My personal priorities and preferences are the Hochzeitsreportage-, product / object / food and portrait photography (infants, children, adults). I also count myself among the strobist what me also is very important. My money I have with my photos do not deserve and get my photography as a strong hobby - to the delight of good friends and relatives who can not afford a professional photographer or want.
After a gradual, personal discovery process, I noticed over the years more and more my preference for fixed focal lengths, which ablösten gradually the existing zoom lenses. Except for a simple Canon 24-105 L and a Canon 70-200 L actually all had to go - and these two remain (much too) often home.
Probably makes the Canon 135mm for many photographers - despite frequent recommendations - rather an exotic represent at least it is not as prevalent, such as the 85mm.. This, I think, is in particular due to the fact that generally 85mm as the optimal portrait focal length are referred to (and not everyone is willing to spend 900-1000 euros for a lens. From the 85mm 1.2 we are talking now not even). For many of the so generated image impression is certainly very pleasing and thus provide the optimum 85mm for very many users are. Some naughty people say yes, that would be 135mm long.
I personally ticke because now something else: When I then only had a crop camera, I was with my 50mm lens never really warm. The other hand, was the Canon 85mm 1.8 my undisputed favorite, especially for portraits. When my Canon 6D was come, I quickly realized that I just lacked a bit and photos of 85mm somehow not often so well liked as before. And so the 85mm 1.8 was increasingly rare back at full frame and eked out his existence again preferred on the 550D. The 50mm, however, I suddenly found at the 6D just great. When the 550D was but then again replaced by a 5D Mark III, simply lacked a "puzzle piece". Since 85mm on Crop (1.6) correspond to the 136mm full frame, the missing piece, however, was quickly found. Since the market is not exactly flooded with a wide range of 135mm fixed focal lengths, alternatives were also few and far between. All the great I find it that Canon such "exotic" in such a brilliant quality continues to lead in the portfolio. However, the date of introduction of the lens proves my view that quality sometimes just yet penetrated.
Ahead also I read several reviews, tests and studied the relevant video sites trying to let me know. The sung here eulogies I've taken with skepticism, and decided to convince myself.
Processing:
This is "L-typical" solid. Nothing creaks or rattles, the manufacturing tolerances fall very low. The haptics can also be described as orderly, you can feel the weight of that quite a lot of glass and metal was installed. The surface finish is also in order. I want to rate this but not because it is in my opinion a matter of taste. A wobbly front lens of the reported example in Traumflieger, I can not confirm, however. If you find something in your lens, I strongly at an exchange.
Features / included:
The 135mm has no protection against the power of the elements, which I think is a pity. Those who came before at a wedding in the church, while it was pouring with rain, knows what I mean. The incorporation of a few rubber gaskets throughout its production time could the good piece definitely good standing. So you have to make do differently to stop. We are talking now of times an L lens and not by an objective of the middle class.
A limiter for Fokusweg exists, but due to the very good autofocus this is obsolete but in my opinion, in 99% of cases, which surprised me a little. A lens hood is included as well as the usual Objektivbeutel the L-series.
Handling / Operation
The existing switch can be easily operated and snap a tired, without wobbling back and forth. The focus ring can move in my opinion, very pleasant, the Fokusweg is well chosen - not too long and not too short, while the ring is not too tight and not too loose. The large maximum aperture gives a nice bright viewfinder, making manual focusing is also quite possible.
Autofocus:
Autofocus is fast, accurate and very quiet - everything you would expect from a really good USM. Only when real "dim light" on my 5D Mark III it comes noticeably to its limits. Here it is advisable to only use the middle sensors. The middle sensor 6D makes things here a little easier. On the subject fehlfokus: I have my copy (which I can highly recommend the way Just search for it.) By DOT-Tune method calibrated. Here I was able to find a (within the correction range of 5D / 6D lying) Front focus. However, me and other viewers liked the location of the focal plane before correction to the comparison photos so incredibly good that I made the correction reversed.
Image Quality
I always try superlatives as part of reviews to avoid, but I can describe the sharpness of this lens just as bombastic - and indeed even at full aperture. Here, the Canon 135mm clearly plays in the top league. Chromatic aberrations as well as vignetting are no primary selection criteria for myself, as a rule, because Lightroom so this can count as so easily out with standard lenses. However, as regards the aberrations I can give as much as possible clear. At maximum aperture a visible on photos vignette is available, but this is quite normal at this focal length in combination with the rather large maximum aperture at full frame. JPEG or out-of-camera photographer should be here about my opinion, but informed, in so far as an in-camera correction is not used or is not available. In backlight conditions, incidentally, I was able to determine that the lens tends to flare - I personally like the but and it does not bother me.
Bokeh
This point I would like to give special place, as it constitutes one of the great strengths of this objective, in my view. I still have my first picture with the 135mm in the head - and the enthusiasm over here. This plan, incidentally still not off until today. The Bokeh is literally as smooth as silk, flares are circular at full aperture, without Ziebelringe, coronas or cat eyes. Distorted Flare I have so far not noticed. Of course the idea of each Bokehs is basically a matter of taste, but I personally like very much. Due to the rather high focal length occurs especially at maximum aperture a relatively small focus range, but which remains easy to control, which already can sink objects in short distance to the main object in blur. Blur is one of my personal photographic style, which is why I appreciate this. In my view, this objective was to be simply devised to operate at maximum aperture. I just remembered actually just another glass a, which provides such a beautiful combination of sharpness and bokeh - And that would be the Canon 85mm 1.2.
Conclusion:
Frankly I regard adulation as part of Amazon reviews always with great skepticism. The expensive the item is, the higher the probability that someone does not want to admit that they have acquired trash or a semi-gares product for a lot of money, which is simply too expensive for the performance offered. Finally 900-1000 euros are not necessarily low. However, I must say that here every penny is well spent. This gives a nearly perfect lens with great picture quality, fast and unerring autofocus, solid workmanship and exemplary Bokeh, without the need for it to sell organs or his children. The really great 85mm 1.2 for example, costs twice as well - but, as already mentioned, the full format is not my preferred focal length.
135mm are certainly not for everyone. Personally, I prefer the 135mm full frame a 85mm lens, however, in most cases clearly before. Here I address myself prefer to own preferences as to what is commonly regarded as "real". Because if one does not really like your pictures, you can not really stand behind and also losing on short or long the joy of his hobby. Because at some point no longer helps the confirmation of others.
Overall, I can issue a strong buy recommendation. This lens has developed in a short time, my personal favorite. Preference I use it at weddings, especially here like for some pictures and for portraits - both face, upper body, as well as full body portraits. For the latter, you need just a little space in front of the motif. Furthermore, it is not as intrusive as a 70-200mm. For example, I have learned that one wedding guests not so "scared", arise more frequently and more natural pictures you will rarely noticed. But who is the famous "Oh, here comes the professional", should rather resort to something Auffälligerem - what I mean by the way not being sarcastic. Some like that, I do not. For my own style, I prefer not to be noticed it possible. I really only excite attention in the group shots - but then not by a gun barrel in front of the camera, but by addressing the participants.
The 135mm is my opinion but definitely for professional use, if one is not necessarily dependent on a built-in weather protection. Here, however, to award less than 5 stars, would not be justified in my case. Here has the whole package and surprisingly also the price.
