135L for Street Photography?

I've been shooting with the 135L lately, trying to take candid street photos. I use a crop so the FL is essentially 216mm. No one can argue the image quality but what I've been finding is that the lack of IS is making many of pictures blurry. Do I just have shaky hands? I was shooting wide open with a SS of about 1/320.

Am I doing something wrong? Is the 135L a studio lens because of the lack of IS at that FL?

Here's my flickr account. Just started one and plan on contributing more.


http://flic.kr/s/aHsjz​3HNYQ

I have done some street photos with the 135L but on my 5D2, and got really sharp wide open shots. At 1/320 if you are still getting blurry shots, its definitely your technique.

I'm assuming your subject was moving so that's part of your problem there. What focus setting were you on?

AI Servo with the center focus point. And yes, my subject was moving. I guess maybe that's part of the problem. Gotta work on it.

it's by far my favorite street lens. 35 is a good FL too

Increase your ISO 1 stop and you should be good to go. That should put your SS at 1/640.

Althought, I would have thought (apparently incorrectly) that 1/320 would have been more than enough SS to stop general walking shots.

I also find the 135L hard to hand hold. Don't really know why...

I don't think it balances as well as most lenses. My 500mm is easier to hold steady.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #14316596
I also find the 135L hard to hand hold. Don't really know why...

I don't think it balances as well as most lenses. My 500mm is easier to hold steady.

I was in the same boat until I got use to it and shot it more. I think it was due to the fact that it is light weight compared to other telephoto and/or zooms with that focal length, so the lack of mass allows faster acceleration.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #14316596
I also find the 135L hard to hand hold. Don't really know why...

I don't think it balances as well as most lenses. My 500mm is easier to hold steady.

Your hands are probably too big - cut off a few fingers and it should be fine.

Street photo @ 1/160 on 5D

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tomme wrote in post #14318174
Street photo @ 1/160 on 5D

your subject clearly was moving fast...

pbelarge wrote in post #14316857
Your hands are probably too big - cut off a few fingers and it should be fine.

I'm going to faint from hyperventilation as LMAO

135L on crop should be fine with crop after little bit practice; the same story as 200mm f/2.8L II on FF.

kin2son wrote in post #14318259
your subject clearly was moving fast...

so ? it still not blurry and it would not have been if the subject had moved either ( using ai servo ). not everyone moves when your doing street photography...

tomme wrote in post #14318342
so ? it still not blurry and it would not have been if the subject had moved either ( using ai servo ). not everyone moves when your doing street photography...

That's not my point.....OP is saying he can't get a sharp pic with 1/320, and you came in showing a static shot at 1/160.

Now if your shot was @ 1/80, then you might have a point.

1/160 on ff is hardly anything to rave about with your example....

I'll work on my technique a bit more. Initially, I chalked up my shortcomings to the lens being more for studio work since it's a longer FL and there's no IS. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's never blame the tools (most of the time) haha