135L on a crop body for outdoor portrait work...

...is LOOONG, but I WILL make it work! I got the 135L a few weeks ago, my first L lens. Finally had a chance to use it for portrait work today (went apple picking with the family, convinced my kids to pose for me for a while). HOLY SMOKES, the 135L is a portrait monster! Tack sharp, super rich colors, and the most creamy bokeh. Wow. After 15 minutes I understood why the 135 has the reputation it does.

I am already used to making the 85 1.8 work on my 50D for outdoor portraits b/c I am such a fan of it. And I know from past experience that even the 85 can be too long for much indoor portrait work. But for now, I am going to just get used to standing a half a block away from people because I will make the 135 work!

Thanks to all those who offer opinions and samples on here...they definitely guided my purchase and I could not be happier with my first L lens purchase!

I also believe in long lenses for portrait work. If you have time, please make a comparison on a full body shot between the 85mm at f1.8 and the 135L at f2 (by stepping back to get same framing). I am very curious about the bokeh.

I always use the 85mm but always think about getting the 135L.

Earwax...that's a great idea, I may try to do that sometime relatively soon ("relatively" being the key word b/c I am swamped with work from the "real job" right now and had to sneak away to get out at all today). I will say, I have always been a huge fan of the 85 1.8. And, I usually tend to be skeptical about getting new gear (not just photo gear, I'm the same with guitar gear, my other hobby). For instance, I recently gave the 16-35L a test drive and was not "wowed" by it.

But my initial reaction to the 135 as compared to the 85 is that everything I love about the 85 1.8 for portraits, the 135 is just "more" of it...quite a little bit more. And that is even given by tendency to not be wowed by new gear.

Congrats, I love my 85 1.8, but would love to get the 135L, but was worried it would be too long on a crop. Seems like a good buy!

Not sure how old your kids are, but I used to own the 135L as well and mainly use it for portrait with my one and a half year old daughter.

Verdict? Whilst it's one sharp lens, it's too restrictive. Lack of IS also makes handholding that much harder, on crop you need ~1/200 for static subjects, kids will need at least double of that just to be safe imo.

For proper modelling/portrait session with adults? Sure.

For uncontrollable kids? Not the best tool...

Congratulations on the 135L. Both lenses are awesome lenses. But with the 135mm at f/2 you can take it up a notch.

I use mostly 135L outdoors the most than my 85 1.8... it is absolutely very sharp with the right focussing techniques on my 7D.

Congrats on your new 135, its a Superb Lens !!

I've read many comments over the years that longer focal lengths like 100mm or 135mm are way too long for portraits on a crop camera. If this is true, then how come the results look so good? I think 135mm is a great focal length for outdoor portraits, and indoor portraits as well as long as you have the room.