This lens seems like a really good price for a 135mm lens, but is it any good ?
I haven't found any information saying either way...
photodo gave it 3.9, compared to the 3.5 for the 135mm f/2L, which makes it sound like an acceptable deal for $280, but I am concerned, given the low price...
I bought this lens on Ebay. I sold this lens on Ebay. I already have a 100 2.8 macro and various zooms that cover 135, but I just couldn't get into this lens. The soft feature is nice, but I can do that in PS or with filters.
I couldn't find anything wrong with the lens, it just didn't feel right to me. It felt more like a toy than a lens that sells new for over 300 bucks.
YMMV!
E
Dec 11, 2002 at 03:59 PM
John Smeets Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
can only say that i love my 135mm as i remember correctly i cost a lot more than that 2.8 , wouldn,t trade it in for nothing in the world, take sharp, nice dof, good use (if you have too with a 1.4 converter
seems the ratings on photodo sound like a fairytail, the capebility of 2.0 again 2.8 id a thing i wouldn,t miss on this lens
just my opinion
john
Let me honestly state I don't like SF effects in general (always reminds of David Hamilton's soft porn photo's). But apart from that, although it is true that a SF filter or vaseline on a UV filter doesn't give quite a similar effect that a true SF lens gives this is what a lot of photographers prefer from a point of view of working more cost effective. One of the reasons I don't like the Canon SF very much is that doesn't give the typical effect that a Rodenstock Imagon SF or Mamyia SF lenses give for instance. I can hardly describe the difference in effect in words but the Canon lacks a bit of the halo like transparancy that good view camera soft focus lenses have. This is why the real portraitist prefers a view camera with this Rodenstock or a Mamyia with a Soft Focus lens I guess.
If you like to experiment with Soft Focus spend your money on a 135/2.0 L prime and buy a good SF filter. You will have a one of the best primes and useful lenses Canon makes. And you can always E-bay your B&W, Zeiss Softar or Tiffen Soft/FX if your done with the effect.
Here is a nice link if you like to know more and get inspiration for experiments:
From the canon web page "Telephoto lens with a softfocus feature. It can give razor-sharp snapshots as well as softfocus shots that do not look blurry".
What I was hoping to find this lens to be is a reasonably cheap, but still pretty good, prime lens. I wasn't really planning on using the soft focus feature (other than for experimentation)...
I'll probably end up getting the 70-200 f/4 anyway, which will mean that I'll have the focus range covered by that lens... Just can't stand the AF on the 100-300 any more... it's driving me insane. (as if I wasn't insane enough already...)
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