The resolution test of the Canon EF 135 mm f/2.0L USM was based on RAW files from the Canon EOS 1Ds MkIII. In the case of that camera the decency level is situated near 30-32 lpmm and the best fixed-focal lenses can get as high as 44-46 lpmm.
Let’s have a glance at the graph below to assess the performance of the tested lens in the frame centre, on the edge of the APS-C sensor and on the edge of full frame.
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First, the frame centre. You can notice at once that we deal here with a splendid optical instrument. Even at the maximum relative aperture the lens reaches 37 lpmm so gives fully sharp and satisfactory images. The peak of its possibilities is achieved by f/4.0, where the lens reaches 43 lpmm. It is a bit short of any records, because the best “primes” can go as high as 44-46 lpmm, but, in fact, it is the only trace that we deal here with an instrument designed 15 years ago. The MTF50 value, measured by us, is not only detail-sensitive but also sensitive to the overall photo resolution. In older constructions, which were optimized with photographic film in mind and had different anti-reflection coatings, reaching record MTF50 values is harder. Even applying newer coatings might not be very helpful. The efficiency of coatings depends not only on their quality but also on the kind of glass used. Contemporarily designed optical constructions boast coatings optimized at an early stage of lens designing, which fit the glass they are supposed to cooperate with. That’s why in an older construction the change of coatings might help a bit but still it most probably won’t provide such good results as in a new one, optimized for cooperation with a digital detector.
We wrote at length about a quite technical issue but our digressions don’t change the fact that the Canon 135L can provide images of excellent quality. The results lower by about 2 lpmm than those of some new “primes”, instruments additionally being the best on the market, would be difficult to notice in real life photos. The full usefulness of the maximum relative aperture and the results which are improving very fast on stopping down are much more important aspects here.
In a very similar tone we can comment the performance on the edge of the APS-C sensor. Even at the maximum relative aperture the image is fully useful and on stopping down the situation is even improved. The only reservation can concern the image resolution on the very edge of full frame and only at the maximum relative aperture – the value, reached there, is a bit worse than useful but if you close the aperture down to f/2.8 you can eliminate that problem completely and then you can enjoy a good or even very good image across the frame.
This chapter can be summarized very shortly: an old but hale and hearty lens. The Canon 135L, despite its age, is able to put much younger lenses to shame.
Below we present some crops of our test chart photos, taken from the frame centre and saved in JPEG format.
Launched on 1st April 1996 the Canon EF 135mm f/2L prime lens was certainly no April Fool’s joke and has stood the test of time.
135mm is a good focal length for portraits when attached to full-frame Canon DSLRs like the EOS 5D MKII. Also compatible with APS-C cameras like the EOS 7D however the increased 216mm focal length makes it attractive for sports or wildlife photography too – as long as you don’t need the flexibility of a zoom of course. The maximum f/2 aperture makes it a good option for fast shutter speeds in low-light and what’s more, artistic types will appreciate the creative shallow depth-of-field and attractive Bokeh effects possible with such a wide aperture.
So does an oldie like the Canon EF 135mm f/2L still deliver the goods in the 21st century? Does it have anything to fear from the new breed of telephoto primes or an even older telephoto prime the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus? Read on to find out.
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM: Capable but not the best telephoto prime for Canon
Achieving a DxOMark Score of 26 overall the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM ranks reasonably highly on the DxOMark ratings for Canon compatible telephoto prime lenses. As you would hope for a prime the individual Lens Metric Scores indicate it’s a bright lens with a Transmission score of 2.3Tstop and there’s very little Distortion or Chromatic Aberration noticeable as illustrated by Lens Metric Scores of 0.1% and 4um respectively.
That said it only ranks 74th for all lenses tested on the DxOMark database and it’s not the best performing telephoto prime we’ve seen for Canon DSLRS either. The DxOMark Scores for telephoto primes tested on the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III confirm the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM ranks 5th overall behind competition from Sigma, Carl Zeiss, Samyang as well as Canon’s own EF 100mm f/2 USM.
With an overall Lens Metric Score for Sharpness of 14 P-Mpix the Canon EF 135 f/2L USM ranks mid-table for a prime tested on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and its sharpness is comparable to the Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM Score of 14 P-Mpix.
Putting that into context further the Canon EF 135mm f/2L is a long way off the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM, which achieves 17 P-Mpix for sharpness, but it does significantly out trump the Tamron SP AF180mm F/3.5 Di LD [IF] MACRO 1:1 Canon that only manages 9 P-Mpix.
Sharpness
Delivering best sharpness at apertures between f/2.8 and f/8 by the time you close down to f/11 sharpness does tail off slightly and although still reasonable at f/16 shooting with very small apertures like f/22 & f/36 are to be avoided. Sharpness at f/2 is not brilliant either but this is to be expected at such a wide aperture and simply closing down 1-stop to f/2.8 will improve things considerably.
Vignetting
If you’re buying this lens for creative shallow depth of field effects using f/2 then vignetting is an issue you should be aware of. It is optically very difficult to control edge shading at such wide apertures and the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM is no exception with -1.33EV of shading at f/2. Close down to f/4 however and the problem is removed completely and doesn’t resurface at small apertures like f/32 either.
Canon 135mm f/2L USM vs. Canon 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus: Two old rivals go head-to-head
The Canon 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens [1987] is even older than the 1996 f/2L USM version. It only stops down to f/2.8 not f/2 and its Soft Focus filter is less relevant in the age of Photoshop, but the filter is optional and it’s possible to use the Canon 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus as a standard lens, too. So, when we’re all looking to save some cash, how good an alternative is this older lens to the EF 135mm f/2L version?
Well it’s immediately clear that the more expensive f/2 version out performs its older rival in every department. The DxOMark Lens Metric Scores show that it’s sharper, 14P-Mpix to 11P-M-pix, brighter by 0.8Tstop with less Distortion, Chromatic Aberration and Vignetting.
Sharpness
In terms of sharpness the f/2L version is actually sharper at f/2 than the Soft Focus version is at f/2.8. Stop down the aperture on the Canon EF 135mm f/2L to f/2.8 and it also delivers better sharpness across the entire frame without the edge softness evident on the 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens. In fact you need to stop down to f/5.6 on the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus until you get something approaching edge to edge sharpness, which is not great for a prime lens.
Vignetting
As already mentioned controlling lens shading at f/2 is optically difficult and some heavy shading requiring postproduction correction is inevitable on the EF 135 f/2L. Stop down to f/2.8 however and vignetting is much better controlled on the newer optic compared to its older counterpart, and shooting at apertures of f/4 or smaller with either lens the problem is eradicated.
Canon 135mm f/2L USM: A solid performer and a good deal second hand?
16 years on from its launch the 135mm f/2L USM is still a solid option for portrait, sport and low-light photography. That said as lens development continues to evolve recent telephoto primes like the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM and Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM do demonstrate notable improvements in Sharpness. Although performing well in all our DxOMark Lens Metric Scores the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM only ranks 5th for EF mount telephoto primes on the EOS 5D Mark II and new in terms of quality to price ratio the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM is noticeably sharper and a couple of hundred pounds cheaper. If you can pick up a Canon EF 135mm f/2L for a good price second-hand however then this very capable telephoto prime lens could be a bit of a bargain.
Ranking sharpness vs. age the trend in the main demonstrates newer telephoto primes have the edge but buying the 135mm f/2L USM second-hand could be a bargain for a very capable lens.
When did the Canon EF 135mm F 2L USM come out?
Specifications.
What is a 135mm lens best used for?
A 135mm lens is good for a surprisingly broad variety of shots, as this telephoto range tends to include a wide aperture. This makes 135mm a great choice for portraits of people and pets, landscapes, street photography and products. There are also specialised 135mm macro and tilt shift lenses available.
How much does the Canon EF 135mm f 2L USM weigh?
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens Specifications and Measurements.
What is the sharpest aperture for Canon 135mm f2?
The Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens is renowned for its image sharpness. More specifically, the 135 L has decent sharpness at f/2.0 with sharpness increasing to impressive at f/2.8.