135mm f2 INSANE sharpeness

I bought this lens used from a guy on FredMiranda forums and it arrived yesterday. I popped it on my 5D MKII, turned on my studio fluorescent softboxes, and did a quickie self portrait to test the lens. I was most curious about shooting wide open to see what kind of sharpness I'd get at f2. As you can see, it's critically sharp wide open (with razor thin DOF). This photo is an unedited JPG straight from the camera. I resized one in photoshop and did a 100% crop for the other. Nothing else done...no adjustments of any kind. Needless to say I'm impressed and this lens performs way beyond my expectations. What a brilliant piece of glass!

File size: 5665164 bytes (5616x3744, 2.2bpp, 11x)
EXIF Summary: 1/320s f/2.0 ISO400 135mm
Equipment Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens Name: EF135mm f/2L USM

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It's one of the sharpest L's around and the price is right ! One of my favorite lenses from the Canon arsenal.

There's no photo with your post.

The 135 is always impressive because it's sharp at all apertures. Most lenses are sharp stopped down, Ls tend to get there faster.

It is all relative, try the bigger boys like 200L (f2 IS), 300/400mm f2.8 IS and 135 might not look that sharp. But I agree for the price, very nice lens. I am thinking of swapping my 70-200mm f2.8 for it.

Thats why I nicknamed my 135L "the razor". its too sharp for some portrait subjects!

Mine is also sharp but I'd be hard pressed to say it is sharper than many other lenses I have although none of them do F2.

A great lens, no doubt.

and look at the BG. That's what I love about the lens most ... looking at that luscious BG blur when shooting at the wide spots of the lens.

Oh, and your sharp eyeball, too! Congrats on the new lens. It'll quickly become one of your favorites on any body!

dave

Thanks. I plan to use it primarily for portraiture.

Yes I love the 135L. It is my favorite lens.

Jaw: On floor

The 135L is amazing on the 5Dii

This isn't a good photo (composition wise, I chopped his ear off, and lighting wise, I scared him off with the flash before I could adjust and add a second flash to fill in the shadows). However, it shows how sharp the 135L is

Even this is a crop from the original

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Congrats!
The 135/2 is next on my list... maybe I'll buy it for my daughter's first birthday present this month

For portraits on a FF, nothing comes close to this lens.

It's on the top of the list for my next lens..