135L &/vs 70-200 F4L IS USM

Dont know if I should had posted this to other thread, but wanna ask question from POTN people.

Having 70-200 F4L IS USM, and planning to get 135L too. But then afraid, if 70-200 will only get dust .
Thou trying to reason myself not to get 135L yet, that 70-200 giving "same" portrait chances and giving versatility with the zoom.

Whats your situations, that you absolutely wanna use 135L instead 70-200? or otherway around?

Thanks.

First of all I have owned both 70-200f4 IS and 135L before.

Both of them sold for the 70-200mkII

Having said that, the 135L does have a certain charm and I will re-purchase it again if I have spare money (but i don't).

My advice to you is upgrade the zoom to the f2.8 II first, you'll most likely forget the 135L after that.

kin2son wrote in post #15674233
First of all I have owned both 70-200f4 IS and 135L before.

Both of them sold for the 70-200mkII

Having said that, the 135L does have a certain charm and I will re-purchase it again if I have spare money (but i don't).

My advice to you is upgrade the zoom to the f2.8 II first, you'll most likely forget the 135L after that.

I´ve been thinking that

What he said. The 70-200 f/4 IS and 135L are definitely not mutually exclusive, I own one and sometimes borrow the other from a friend, but the 70-200 2.8 IS II can replace both. Just keep in mind that it's also going to be as big and heavy as both lenses combined, so you're not saving anything in size or weight, other than not having to swap lenses.

I love me the 135L.

Plus for 750$ used, what's not to like?

I have them both and I use them for both but for different things and I don't plan to get rid of either of them especially not my 135L (it's magical). There are times when zooms work better for certain situations ie moving kids, but for portraits a prime is a no brainer. I have a friend that has the 70-200IS 2 and after shooting with my 135L he has put his heavy lens up for sale to buy the 135L. IMO the 70-200 2 can't replace the 135L but the 85L sure can, but at double the price Futhermore I've yet to find a zoom lens that could replace any of my primes. I say go ahead and pick up the 135L you'll be glad that you did.

I have both (non-IS 70-200). I think they nicely compliment each other. To me 70-200 f4 is less of a outdoor portrait lens (but I do use it all the time in my studio), and more of a general purpose telephoto - outdoor sports/events, landscape, architecture,... 135L is my dedicated outdoor full body portrait lens, and is also lens for indoor sports and performances.

After I got the 135, when I have my 85 1.8 and 135L in the bag, I generally don't even bother to load up my 70-200 f4L non-is unless I'm doing something outdoors where I think I'll want 200 not 300 or the 300 would be an adverse weight penalty. Also that extra stop of the 135 f2 over the 70-200 2.8 can make a world of difference shooting indoor sports where I'm trying to freeze the action in front of the lens, which IS won't help with.

I'd say keep the 70-200 f4IS, add the 85L, 135L and either of the 200Ls as budget allows, then you've got the quality and magic of the primes as well as the ability to be flexible when needed, because there are times when the 70-200 does the job a little better.

I have both and to be brutally honest the 70-200 F4 stays in the bag a lot. The zoom still does things I need to do occasionally but for portrait work it rarely comes out of the bag.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.
Appreciate it.
I say the 135L stays on top of my wishlist, cos the prime use still would be on portraits.

and like "Motor On" said about 85L, not money enough to get both of them ...yet ... so maybe I just try also 85 1.8

I have the 85 1.8 and its a great lens for when the 135L is too long. Its a fantastic bargain, but the bokeh doesnt reach 135L levels of creamy.

I own both lenses, and for me they meet different needs. The 70-200 f/4 IS is a great light weight all purpose telephoto that I use mostly when I travel and do not want to take the bigger, heavier 100-400L. The 135L is more specialized for those times I need a fast telephoto for indoor subjects.