135 L or. . . I don't know!

seriously try shooting at the 105mm end of your 24-105L for everything and see if you will be able to get used to it.

don't buy it just because you 'want' it. besides, you can get a few more shorter primes for the price of a 135L.

Get the 135L and start saving for the 35L. The 135L is great for those tight crop portraits and some indoor sports and stage venues. The only reason to stop down is to get more DOF. It is very useful on crop bodies and works well with the EF 1.4 TC.


Almost forgot....
Happy Birthday and many more!

People told me I would find the 135L too long - I'm glad I ignored them! You can shoot close up indoors from around 1.5m and the results are fantastic. I haven't had much opportunity to shoot outdoors with it, but the few shots I have taken are really pleasing. It is a great lens!

135L is not the lense that stays on my 20D all the time, but it is the lense that I reach for when I anticipate best shots outdoors, and when I want a nice shoulder-up portraits shots.
I use it more than 70-200 2.8L.
It's that good.

Ianfp wrote in post #2624808
You can shoot close up indoors from around 1.5m and the results are fantastic.

actually its 0.9m, isn't it. and the foucs limiter brings it to 1.6m thereafter.

I have a 20D and the 135L and the 1.4x TC. When I was shooting 35mm film the 200mm lens was one of my most used. The 135L gives me a simular field/prospective on the 20D that I was used to with the 200mm on my 35mm camera. It's too long for a serious head and shoulder shot (flattens prospective too much), I used a 90mm with the 35mm camera for these shots. I use my 24-70L for portrait, I would think you could do well with your 24-105L if you don't go too long.

Jaetie wrote in post #2624464
don't buy it just because you 'want' it. besides, you can get a few more shorter primes for the price of a 135L.

you know what? i take back what i said. i too bought the 135L for the sole reason of wanting it. but i subsequently bought all the shorter primes too.

lol. Actually, I do find that I use the 105 end a reasonable amount, and can see that I would really like the 135. When I got my 85mm I used it as my walkaround for weeks - now I save it for portraits. My only concern is that my 85mm lens won't see so much action - unless of course I sacrifice it to help finance the 135. . .

get the 135 f2. FL is good on a crop body and if its too long swap to 85 and job done.

Thanks poah - I think you're probably right - then the only other lens I'll want to complete my setup is the Sigma 30mm f/1.4.

Jaetie wrote in post #2624880
actually its 0.9m, isn't it. and the foucs limiter brings it to 1.6m thereafter.

Yes, you are right!

BTW I bought an extension ring to allow closer work and I am planning on adding a 1.4TC to give me effectively a 200mm f/2.8 for longer stuff! So it is quite flexible and has stunning IQ even if not as practical as a zoom.
Ian