If you are having any doubts, which is quite common with the 135L, then I would sell it. I owned this lens twice and sold it each time. I love it and when you need it, it's great. But the problem is I don't often need the focal length.
Great, great lens though...and the thirst for it comes back after a while...and folks often times repeat this song and dance over and over again!
Combined with a 1-series body, I find the 135/2 balances very well and it's a great pleasure to work with. I don't use the lens that often, but every time I do I'm having a great time. YMMV
And I dont understand why arrogant people post in a thread with a reply like this, If you think I am an idiot who doesn't know a crap then in the interest of keeping things friendly you should keep that comment to yourself and find elsewhere to post.
I apologize for coming across arrogant, but honestly.... Your just looking for good reasons to give your wife as to why you NEED the 135 after dumping $2K on the 85L....
My suggestion is buy your wife something nice so she doesn't get upset with you for keeping the 135.
if you have to have others help you with the decision to keep it ("
Can anyone give me a good reason to keep both of these in my lineup?"), get rid of the thing.
Nov 19, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
pturton wrote:
Lars, I think your answer applies to a majority of questions posted.
No it does not. Not many people ask others if they gonna keep their equipment. Instead a lot of people here ask what to buy
How can anybody know if he need his lens ? He don't even tell us what kind of photography he likes. Or what kind of shooting he do. Instead he tell us what date code the lens has
I have the 70-200 2.8L non IS and the 135L... If one had to go it would be the 70-200. I just find the lighter weight, consistent results and faster f/2 suits my style of shooting better but it is and will remain a very individual choice depending on what you shoot. Into my equation I have to add that the 300 2.8 has become my sports lens of choice and also have the 85L so the 70-200 is up against some pretty stiff competition.
luketrot wrote:
I apologize for coming across arrogant, but honestly.... Your just looking for good reasons to give your wife as to why you NEED the 135 after dumping $2K on the 85L....
My suggestion is buy your wife something nice so she doesn't get upset with you for keeping the 135.
Thanks for the clarification.
Fortunately the Wifey doesn't care. We are fortunate enough to not have to worry about where every penny goes. There is our money, then there is my money and her money. I have found this arrangement to work very well. We have never had an arguement especially over money. I am blessed to have such a wonderful woman. She is well educated with a double masters and pulls her own 6 figures. I do nice things for her all the time like send her to a day spa to get pampered. She also has her own spending habits and I never say a word.
I have seen some nice responses here that have given me what it was I was seeking.
Lars Johnsson wrote:
No it does not. Not many people ask others if they gonna keep their equipment. Instead a lot of people here ask what to buy
How can anybody know if he need his lens ? He don't even tell us what kind of photography he likes. Or what kind of shooting he do. Instead he tell us what date code the lens has
The word need my friend seldom applies to camera gear.
I do all kinds of shooting and try to remain diverse. What I dont get is why pretty much all other posters understand where I am coming from and you do not. Perhaps a post using extremely elementary reason would have enabled understanding for those lacking the view of different perspectives.
Hows this.....
I would like to know if others find specific uses for these two lenses and use them both in a manner suggesting that one cannot replace the other.
george malamis wrote:
While I have the 85, 135, and a sharp copy of the 70-200f2.8IS, the 85 and 135 are sharper wide open - colors and contrast are great with all three. The flexibility and IQ of the 70-200 make it one of my favorites for portraits, but I have taken some great shots with my 135 and I am constantly impressed with it every time I use it - same goes for the 85. You have to examine your kit and shooting style and see if there is something else that may be more beneficial for you. Do you want to get rid of the 135 to replace it with a wide angle? My kit with the 135 might be right for me and maybe even others who own it, but it may not fit in with your style. ...Show more →
Ditto for me. My 70-200 2.8IS is my work horse but my 135 is my true love when it comes to sharpness, clarity, color rendition and overall ease of use.
There are very few pieces of photo gear that give legendary, repeat legendary, performance in a well built, beautifully balanced and financially affordable package. Very few IMHO.
But the 135L is one of these classic lenses. One of the very, very few. You can tell that I love this lens!
I guarantee that if you sell the 135L you will feel remorse about it, maybe not this week, or next week, but one day for sure you will regret selling it. Its like a Ferrari, or a Rolex, or Rolls Royce, the quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten. Its the cat's pyjamas, the big cheese. That's the best reason for keeping it!
If the 135mm length works for you it's a great lens - stunning bang for the buck. If you find 135 an odd length, as I do, your 135L will sit in the case as much as mine does. I don't sell it cos I know how good the results from it can be. I don't use it cos if it's portraits I go 85L and for other stuff 70-200 2.8. If I put the lens on the camera I like the results. But it's just not a go-to length for me and what I shoot.
The quality of the lens is irrelevant if it's not a focal length that works for you - and only you know that - which is why some people here find this kind of question a bit odd....
Lord Fluff wrote:
The quality of the lens is irrelevant if it's not a focal length that works for you - and only you know that - which is why some people here find this kind of question a bit odd....
Yeah, that is true, and was at least part of Lars' point. In the end, who cares how good or not if you don't use it..and no one can answer that but the photographer.
I use the 135 but not that much. Mostly when a small, light telephoto is needed...without the hood it is nice and small for its reach, BUT with the IS on the 70-200 2.8 allowing great handholding in low light, and the high quality glass, and the zoom, use that a lot more. Still, I hang onto the 135 and do use it. But if one HAD to go, it would be the 135. At this time however, that is not a decision I have to make.
agree with lars, and abam, and also, you notice you answered your question when throwing the flame back at the original flame I can give you a reason to keep every lens in canons lineup, this truly is a argument you should have with yourself.
I can't tell you how many posts I've read that went on and on about how wonderful the 135L is, and then the posters usually finish their posts with "... but I just found that I didn't use it much, and sold it"
Since you have a 70-200 f/2.8 IS, there isn't much compelling reason to keep the 135L, IMO. The 135L buys you one more stop of light, and slightly sharper images over the 70-200 2.8 IS. Given the versatility of the zoom, I'd sell the 135L and put the money to a lens that I know I would regularly use. Don't let an emotional attachment trump your logic and reasoning.
