Would you buy a Canon 135mm F1.4?

amfoto1 wrote in post #16611591
A 135mm f1.4 lens would need to have a 96mm diameter max aperture. To accomodate that, the lens would need to be about the size of the 200/2L IS.

I think I can live with the 135/2L. I would like to see it updated with curved aperture blades, but other than that I don't think there's a whole lot of room for improvement.

There are quite a few happy 200mm f2.0 owners out there, who don't mind the weight/price for the unique look of the photos they get. I suspect the market for a similar quality 135mm f1.4 could be as large, albeit a niche one for sure.

96mm entrance pupil seems not that bad for me.
After working with a 5.5kg Canon FD 400mm f/2.8, lenses with 2.5kg are now very acceptable for me.
A 135mm/1,4 would not be a lens like the 135/2 or a 85mm/1.2 which easily can stay in the bag, whether it is needed or not. Its more like the super tele lenses 300/2.8 200/2.

ZoneV wrote in post #16610902
1...
Currently I try to get such a lens, but not on EF 200/2 IQ level, more for the short DOF effect. Before Christmas I had my first more or less working setup. But with very low IQ and restricted working distances.
...

Its grown longer than first planned - 180mm f/1.4

ZoneV wrote in post #16619023
Its grown longer than first planned - 180mm f/1.4

Interesting DIY project, but it sounds like the IQ will be so-so at best...

I keep trying to get to as short FL as possible with the same respectful 10cm aperture as 200mm f2.0 lens got. I already got a pretty decent IQ (better than 85L) 120mm f1.2 lens design for FF, with 7 (all aspheric) elements. My first attempt at 100mm f1.0 was not successful, but I'll keep trying .

MalVeauX wrote in post #16597793
Heya,

Simply get the 85L and a crop, and you won't have to worry about the $10,000 135mm F1.4 prime.

Very best,

This recommendation does not make sense to me. Am 85mm f1.4 on a 1.6 crop would not give the same depth of field as a 135mm f1.4 on a full frame. Even though the images would be framed the same way (given the same shooting distance), the fact that you would be using a crop sensor would yield a 1 1/3 stop difference in DOF. So, an 85mm set at f1.4, when used on a 1.6 crop sensor, would yield the "same" visual results as an 135mm at f2.2.

Could you please explain the rationale you used to come up with 85mm f1.4 being equal to 135mm at 1.4 on a crop (with respect to DOF)? It seems as though you completely ignored the different DOF that a smaller sensor gives, all else being equal.

EDIT:
Oh, yeah - I would never buy a 135mm f1.4
I would have almost no use for such a lens; for what I shoot at 135mm I am usually trying to maximize DOF, hence no need for such a lagre aperture.

mike_311 wrote in post #16597146
id rather have a 135/2L IS.

Me too!

pulsar123 wrote in post #16619042
Interesting DIY project, but it sounds like the IQ will be so-so at best...

Today I made some more images, now with flash. And for me the quality is quite OK. Not perfect, but hey, for a home tinkered lens which is one stop faster than Canon EF lenses with ~ that focal length its good enough.
And it is without aspheric lenses - I don't like normal aspheric lenses because of the onion bokeh it could give. I suppose MRF polished lenses could avoid this, but it seems they are too expensive for consumer lenses like the EF 85/1.2L or such.