Maybe time to start a RF 135 image thread here are a couple of my first images with the RF 135 paired with the R5 wide open @ f1.8 it's not a lite piece of glass but so far really happy with it. Our 3 Scotties had spa day yesterday and Finn (Wheaten) and Oliver (Brindle) were willing to pose while Abby was not
comotionfilms wrote:
Curious, why would you want to replace the 70-200? Seems way more versatile for weddings.
My thoughts: back in the EF days, the 135/2 was a lot smaller and especially lighter than the 70-200/2.8 versions (which I disliked for these reasons and more). I shot 100+ weddings with primes at 35, 50, 85 and 135 on a couple bodies. I really, really liked this over the 70-200 option, in part because at 85mm I could go as wide as f/1.2 (and later 'only' f/1.4 with the IS version), which really does have a different look than even f/2.8. With the 135 I could use the 1.4x TC to get close to 200/2.8.
But I agree, for RF, the 135 has grown, has apparently lost TC compatibility and the 70-200/2.8 is now a lot lighter and more compact (at least at the wide end). After having used the RF 70-200/2.8 a bunch of times thanks to CPS, I'm sold on it to pair with the 28-70/2, unless Canon makes what I really want: a 70-135/2 to better pair with the 28-70.
I'm kind of curious as to why Canon would design it that way. I mean, the versatility of having a 1.4x on the lens ought to have been considered. I suppose this design probably does give better IQ, but it's not like the old 135/2L was a terrible lens.
Maybe optical or design compromises that would necessitate making the lens larger/longer? At minimum it would have to accommodate the protruding front element of the TCs:
Or maybe Canon wants to you to also buy a 200mm lens, like one of the 70-200s.
Yes, the EF was small and accommodated the TCs. It's a very good lens but I think the consensus is it's not at the same level as what is currently available from competing brand 135s, which are all more highly corrected (and larger).
The EF 135/2:
I don't know about others, but I rarely use my TCs now. I'll just crop instead. For events like weddings, the difference between 135 and 200 is a matter of moving a bit closer. Often you can. I don't think I ever used the TC with the 135 at weddings. But yes, sometimes you can't get closer even there (like if the priest insists you shoot the ceremony from the back row - but in that case 200 is probably insufficient, too). If using the R5, you have some cropping leeway. APS-C crop is ~17MP so a 1.4x TC equivalent crop would be around 20ish (someone else can do the math ). Or pack an R7 as a third camera as your TC. Yes, a lot more $$$$ than a TC, but is also usable as a backup.
The only lens I still use a TC with is the one built into the 200-400.
Tom_W wrote:
I'm kind of curious as to why Canon would design it that way. I mean, the versatility of having a 1.4x on the lens ought to have been considered. I suppose this design probably does give better IQ, but it's not like the old 135/2L was a terrible lens.
The EF 135mm f/2 was one of my favorites for portraits, but wanted something more modern to go with the R6
I would just guess that the number of people using a 1.4Tc on the 135mm lenses are very low. If you're shooting portraits, you can control your spacing. If you're shooting events, you don't have time to change back and forth.
So canon probably didn't think it a priority to design for it.
Tom_W wrote:
I'm kind of curious as to why Canon would design it that way. I mean, the versatility of having a 1.4x on the lens ought to have been considered. I suppose this design probably does give better IQ, but it's not like the old 135/2L was a terrible lens.
They chose to abandon TC compatibility for more compact size and better IQ. It's probably a good tradeoff, IMO.
TCs are best used on big white primes. It makes a lot less sense to use them on shorter lenses (and zooms), so I'm not upset Canon made this design decision. Most folks who have a big dollar 135 prime probably have a 70-200 of some sort anyway.
This is probably the lens we'll use for weddings. Since no converters can be used a simple trick could be to use crop mode at 1.6 to get an approximately 216mm lens and a 18mb photo on the R5.
Does anyone know where this lens is currently in stock at? I've looked everywhere and can't find it. It doesn't even look like it's shipping yet. All I see is "backorder" or "pre-order" everywhere I look.
Can't say I know about other retailers, but I ordered it in early December from B&H. Just got another notice that it is still back-ordered. With the tax back using the PayBoo card, it just doesn't make sense for me to buy it anywhere else, so no looking around.
Anyway, it seems to be in high demand. Amazon doesn't even have a listing for the lens (or I'm not finding it). I think your best bet would be smaller shops that got 1 or 2 and haven't sold them yet.
Still waiting to hear if Canon has made any progress on getting this shipped to its vendors and then customers that pre ordered four months ago. The quiet on this has been extremely disappointing. Talked with B&H today and their silence on when this will be delivered is very disappointing as well. Zero transparency.
Definitely has a special look to it.
