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barnwellh
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Registered: Apr 26, 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 4
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Review Date: May 30, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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fast, sharp, sleek, non-descript , vivid and contrasty images and fantastic bokeh
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Cons:
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N/A
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To round out my kit with a telephoto lens, I sincerely believed that I needed the EF 70-200mm 2.8 II L IS!…All the amateurs and pros that I admire had one in their kit, the countless product reviews touted the importance of versatility of a zoom and the need for image stabilization – right?!?…instead of making the 2K purchase I opted to rent one for a week…I was excited for less than 10 minutes after mounting that glass to my camera body: the weight, the beige color, the massive lens hood, the limitation of the 2.8 aperture simply did not click for me...yeah it captured those moments but there was no pop / sizzle (even at 200mm) - man I knew there was another lens that was: faster, sharper, sleeker, non-descript , produced vivid, contrasty images and delivered creamy marshmallowy bokeh that Adobe / Nik Software can't even replicate!!…Yes I'm talking about the "Lord of the Red Rings" aka the Canon EF 135MM f2.0 L. This is the review that you hoped you would read – I was once like you on the outside looking in – unsure of the capabilities of this lens / lack of versatility…I can testify that the construction is tough, its auto-focus is wicked fast, the images are sharp, constrasty, vivid, the bokeh is what everyone desires..who cares if you have to zoom with your feet?!? Utilizing this fixed focal length opens up new creative possibilities for you!! This lens goes monkey banana's wide open at f2.0, is a slam dunk at f2.2 / 2.5, offers tactical beauty at f3.2, and at f9.0 makes Scott Kelby wish he owned Canon glass. Obviously it's all relative to your photography style and or budget – I recommend reading the product reviews here at Fred Miranda of this lens, checking out the Canon 135mm image pools on 500px, Flickr and renting one for a weekend or week. Thanks for reading.
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 May 30, 2013
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oldshutterhand
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Registered: Jan 24, 2012
Location: Hungary
Posts: 0
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Review Date: May 30, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very good optical quality, good contrast, nice colours, good built quality, very quick autofocus system, f2 brightness
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Cons:
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Not really has a bad aspect, just a price little high for an amateur, perhaps a plastic filter thread is the weakest point
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This lens is very good optically and mechanically as well, f2 brightness is really helps to keep the quality high. A really useful tool for portraits, and other kinds of photography with this focal lenght.
See my review with samples at www.oldshutterhand.com/equipment-reviews/canon-135-f2/
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May 30, 2013
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agnesleung
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Registered: Dec 12, 2010
Location: China
Posts: 0
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Review Date: May 20, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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built and handling, price, f2.0, bokeh, color, contrast, auto focus speed, minimum focus distance, it's black (not white).
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Cons:
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no weather sealing, a little bit heavy.
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My very first Canon prime was the prime pipe: Canon EF200 f2.8L, this lens looks identical to it (only a bit shorter) which is also a very solid built lens. Both lenses produce very similar color and their image quality is excellent. The 135L is a little bit lighter and a little faster.
I also have the canon 35mm f1.4L and the canon 100 2.8L macro, both are wonderful prime lenses, the 135L is totally on par with the color and sharpness of these two lenses, and produces even better bokeh in my taste. Though my go to lens is always my 35L for it's range and extreme low light usability.
This lens is a very well regarded portrait lens in Canon's camp, and I think one should not confine the usage of this lens to portraits only, for it is actually excellent in shooting all things in open space, especially in fine weather. I can set the iso of the camera to 50, to get very sharp and clean images hand held, wide open at f2.0, the bokeh is simply stunning, creamy and delicious. With extension tubes added, it can turn into a wonderful macro lens, though it is not as flexible and as easy to use compare to true macro lenses.
The following albums for your reference:
1) A test shot with the lens wide open at f2.0
http://agnesleung.com/2013/05/farewell-to-spring-2013/#more-2578
2) With Kenko extension tubes added:
http://agnesleung.com/2013/04/peonies/
3) http://agnesleung.com/tag/canon-135mm-f2l/
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May 20, 2013
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chmod
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Registered: May 18, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 25
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Review Date: Apr 30, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Predictability, focus lock, vibrancy
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Cons:
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nothing which matters
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After reading many long, and arduous threads pertaining to the new Zeiss 135, I felt compelled to share my perspective on the Canon 135.
For my purposes, this is a spectacular lens. I need fast auto-focus, predictable focus lock and natural, vibrant color rendition. This lens provides all of these requirements.
Do I wish it were manufactured with metal? Sure, that would be swell...but it doesn't impact how it performs for my purposes.
I rarely shoot static landscapes or posed images. For that I would investigate alternatives, just to make sure. I do not believe one lens works perfectly for all circumstances, after all.
My work requires auto-focus. I do not use burst mode, but the lens would produce movie-like frames. In fact, it might be fun to try!
On a full frame body, I rely upon this lens and it does not disappoint.
A recent stage show using this lens exclusively...
http://www.idyll.com/laneysat
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Apr 30, 2013
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rbussmann
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Registered: Apr 11, 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 23, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fantastic lens, wonderful color rendition, tough built.
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Cons:
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A bit long for interior work in small spaces.
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Exceptional lens if you have enough work space, great bokeh.
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Apr 23, 2013
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kyerthenomad
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Registered: Nov 29, 2012
Location: N/A
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Feb 16, 2013
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Recommend? |
Price paid: $1,000.00
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Pros:
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who doesn't like this lens? the best L for the money, great candid lens
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Cons:
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it's not as practical a portait lens as the 85
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Love it love it love it! (who doesn't) it works well with my 50mm 1.2 for weddings and events.
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Feb 16, 2013
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Stoffer
Online
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Registered: Jan 27, 2005
Location: Denmark
Posts: 528
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Review Date: Feb 8, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Extreme sharp, superb bokeh, fast AF, outstanding value
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Cons:
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None
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An outstanding gem in the Canon lens-lineup. Extreme sharp even wide open, wonderful bokeh to kill for, fast autofocus all at an great price. Great on both APS-C and full-frame. Good MFD.
I'm adding an EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II to my lens setup because I need the shorter focal range and IS when shooting indoors in low light, but it is much more heavy. The 135 F2.0L is way more stealthy when you need the for candid street shooting.
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Feb 8, 2013
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paulw
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Registered: Apr 19, 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Dec 14, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Compared to 70-200 f/2.8isII it's so light, and pin sharp at f/2 after careful AFMA
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Cons:
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I miss the IS. In some respects the f/2 advantage is diminished by this.
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Out of curiosity I tracked the focal length used for portaits over a four week period using the 70-200 f/2.8isII. A staggeringly high percentage were in the 120-150mm range. So that quickly turned my attention to the 135 f/2. AF is very fast but doesn't seem quite up to the 70-200 f/2.8isII.
After autofocus microadjustment (AFMA) on my 1D4 and 5D3 it's settled in just fine delivering stunning files even at f/2. BTW the AFMA for both bodies needed -9.
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Dec 14, 2012
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kyerthenomad
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Registered: Nov 29, 2012
Location: N/A
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Nov 29, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Canon's best L lens for the money. Size and weight. It's a an excellent candid lens
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Cons:
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not much... perhaps it's not as practical for portraits as the 85 1.2.
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Nov 29, 2012
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vaflower
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Registered: Oct 21, 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 75
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Review Date: Nov 27, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Nov 27, 2012
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sgtbueno
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Registered: Jun 30, 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 187
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Review Date: Nov 25, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Price!! Image quality, bokeh
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Cons:
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None
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This is an amazing lens, I just can't believe that is so inexpensive.
Dont worry about non IS, this lens is great, my keeper rate with this lens on my 5dm11 is above 95%, and thats amazing with any lens on the mkii.
It is sharp and prodice an amazing bokeh,you will not find anything to hate about this lens, along with the 35L, is all you need for any wedding or event.
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Nov 25, 2012
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Rob Holloway
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Registered: Oct 28, 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Oct 28, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,050.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Color rendition
Contrast
Speed of focus
Bokeh
Balance
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Cons:
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None
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The first L lens I purchased. Every time I looked through shots from a weekend these just shined. The lens yields great blacks and my keep rate is very high.
135mm might seem like a focal length you won't use. On a FF body it's awesome for portraits without being in the subjects face.
Bokeh is wonderful!
Another important point for me is that the lens is not white and obtrusive.
I have about 13 lenses and this is always in my bag.
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Oct 28, 2012
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James Markus
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Registered: Jul 19, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 3882
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Review Date: Sep 21, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $850.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fast, well built, superb optics, and bokeh to die for.
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Cons:
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none
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As you can tell by the average user rating (9.9) here on FM that this is an exceptional lens. This is one of the finest lenses I have ever used, and I have used many, many lenses with many formats & manufacturers. Chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled. I have not experienced ghosting or lens flare at all...coma distortion is non-existent. A truly magic lens! Get it!
Sample:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/hosting-data//500/76816SomeMorePlease_135mm_Sample-Web.jpg
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Sep 21, 2012
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n210s
Offline
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: May 6, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 158
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Review Date: Aug 4, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $800.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, fast, lightweight and super nice bokeh.
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Cons:
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only if we can get IS for the same price
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This is the third time I own this lens and will stay full time on my 1dmkII/5dc this time. Very sharp, very fast focus, light weight(compare to 70-200II) and great bokeh and did I say very sharp at f2
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Aug 4, 2012
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Ulan
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Registered: May 14, 2008
Location: Belgium
Posts: 101
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Review Date: Jun 13, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very sharp, fast AF, nice OOF blur, well built, crispy colors. A jewel.
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Cons:
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No IS.
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An outstanding lens.
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Jun 13, 2012
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polizonte
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Registered: Jan 25, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 8
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Review Date: May 22, 2012
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Fast focus, high contrast, brilliant colors, no distortion, great resolution.
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Cons:
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None
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Years ago I used this lens on my former 40D and was impressed. This year, while on vacation in Medellín, Colombia, I used another EF 135mm f2 mounted on a 5Dmkii and I was amazed. Colombia. Wildlife shots, landscape, portraits - a perfect lens on full frame DSLR.
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May 22, 2012
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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385
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505824
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May 30, 2013
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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96% of reviewers
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$1,300.95
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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9.79
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9.40
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9.9
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