Choose between 135 and 200

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Archive 2008 · Choose between 135 and 200

Thats Fresh
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p.2 #1 · Choose between 135 and 200

abam wrote:
if money isn't the issue, why not get rid of your 70-200 F4 the 2.8 IS?

you beat me to it. sell the 70-200/4 and anything else you wont need. look to buy one or two of the following or all three:

50/1.4
85/1.8
135L

i have/had all those lenses and sometimes the 200/2.8 without IS can be a bum. i only use my 200/2.8 outdoors in daylight.

Nov 26, 2008 at 11:47 AM

astrolucida
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p.2 #2 · Choose between 135 and 200

I own both the 135f2L and 200f2.8L II and have also tested them extensively with Imatest. Both of them belong to the sharpest of my lenses, with great contrast as well. Even the 135f2L + 1.4x combination works great - but so does the 200+1.4x, too.

Regarding sharpness, contrast or AF speed, there is really no significant difference between these lenses. Both of them leave the zooms in the dust.

I would say that the decision should be based on your focal length and optical speed (widest aperture) requirements. You can easily crop an 135 image to a 200 frame with relatively little loss of resolution - but not the other way around. Also, indoors you seem to always be lacking light. If I were you, I'd choose the 135mm for the purpose.

Being me, however, I seem to use the 200 more, though, with a crop camera.

Nov 26, 2008 at 01:08 PM

ShaneEngelking
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p.2 #3 · Choose between 135 and 200

I use a 70-200 2.8 IS for plays and dance, and it is usually fast enough to get the shot. If it were a very high speed dance, it might be tough, but otherwise, the 2.8 cuts it, and the fexibility of the zoom plus the IS make it a really flexible lens. This paired with an 85 1.8 is a great team. Of course I would rather have a 135L, but certainly not before the 70-200 2.8 IS which is such a dream to use. i would say it is THE theater lens.

2012 © ShaneEngelking

Canon EOS 5D 155 mm f/3.2 1/160 sec 1600 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © ShaneEngelking

Canon EOS 5D 190 mm f/3.2 1/160 sec 1600 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © ShaneEngelking

Canon EOS 5D 135 mm f/2.8 1/160 sec 3200 ISO 0.0 EV

Edited on Nov 26, 2008 at 02:07 PM · View previous versions

Nov 26, 2008 at 01:56 PM

ShaneEngelking
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p.2 #4 · Choose between 135 and 200

a few more. Especially now, with improving ISO performance, the 70-200 2.8 IS becomes more and more useful for this kind of stuff. Plus, f/2 gets to be pretty shallow DOF. But of course, you always want to have f/2/1.8 glass in the bag if you need it. But if you can swing selling the 70-200f/4 and picking up the 2.8 IS and the 85 1.8, you are good to go.

2012 © ShaneEngelking

Canon EOS 5D 120 mm f/3.2 1/160 sec 1600 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © ShaneEngelking

Canon EOS 5D 153 mm f/3.2 1/160 sec 1600 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © ShaneEngelking

Canon EOS 5D 105 mm f/2.8 1/60 sec 3200 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 26, 2008 at 01:57 PM

artguy55
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p.2 #5 · Choose between 135 and 200

My apologies for not keeping my profile up to date. There have been some changes there which would have made things clearer. Sorry, but I updated it now. So, the idea of selling the 70-200 4.0 IS is a good one, but would not buy the 70-200 2.8 again. Too big and to much $$$. When I said that money wasnt the driver here, I meant between the 135 and the 200, which is only about $300. But money is a big factor overall. So the sale of the 70-200 4.o IS would fund the 135 purchase. I appreciate all the responses from everyone, and the great examples of stage images. If I had to, I can rent the lens I need for a gig, so thats an option. Other than that, I think saving for a 135 2.0 is the way to go and add the converter since I already own that.

Again, much appreciated.

Nov 26, 2008 at 06:16 PM

dcmiller
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p.2 #6 · Choose between 135 and 200

I'll simply add that you would not shoot at 200mm unless you had to. It's better to be closer. So if you know you need 200 that's what you need. But you wouldn't want to be back further simply because you had a longer lens.

But sometime with a tall, formal stage you have to be back to not shoot too much up at the performers.

You don't want it, but if I HAD TO shoot performers with only one lens, it would be the 70-200 2.8 IS.

Nov 26, 2008 at 06:43 PM

Saad Syed
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p.2 #7 · Choose between 135 and 200

The 200.2.8 is extremely nice, however, it was too long for me on a 1.6 crop. I would go with the faster aperture ... 135/2 wins

Nov 26, 2008 at 07:14 PM

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