Thinking of switching 85 1.8 with 135L

Aside from the price factor, would it be wise to switch from the 85 1.8 to a 135L? Both lenses would be used for family/children photography/portraits and such.

Any advice is appreciated.

You have a FF camera and there's no better lens for portraits in my opinion than the 135mm 2.0. The 135mm 2.0 is also one of the sharpest lenses Canon makes. The 85mm 1.8 is nice, but I'll take the 135mm 2.0. You have the 24-70mm if you need a shorter focal range.

I have and use both.

Only you can decide if you would miss the 85.

If i had the choice i would jump to the 135L in a heartbeat =) although i do love the 85 1.8 also

Thanks everyone..... Ya I do love the 85's size, speed and sharpness. Just trying to see if the 135 would benefit my shoots that will be mainly outdoor family/children shoots.

135L is an amazing lens, extremely sharp at F2, and creamy bokeh, but I found the 135L is too long sometimes for indoor, 85mm would be better. 135L has better PQ, but I think the 85 is 95% of it. Plus, the 85 is alot cheaper, the 135 is almost 3x the price. I also have a 24-70, so, the 135 covers a longer focal length, that is a plus. Although I keep my 135L, one of the major reason is I don't want to sell it and lose money.

Do a search, I once posted some test pics on 85 1.8 vs 135L. This is a very common topic.

Hi,

Lens choices are always very hard to make.

The 85mm lens is wonderful focal-length for portraiture - as you already know.

The Canon 135mm F2.0L is an exceptional lens - as you already know.

The ideal scenario would be to have both. This you know too!

The question that you must ask yourself is this:
"..... having looked at my previous photographs using the 85mm, could I get equivalently composed portraits using the 135mm as conveniently ....."

if the answer is Yes - then go ahead and swap-over
if the answer is No - then you may have to consider the 135mm as an additional purchase

Lens dilemmas are precisely that!

make the switch and never look back.

135L is my next goal. Get it, asap

The 85mm 1.8 was my fav lens on crop. Didn't like the 50mm length on crop, was so awkward.

so of course, when I upgraded to FF, the 85mm now became awkward. I craved for something longer. The fiftys I didnt' like before now became a better FL. So I sold off my zoom and got a 135mm ... WOW! Now all my lenses sit in my bag. I only take off the 135 when I have to. Sometimes I'll be at an event, take off the 135mm just to change it up, then put it right back on. My other lenses do not compare (35/2, 50/1.4, 50/1.8, 85/1.8) of course. None of them are L's. Maybe one day I'll afford some better wider primes, but for now, the 135mm is all that and more. Just get it, don't look back.

I even flirted with a 100mm macro IS/L. No comparison. I love the IS and love the macro abilities, yet I might be doing sometihng wrong, or I got a really bad copy (it does front focus) but it just isn't the same. I was thinking I can get away with just the 100mm macro, and sell my 135 and 85mm. But It's not the same, so I shall return it to my buddy.

You have the 24-70, which is darn near close to 85mm. Do it. Don't look back. You also love losing the purple/green fringing.

I recently rented both the 135L and 85/1.8 and as much as I wanted to fall in love with the 135, I found it to be too long for my purposes, indoors especially.

I had a lot of fun with the 85/1.8 while I had it and it will be my next purchase.

It is a matter of focal length more than IQ. I find 85mm is a more versatile FL for indoor family/children shots, unless you like tight portraits. Not a problem outdoors.

Just got my 135L in the last hour!.....staggeringly sharp!!!! Yet to find out if it's too long or not.

My wedding photographer (whom I have worked with as well) used to use crop and 85mm, then he got a 5DmkII (I bought the 30D and 40d off him.. ) and he swapped the 85 to 135L and was very happy with it. I also love 85mm on crop, not sure how I will like it when I switch to FF down the road...I might want to get the 135L then too.

135L is really good on full frame. If you have extra cash, this should be a no-brainer. The only thing is: it will be tight indoors. I used my 85mm on a crop (equivalent to 135 on full frame) for indoor sports competitions. It will be too long just shooting portraits, although you can fit in a nice head/shoulder portrait with it. But you have to stand 15+ ft away from the subject to fit the whole body shots.