 08:38 AM

PShizzy
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p.2 #16 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

I own an 85 1.8 and a 135 2.0. It's a really unfair comparison.

The 135 is an amazing lens, but the cost can be prohibitive, while the 85 1.8 is priced well and because it's not built to L specifications for the body (the glass itself is really quite good), is very affordable

Focal length, the 135 is a classic lens for full frame, while the 85 would be about the same focal length on an EF-S type camera.

The third stop is in favor of the 85, but the additional focal length favors the 135.

It's apples and oranges to me. I own both, and own an EF-S, 1 series, and full frame camera.

bottom line is that you get what you feel you need, and nothing else. If you regularly shoot sports that would require the shorter focal length or third stop, the 85 is a great choice. Longer focal length would favor the 135.

Max

Sep 20, 2007 at 09:11 AM

400d
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p.2 #17 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

Definitely should give 100mm f/2 a look.

I owned a 135mm f/2L before, it's a sharp lens no doubt. But the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS gave me much more room to shoot under low light, I sold it and used the $ on a 1D body. I now own a 100mm f/2 specifically for portraits; I don't have any problem with CA; for value and performance, I think it can't be beat. It's a perfect match with my 1D

Sep 20, 2007 at 09:29 AM

Kucera
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p.2 #18 · 85mm 1.8 Vs 135 f2.0

im gonna test the lenses.. and try to test a 100mm f/2 as well thanks everyone for all your help !!

Sep 21, 2007 at 05:48 AM


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