Bokeh? 135L vs 70-200 2.8

Hey all,

Have a really random question. Is there much of a bokeh difference (quantity, quality, 'creaminess' etc) between 135L and 70-200 f/2.8L IS mark1 at 200mm f/2.8? I know the 135L completely owns the 70-200 mark 1 in terms of sharpness, but I'm more interested in bokeh.

I have an upcoming drama production full-dress-rehearsal shoot as well as a church-ish good-friday concert. My friend has a 135L, while I own the 70-200 f/2.8L IS. I should be able to borrow the 135L for it, but I have no experience shooting these stuff with that.

I'll have 2 x full frame bodies with me, and they'll have the 24-70, 35L, 85 1.8 as well as some kind of medium/long tele.

Anyone? (:

Have a look at this thread

https://photography-on-the.net …6&highlight=135​+vs+70-200

Are you interested in bokeh or shallow dof (blurry bkgnd)? 2 different things.

gasrocks wrote in post #12154319
Are you interested in bokeh or shallow dof (blurry bkgnd)? 2 different things.

i thought they were one and the same

Bokeh - flavor of the blur. What the oof parts look like, the transition between focus and non, etc. Most poeple are after smooth, creamy backgrounds as I expect you are, but, after a while that gets boring, Let's get a little character in that background.

I've seen hokey has the most noticeable characters in lowlight or night shots as points of light have a more distinct shape.
Shooting with 135l and the 70-200 is mkI I am much more pleased with the prime. I know f2 vs 2.8 is a big difference but there's a lot more pop even when the apertures are the same with the 135l

would it be correct to say that the 135L is more of a outdoor lens? I can get down to 1/60 on my 70-200 but on the 135L its about 1/150. So maybe light is the determining factor.

*Jayrou wrote in post #12154288
Have a look at this thread

https://photography-on-the.net …6&highlight=135​+vs+70-200

+1
That should put "The 135L completely owns the 70-200 mark 1" in perspective

0.0f wrote in post #12154707
i thought they were one and the same

Nope,, bokeh is the quality of the out of focus areas of an image which is very subjective. Can not be measured.. Depth of field is the acceptable sharpness behind and in front of the subject (not to be confused with depth of focus) which can be measured..

Two entirely different things.

It's about time we ban the term bokeh.. It's confusing to many new chums to photography.. Also, buying a lens on the bokeh it produces alone is silly..

Are you saying that buying a lens just to get its bokeh is silly? That's silly. I get ,more ohs and ahs from those pix than I get from my sharpest lens.

gasrocks wrote in post #12159479
Are you saying that buying a lens just to get its bokeh is silly? That's silly. I get ,more ohs and ahs from those pix than I get from my sharpest lens.

There are other lens attributes to consider.

CheshireCat wrote in post #12157692
+1
That should put "The 135L completely owns the 70-200 mark 1" in perspective

but thats not very fair because that thread comparing the mark II vs the 135L, and the mark II almost completely owns the mark I at 2.8, especially at 200mm

All lenses are compremises. I consider all aspects of a lens befoer buying one. But I do have special lenses I own just for their outstanding, unique, different bokeh. Specialized tools.

ilumo wrote in post #12159676
but thats not very fair because that thread comparing the mark II vs the 135L, and the mark II almost completely owns the mark I at 2.8, especially at 200mm

My perspective is: a good copy of the 70-200 mk I is not owned by any of the other two lenses in real shots
My mk2 is very slightly sharper than the mk1 It replaced, at least in the center. Adding a 2x extender you definitely see the difference but I still get better results with my 135L, so much that the mk2 is going to Canon for calibration.
My personal bokeh preference first to last is: 135L, mk1, mk2.

I don't shoot charts, so YMMV

gasrocks wrote in post #12159479
Are you saying that buying a lens just to get its bokeh is silly? That's silly. I get ,more ohs and ahs from those pix than I get from my sharpest lens.

what you talking?! that's your preference and style of shooting! why u call others silly just because your preference is not on par?!