Mini Review - Canon 35/f1.4 L

[schmoelzel]

Well, as many of you know I recently purchased this very scarce and hard-to-find-in-stock lens. I have had a few PM's and emails asking me my various opinions of the 35F1.4 L and while I am no pro equipment reviewer, maybe my humble thoughts will be of some interest to someone!

First the lens............here's a picture of my 50F1.4 and the 35F1.4 side by side. As you can see, the 35 has more heft and is twice the size. It is also finished in typical L glass fashion; feels solid and weight is just right on my Canon 1D.........





Some questions that I have received in the last few days after I posted some of my first shots with this lens:

Is it sharp? In a word, YES! I have a real weakness for sharpness and this lens does not disappoint. The DoF wide open is very narrow especially when you are close to your subject and that is where your focus point is critical. You can really get some crazy DoF effects if you tilt the camera and play around with the plane of focus.

Is it heavy? I find it the perfect weight with my 1D. It is easy to carry around (much easier than my 300 F4!!) but feels very stable. I have read over and over again that those with this lens feel 'inspired' when they have this attached to their camera body.

Is the bokeh nice? I love to isolate the subject from its' background and this lens has that ability in spades. I have noticed in the past couple of days that when I take shots further away from the subject, the background becomes less blurred but the subject seems to 'pop' out of picture. I think this is to do with the incredible contrast that this lens produces. Much the same effect that you get from the 135F2 L.........some refer to it as a '3-D' look.

Is it worth the money over the 35F2 version? Don't know that since I have never used the 35F2. I have read that optically they are very similiar. If so, the 35F2 is a hell of a bargain. I think with this lens what you pay for is the build quality and the better contrast and saturation that you can achieve. I haven't seen many shots taken with the 35F2 version that exhibit the '3-D' pop that this lens produces. I am happy to have spent the money on the lens and I guess that is what counts!!

I could conclude this with a more scientific and thorough set of test pics (brick walls, focus sheets etc etc) but I find that the most practical and informative shots taken with any lens are those that we all would take in everyday settings. Since I take mainly pictures of my daughter Julia, I will post a few more and let you all judge for yourself if this is a good lens or rather worth the $$ that is costs. In my humble opinion, I think it is and I am enjoying it immensely!! Thanks for looking and I hope this helps someone else come to a decision to pursue the purchase of this great piece of Canon glass. If anyone has any questions or statements concerning this lens or my little mini-review, just ask and I will try to answer as best as I can.......remember, I am not a professional review person so take all my observations with a grain of salt!!

[cdhender]

Thanks for the review. Pretty much re-enforced what I've read about this lense: it's sharp, built well and performs well wide open. I have a 17-40 but I still want this lense. Now if I could just find an extra $1100 laying around to buy it.

[gramps]

WOW!!!!!!!! I think it's time to start saving the pocket change for another "L". Those shots are GREAT!!!!!

[roanjohn]

.............I'm salivating...............

slurp slurp!!!

Thanks for the review!!! Truly one of Canon's gem.

Ro1

[drisley]

Thanks Schmoelzel. Excellent review. And more stunning pictures to boot!
You can definately see the 3D effect, even in #1.
I know what you meant about the lens being inspirational. I feel like I can't take a bad picture when the 135L is on my camera.
Curious, how is the autofocus? I'm sure it's super fast, and accurate, right?
I think when Julia grows up, she will remember dad having a black box for a nose

[schmoelzel]

Drisley: AF is blazing fast in good light; little slower but nothing thats bothersome in dim settings. Yeah, AF is spot on......no error from guy with camera allowed!! Julia already thinks that I have one eye.........

Thanks for all the other comments......Ro1, stop salivating and just get out the cheque-book!!

[ed2day]

Wow, great shots. I'm particularly impressed with the color quality and bokeh--highlights seem to be perfect spheres. And of course sharp. I'm also impressed with the sharpness in the pic of the two lenses. Was that taken with your 135?

[Tom W]

Great shots, from a great lens. There's a reason that this is considered one of the best wide angle lenses around.

[blinking8s]

*sigh* i want one of those too....that sigma 30mm better hold up

[roanjohn]

Originally Posted by schmoelzel

Thanks for all the other comments......Ro1, stop salivating and just get out the cheque-book!!

*sigh*...........I wish it was that easy.............

Ro1

[schmoelzel]

Originally Posted by ed2day

Wow, great shots. I'm particularly impressed with the color quality and bokeh--highlights seem to be perfect spheres. And of course sharp. I'm also impressed with the sharpness in the pic of the two lenses. Was that taken with your 135?

The colour is amazing.....the shot of the two lenses was taken with the 100f2.8 Macro, a great lens in it's own right!

[eosster]

Man, my wallet is getting thinner and thinner, lol. Awsome images. Enjoy!!!

[ghocking]

These shots are not sharp, there are better than that. We need a new word for wow sharp.

[boomerang]

Schmoelzel- just wondering what your think about the 35 1.4 compared to the 50 1.4
As far as DOF, sharpness, AF....etc.

By the way excellent photos!

[drisley]

Originally Posted by ghocking

These shots are not sharp, there are better than that. We need a new word for wow sharp.

Hmm, yes indeed... let me think.... how about... "scrumtralescent"!