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Canon EF 135mm F/2 L USM Lens Review
The Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM might just be the best lens Canon has ever made. It doesn’t get as much attention as some other Canon lenses, but it’s one of the best options for capturing sharp images in both indoor and outdoor settings.
This is an excellent lens for getting crisp, high-contrast images from a distance.
Optically, this Canon lens is close to perfect. It’s small, lightweight, and comfortable to carry thanks to its ergonomic shape. The autofocus is quick no matter how far the AF system needs to shift the lenses, and it’s almost completely silent.
You can also switch to manual focus any time by grabbing the large focus ring.
If you’re shopping for a prime lens, this review will help you figure out whether the Canon EF 135mm F/2 L USM is the right call.
Specifications of Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM Lens
Here’s a detailed look at the specifications:
Compatibility
The Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM is built for every Canon EOS camera on the market. That means it works with every Canon DSLR and autofocus film camera.
Our article on Canon ef 85mm f1.2 l ii usm covers related ground and is worth a look.
So whether you’ve got a 5D Mark II, 7D, or even an older Canon EOS 260, this lens is compatible. It plays nicely with the vast majority of cameras available today.
Optics
The lens has 10 elements arranged in 8 groups. It’s multi-coated, mostly in amber. The internal focus is extremely silent and doesn’t move any external elements when using autofocus.
The optics get an extra boost from 2 UD glass elements.
Close Focus
This lens offers a close focus down to 3 feet (0.9 meters), marked on the barrel.
Max Reproduction Ratio
The maximum reproduction ratio is a solid 1:5.26.
Extension Tubes
You can pair the Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM with the Canon EF12 II extension tube for close-up shots at about 0.29x life-size (0.69 meters) at the image sensor.
The Canon EF25 II extension tube gets you even closer, around 0.41x life-size (0.58 meters) at the image sensor.
Close-up Lenses
This lens works with the Canon 500D close-up lens for shots at the image sensor of around 0.25x to 0.5x life size.
Angle of View
On full-frame or 35mm, the lens delivers these angles of view:
- Diagonal – 18°
- Horizontal – 15°
- Vertical – 10°
Diaphragm
The diaphragm has 8 conventional blades that stop down to F/32.
Tele-converters
Attach a Canon EF 1.4x II and this lens becomes a 189mm F/2.8 with a max reproduction ratio of 0.27 times.
Pair it with a Canon EF 2x II and it turns into a 270mm F/4 lens with a max reproduction ratio of 0.38 times.
Infinity Focus Stop
There’s no hard infinity focus stop on this lens. You’ll need to let the autofocus system handle focusing when it reaches infinity.
Focus Scale
The lens comes with a focus scale. The ring turns from close to far in just 120°.
Depth-of-Field Scale
There are no marked depth-of-field indicators, unless you count the two small ticks right next to each other for F/32.
Filter Thread
The filter thread is lightweight plastic measuring 72mm, and it doesn’t rotate.
Dimensions
The Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM lens measures 3.2 inches (82.5mm) in diameter and 4.4 inches (112mm) in length.
Weight
According to Canon, this lens weighs around 26.5 oz. (750 grams). That makes it a bit on the heavier side but still manageable compared to later models.
Lens Hood
A plastic clip-on ET-78 II lens hood (US$40) is included with the Canon EF 135mm F/2L lens.
Lens Case
The lens comes in a secure LP1219 sack, valued at around US$33.
Performance of the Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM Lens
Now that you’ve seen the specs, let’s talk about how the Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM actually performs:
Overall Performance
The Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM lens is superb for optics and easy to handle. It’s one of the most popular prime lenses among professional and amateur photographers worldwide, and for good reason.
Auto-Focus
The autofocus on this lens is super-fast and almost completely silent, exactly what you’d expect from a Canon L lens.
We put together a full guide on Canon ef 50mm f1.2 l usm that pairs well with this.
To override the autofocus, just grab the focus ring at any time and adjust manually. Or flip the AF/MF switch to disable autofocus entirely.
You’ll barely hear anything from the internal mechanism while it’s working.
The autofocus shows no offset, especially at F/2. Manual focusing is straightforward too. The ring only needs 120° of rotation to move from one end of the focus scale to the other.
Bokeh
This lens produces absolutely stunning bokeh. The quality of out-of-focus objects creates beautiful contrast with the subject, practically melting the background away.
Both foreground and background out-of-focus areas are soft and subtle, better than what most LEICA lenses produce.
Applications of Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM Lens
The Canon EF 135mm F/2L USM lens is ideal for portrait photography, wedding photography, event photography, and outdoor shooting.
The smooth and swift autofocus lets you capture clear images without being too intrusive at events.
Considering a Canon mirrorless body? Our Canon mirrorless camera roundup compares every current model.
Shooting landscapes? Check our best Canon landscape lenses.
For portrait work, see our best Canon portrait lenses.
