Telephoto lens with a softfocus feature. It can give razor-sharp snapshots as well as softfocus shots that do not look blurry. You have a choice of two softfocus settings. Even for softfocus shots, fo...
Summary Useful & versatile portrait lense.
A special lense, can be used as a fast prime but also incorporates a dial for
continuous soft focus effect, with engraved setting stops at zero for no soft effect; setting 1 is for half effect; and setting 2 is for full effect. Placement of a setting between the stops is also appropriate. Chosen setting soft focus intensity will also be mitagated by aperture and appears to be less conspicuous above f5.6.
Software can create soft focus in a reliable way and may be a better option for some, but this lense provides a on camera control which may have merit for some requirements.
Strengths Optional natural optical soft focus, subtle to strong; lightweight; economical; very good colour and contrast; very good prime lense sharpness at fast f2.8 max aperture, sharper at f4; superior bokeh.
Weaknesses Reliable autofocus but legacy style; prone to lens flare w/o shade; long minimum focus distance
Summary This lens is far sharper than i thought it would be. in fact bench testing it against the canon 70-200 f4L it comes up trumps in the sharpness department. The soft focus takes a lot of getting used to and despite having 2 levels of softness the effective softness of a shot changes with the aperture (canon got it right when they said the best results will be achieved between f2.8 and f4). i have noticed that you get a more pleasing soft effect if there is a strong source of light somewhere in the image. the focusing system is a little sluggish at times but then this lens is not built for sports. overall i am happy and for a long time this lens was a favourite in my quiver.
Strengths sharp!
not to soft when the soft focus is turned on.
Weaknesses af system is slow and i did eventually develop a problem where the manual focus ring slipped
Summary Great lens to pick up if you can find it cheap used. Easily a match for its big brother in the "L" gang, but not wide open. Very nice soft focus feature, razor sharp when off, dreamy effects when dialed in.
Strengths Small, light, razor sharp, although not edge to edge like the big brother "L".
Weaknesses Lens flare is very pronounced even with a hood against even slightly backlit subjects. Build is cheap. Not a lens I would take through a rough outing.
Summary Great Value for a nice portrait lens. I spent couple days shooting a couple hundred pictures with this lens mounted on the Canon 10D. The images are sharp, the bokeh is smooth, what more do you want from a portrait lens. The 1.6X crop factor does make you stand a little farther from your subject. This lens has been over shadowed by it's 135mm f2"L" brother and the other midtelephoto USM lenses. But for less money you can get the same quality of pictures. Highly recommended lens, especially if you're on a tight budget... well, even if you're not.
Strengths Sharp wide open and stopped down! inexpensive, small filter size, metal hood mount, bokeh is silky smooth, great portrait and midtelephoto lens.
Weaknesses Plastic barrel, AF motor a little whiney and not as fast as USM, long minimum focus distance of 4 feet
Similar Products Used Canon 85 f1.8
Canon 135 f2
Tamron 90 f2.8
Customer Service Canon customer service has been okay in the past.
Summary In a summary, a sharp 135mm lens when you don't use the soft focus feature. To the soft focus, it's totally depend on your taste, someone love it so much and someone don't like the effect. It's better to judge it yourself. Built quality is average, focus speed is OK.
Strengths it's a cheap and cheerful 135mm lens.
Quite sharp. F2.8 is good enough.
Weaknesses No weakness you can said in this price range.
4 of 5
5 of 5
4 of 5
5 of 5
