35L or 135L

Hi guys, I was actually regarding for a 35L to match my 24-105 f4L but I am actually thinking about adding a 35mm f2 + 135L for about the same amount of money. Both are gonna be used for portraits and the 35 for video inside the house for family shooting.

Still don't know what to do ? 35L or 35f2 + 135L

The 35L can't really do portrait as well as the 135L...well it can for some instances but wont have the same look. The 135L is a bit long for indoor. So you're at two extremes. The 35 f2 and the 135 seem like a good alternative.

Well, I prefer the 35mm over the 50mm so I know it is going to be for full body portrait and landscape. But, I also know that I am going to use the 35mm focal lenght much more than the 135...?

Since you have 24-105, get the 135L first and keep saving for the 35L

You can check out the 100 f2 as well, 95% of the 135 for 1/3 of the cost.

I'd get the 135L, it'll give you a bit more reach.

I have the 35L and 135L, but I usually use my 35L and Sigma 85 as my go-to two-lens combo. As someone mentioned, the 100 f/2 would be an excellent alternative, and the 35 f/2, unless you really need that extra stop. I find that the 35L is a very frustrating lens, but I love it when it works with me

You don't have a choice, you must get both I'm saving for the 130L myself, as I got the 35L

I just got my 35L today, it's an absolutely amazing lens. I also have the 35mm f2, which I just gave to my assistant for a long term loan, it doesn't even come close to the 35L. I haven't used the 135L myself, but for portraits on a full frame device, you will find it much better than the 35mm. You could also consider the 85mm f1.8, it makes a pretty great portrait lens.

I'd rather the 35L than the 135L.

You obviously have both focal lengths covered (well, almost....105mm is reasonably close to 135mm).

So the difference is mainly the aperture, having the extra three stops at 35mm or having the extra two stops at 105/135mm.

IMO, for portraiture the longer a lens is, the less you need a very fast aperture. This is because we tend to use longer focal lengths for more tightly framed portraits. And when you shoot tightly framed, very fast apertures do not give enough DOF.

So I'd rather have a 35L which I could use for very loosely framed environmental portraits at f/1.4 than have a 135L which I'll mostly use for head & shoulders type shots where I have to stop down anyway.

And note that it is generally very easy to blur a background out with a long lens, even when using a small aperture.

BOTH

The difference is that you will keep your 35L for lifetime (how many are sold secondhand?) and that you will sell your 135 f2 for a 70-200 2.8L IS MKI or II.

The 135L has perfect IQ but is not the only one, also the 200 2.8L...
The only big problem is the working distance, that's why it's sold so often.

With the 35L you can portrait a person with the environment, use it for home celebrations, it's really allround. With the 135L you often have to step far behind (if possible) to get something more in the frame.

It's a nice candid lens or portrait for studio work or if you have time and space.

135L is money for portraits on a full frame. Have been extremely happy with mine. You just need a lot of space to work with. I went through this same debate (35L vs 135L) and bought the 35L because i figured that my 24-70 f2.8L does 35mm very, very well (albeit not nearly as fast).

Really depends what you are trying to do with it.

davisphotos wrote in post #13715219
I just got my 35L today, it's an absolutely amazing lens. I also have the 35mm f2, which I just gave to my assistant for a long term loan, it doesn't even come close to the 35L. I haven't used the 135L myself, but for portraits on a full frame device, you will find it much better than the 35mm. You could also consider the 85mm f1.8, it makes a pretty great portrait lens.

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I say 35L
because i hear many issues with the 135mm

This is a tradeoff: The 35mm or the 135mm. One won't work in situations where the other would have. Just get one and make the most of it, and get the other when you can afford (and need) it. You know what kind of pictures they take, so why ask us?

StructuredAmazing wrote in post #13716954
I say 35L
because i hear many issues with the 135mm

I say you hear a bunch of hearsay!