85L vs 135L (100% crops)

Just wanted to share my last test.
I have compared on a 5D mark II:

- Canon 85L f/1.2
- Canon 135L f/2.0

Test purpose was comparing sharpness, contrast and color rendition wide open and f/2.

PP: Default Lightroom sharpening, manual vignetting correction and white balance.

I tried to keep the subject framing identical with both lenses.
All crops are 100%.

Any comment is appreciated.

SUBJECT (not very interesting..)
First shot is 85L@2, second is 135L@2

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CENTER OF FRAME (and FOCUS on "F")

NOTE: I slightly missed focus with the 1.2, it is a few mm behind (and on the right).
You can easily tell this because of the magenta fringe in the "L" and "E" letters.

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CENTER (SHADOWS)

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NEAR CENTER (SPECULARS)

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SIDE (OUT OF FOCUS)

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That's it. Judge by yourselves

Yup. the test proves that both are great lenses. I guess I got to add a 135L now to pair with my 85L.

just to get a feel for it, can you shoot head shots of people at each lens' respective minimum focal distance? i've been deliberating between the two for a primary portrait lens, but people keep saying the minimum focal distance on the 85L doesn't allow you to compose too tighly. i'd really appreciate any visual demonstration of both lenses at their closest. thanks in advance!

alt4852 wrote in post #8542330
just to get a feel for it, can you shoot head shots of people at each lens' respective minimum focal distance? i've been deliberating between the two for a primary portrait lens, but people keep saying the minimum focal distance on the 85L doesn't allow you to compose too tighly. i'd really appreciate any visual demonstration of both lenses at their closest. thanks in advance!

No idea about the 85L II but I've seen 135L shots filling the frame with a subjects face. It has a pretty short MFD (relatively) so you should be able to get nice tight portraits.

The MFD is the only thing i dont like about the 135L. I was using my 28-135 for portraits before I got the 135L. It's semi-macro abilities made it hard for me to adjust to the 135, but now that I've got I'm absolutely in love w/ it

Yeah, the 85 can not take a tight headshot due to it's MFD. It's the only thing I don't like about the lens.

On FF 85mm isnt as well suited for headshots imo, regardless of manufacturer.

Kindest

Here is a quick MFD comparison.
Sorry there was no human subject around.
The disc was about 20cm (7.8''), imagine a little child.

It is important to note that these are on full frame (5D2).
The 85L on a crop will look very similar to the 70-200L shot.

I find the 135L ideal for headshots, but the 85L is good enough if you don't need very tight shots.
The 85L AF is very slow and at MFD it is challenging for me to put (and keep) the subject in focus, especially @1.2. But when you can, the results are rewarding.
Compared to the 85L, the 135L is a blazing speed demon.. but in low light, the 85L is the one. Too bad it's only f/1.2.

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The 85L was apparently intentionally designed with less contrast for portrait work. I have both of these lenses and didn't much enjoy the 85L on FF but it's my favorite lens on my MKIII 1.3 crop. The 135L does everything well but for me is a bit long on my MKIII for portrait work, not that it in anyway looks bad, I just prefer to work closer to a person when shooting, both have wonderful perspectives on faces. On FF, I absolutely loved the 135L.

Problem with 85mm on FF is that eventhough the MFD might let you get upclose (Nikkor 85m/1,4D) you can get distortion if you get to close. - Personally find it alot flattering with a longer lens on FF.

Kindest