Canon 135mm f2.8 EF Soft Focus Review and Examples

A couple of weeks ago, a number of people were asking about the Canon 135mm f2.8 Soft Focus lens. So, when I had a chance, I wrote a quick review and took some example shots. If you're interested, the review is located here:

http://www.mac-photo.net …s/135SF_review/​index.html

It's a nice little lens. It's not for everyone, but I like to play with it now and again. It's especially nice for creating photos with dreamy, old-fashioned look.

I hope someone finds the review useful. If so, I'll consider adding additional lens reviews in the future.

Mark

Mark would you mind if I add the link to the lens archive page?

Mark_Cohran wrote:
A couple of weeks ago, a number of people were asking about the Canon 135mm f2.8 Soft Focus lens. So, when I had a chance, I wrote a quick review and took some example shots. If you're interested, the review is located here:

http://www.mac-photo.net …s/135SF_review/​index.html

It's a nice little lens. It's not for everyone, but I like to play with it now and again. It's especially nice for creating photos with dreamy, old-fashioned look.

I hope someone finds the review useful. If so, I'll consider adding additional lens reviews in the future.

Mark

Great review... and be sure to tell your daughter that she looks great despite her bad hair day...lol.

One thing I may disagree with is the fact that the soft focus effect of that lens can probably be duplicated in Photoshop. ANYTHING can be done in Photoshop if in the right hands. I personally do not know how to do it, but I'm sure that there are experts out there who do. In October I'll be meeting Eddie Tapp in Boston... I can ask him. But that said... the lens is a nice one and the effect is pretty cool.

Not at all. Please feel free to do so.

Mark

Perhaps, I should say, "not easily duplicated in Photoshop," but I've tried and I couldn't do it, and I think it would be beyond most people's skills (and probably patience).

Mark

Great. It has been added.

Just showed this thread to my daughter - she said thanks for the compliment.

Mark

I picked up one of these recently, Mark, and couldn't be more pleased with it. I really don't use the soft focus effect, though. It's just a darn sharp prime at a good focal length for me. The quality of it is pretty close to the L, too. It's probably the best money I ever spent for a lens, especially considering that it was only a little over $200.

liza wrote:
I picked up one of these recently, Mark, and couldn't be more pleased with it. I really don't use the soft focus effect, though. It's just a darn sharp prime at a good focal length for me. The quality of it is pretty close to the L, too. It's probably the best money I ever spent for a lens, especially considering that it was only a little over $200.

I couldn't agree more, Liza. I don't use the soft focus effect very often, though I have used it a few times for some clients that wanted/liked that effect. I was going to sell the lens since I have a 135mm f2L, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Mark

I may consider using it, set between 0 and 1, for senior and wedding portraits. There's something about the look it creates that really can't be duplicated in photoshop.

Was curious if anybody uses this for indoor sports / high school sports? I was thinking of the 85mm 1.8 but that is narrow in range and I don't want to spend big bucks for an L.