Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

[Jetmech1]

I know the lens question get asked to often, but I would like some members input before buying this lens Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.0L USM . I want to use it to take pics of my children playing basketball. My 2 current lens don't seem fast enough. Would this be a good lens for that? or should I look a Canon EF 70mm-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens.

Actually I looking for suggestions. Those are some pricey lens and I would prefer to keep the price UNDER 800-1000 dollars. I really like the IS feature on my other lens and wished the first lens mentioned had IS.

Thanks
John

[MDJAK]

I too take indoor gym shots. I have the second lens you mention (70-200 2.8 IS) and I love it. However, without flash, it is certainly not fast enough for indoor sports. I am considering the 135 also.

I await further comments too.

[jimlp]

I know the lens question get asked to often, but I would like some members input before buying this lens Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.0L USM . I want to use it to take pics of my children playing basketball. My 2 current lens don't seem fast enough. Would this be a good lens for that? or should I look a Canon EF 70mm-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens.

Actually I looking for suggestions. Those are some pricey lens and I would prefer to keep the price UNDER 800-1000 dollars. I really like the IS feature on my other lens and wished the first lens mentioned had IS.

Thanks
John

Are you shooting film or digital? The 135mm f2L may be to long on a 1.6 crop camera if you are close to the court, if shooting digital you may be better off getting the 85mm f1.8 for the close stuff. If you are shooting from the stands and need the versatility of various focal lengths the 70-200 f2.8L IS may be your only choice.

[Jetmech1]

Are you shooting film or digital? The 135mm f2L may be to long on a 1.6 crop camera if you are close to the court, if shooting digital you may be better off getting the 85mm f1.8 for the close stuff. If you are shooting from the stands and need the versatility of various focal lengths the 70-200 f2.8L IS may be your only choice.

I think I'm going to take your advice and buy the 85mm prime with the 420EX flash. That should keep me busy for a while until I can aford some L series lenses. i had oringinally looked at that piece of glass, but was thinking about some of the L series.

[drisley]

The 135F2L is the best, sharpest lens I own. It's fantastic for indoor sports, etc.
I have some volleyball shots taken HERE (http://www.fotop.net/sharpnsmart/volley11122004) that were taken within the first 5 rows of the court, which is also a basketball court.

[Jetmech1]

The 135F2L is the best, sharpest lens I own. It's fantastic for indoor sports, etc.
I have some volleyball shots taken HERE (http://www.fotop.net/sharpnsmart/volley11122004) that were taken within the first 5 rows of the court, which is also a basketball court.

Thanks. Those are some nice shots. I'll keep that in mind. I can buy the the 85mm and the 420EX or the 135 F2L? I hate the kind of decisions. What do you think?

John

[Jetmech1]

The 135F2L is the best, sharpest lens I own. It's fantastic for indoor sports, etc.
I have some volleyball shots taken HERE (http://www.fotop.net/sharpnsmart/volley11122004) that were taken within the first 5 rows of the court, which is also a basketball court.

Do you have any similar shots with the 85mm Prime?

John

[Leon van Batenburg]

Please, remember: IS won't help you at sports. It only compensates your OWN movement, it does not shorten the exposure, whitch is needed with fast moving objects! The handling of the 135/2.0 is perfect. Fast not as heavy and bulky as the 70-200. I owned both, but recently sold the 70-200 because it just stayed home too often....

[pcasciola]

Do you have any similar shots with the 85mm Prime? Here's some that blinking8s posted recently with the 85mm:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53383&highlight=ball

[Jetmech1]

Here's some that blinking8s posted recently with the 85mm:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53383&highlight=ball

Thanks...................I'm sold.

John

[CyberDyneSystems]

Looks like you have allready made the decision, I just wanted to reinforce what has been said,

The two lenses you are looking at (135mm f/2L & 85mm f/1.8 ) are probably the two best suited for the task you describe (short of the very pricey 200mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.2)

Your decision on which would be best for your particular needs will break down to focal length and cost. Ideally you will one day own both ;)

But either one is a great way to get started.

[Leon van Batenburg]

85/1.2 won't do for sports, much too slow AF...

[pcasciola]

I have an 85mm f/1.8 on the way for kids b-ball too. Just remember, the 85mm samples and drisley's 135mm samples were both taken in large arenas with exceptional lighting, and may not be representative of what you can do in your local gym where your kids play. I know my town's two gyms have no outside light and very poor sodium lighting, so I'm not expecting much.

[gmen]

I use the 135mm f/2L and the 85mm f/1.8 for basketball. Both do a fine job and come highly recommended. The 135mm wins on image quality - whereas the 85mm is marginally faster in the AF department.

I have some b-ball galleries here if you are interested: http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/basketball.html

[drisley]

I use the 135mm f/2L and the 85mm f/1.8 for basketball. Both do a fine job and come highly recommended. The 135mm wins on image quality - whereas the 85mm is marginally faster in the AF department.

That's exactly what I've found. Even though the 135F2L has blazingly fast AF (faster than any L zoom), the 85F1.8 seems even faster at AF.

The 85F1.8 is an exceptional lens, especially considering the price. The only negative is that it can exhibit purple fringing when shot wide open (until about f2.5) under extreme lighting conditions. This is rather minor though, especially if you shoot Raw and use Photoshop CS to convert the raw ;)

As a comparison, these two hockey shots were taken in an amateur arena with no special lighting:

85F1.8, ISO1600, 1/640, F2.2 (http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/hockey10242004/MG_3219.jpg)

135F2L, ISO1600, 1/500 F2.0 (http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/hockey10242004/MG_3234.jpg)

[schmoelzel]

Take my word and everyone elses' ........BUY IT!!! You cannot go wrong with this lens.

[HKFEVER]

Thanks. Those are some nice shots. I'll keep that in mind. I can buy the the 85mm and the 420EX or the 135 F2L? I hate the kind of decisions. What do you think?

John

Go for 135 instead of 85. 135mm is the best and sharpeness.

[3oh6]

The 85F1.8 is an exceptional lens, especially considering the price. The only negative is that it can exhibit purple fringing when shot wide open (until about f2.5) under extreme lighting conditions. i just found this out yesterday shooting some kids skating on an outdoor rink. its really the first time the 85 has been outside since i got it and was almost shocked to see that this lense is not completey perfect. :) i will just have to close it off a little when outside i guess. my vote goes for the 85 f/1.8 and the 420, but really you can't go wrong with either. the 135 is next on my list, but only because i already have the 85 ;)

[Andy_T]

I can buy the the 85mm and the 420EX or the 135 F2L? I hate the kind of decisions. What do you think?


Those two options do have a considerable price difference.
What about the 550 EX instead of the 420?

To me it seems that you can use every bit of light there, let alone the flexibility of the 550. With the 580 out now, you should also get some nice deals on it.

Best regards,
Andy

[drisley]

i just found this out yesterday shooting some kids skating on an outdoor rink. its really the first time the 85 has been outside since i got it and was almost shocked to see that this lense is not completey perfect. :) i will just have to close it off a little when outside i guess. my vote goes for the 85 f/1.8 and the 420, but really you can't go wrong with either. the 135 is next on my list, but only because i already have the 85 ;)

Yes, I was shocked the first time I saw the fringing on the 85F1.8.
However, I then read that is common with that lens. Stopping down to about F2.5 or better will fix most of it. Shooting Raw and using Photoshop CS to covert also gives you the option to remove fringing.
I've used that lens alot, and it's only been in rare situations where the fringing has shown up though.