amfoto1 wrote:
Both!
In fact, I have:
70-200/2.8 IS (first version)
70-200/4 IS
85/1.8
100/2.8 Macro
135/2
I don't have the 200/2.8 both because I have the 70-200/2.8 and because the 135/2 works very well with a 1.4X teleconverter to act as an effective 189/2.8.
If I ever have a large enough studio to justify it, I might get 200/2, though.
I use the zooms for sports/action, kids and pets.
But, at the most the zooms are f2.8. Sometimes larger apertures are needed. And I prefer shooting with primes, whenever the subject allows, and the 85/1.8 and 135/2 are both a lot more compact and black, so are less "in your face" than the large, white 70-200/2.8.
The 100/2.8 macro is a different beast. It's not fast enough focusing for many types of action, and not really my favorite lens for portraiture, either. It's too sharp for portraiture.
The 85/1.8 is a very nice, fast focusing lens. The only thing I don't like about it is the clip-on hood (as opposed to bayonet mount that most Canon lenses use)... I thought it would be easily broken, but it's held up well and I've been using the lens for about ten years. It does come off easily, if bumped.
The 135/2 is a spectacular lens, especially for portraiture. Use it wide open for a sort of lyrical and dreamy look... Or stop it down for very sharp shots. For portraits, it just has more "magic" than the 100mm macro lens, IMO. These were shot with 135/2, the first two on a 7D, tho I actually prefer it on full frame such as 5DII used for the third and fourth image...
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8346991484_597904a0ec.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5064/5621528555_a87f15f38a.jpg
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8265507890_56bd33c2d8.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8112941582_436a1bfe8d.jpg
The last shot (of my old cat) is wide open f2.0 and near the 135's minimum focus distance, giving you some idea it's potential for background blur (very muchg limited by Internet resolutions and image sizes!)
The 85/1.8 may not be quite as special as the 135, but is certainly very capable too...
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3456/5805118576_8f2c0ca5c0.jpg
Both the 85/1.8 and the 135's AF are very fast and fully capable of any sort of sports/action shooting.
Note: the 85/1.2L is a fantastic portrait lens, too. It produces image qualities similar to the 135/2, maybe even more-so. However it's noticeably slower focusing (by design... due to very shallow DOF potential, it needs to emphasize precision over speed). So it certainly wouldn't be my choice for sports and probably is not as versatile as the 85/1.8. On the other hand, if I were a wedding photographer I'd definitely want the 85/1.2L, too.
For versatility, I'd recommend the zoom first. It's AF certainly is no slouch, either. With max of f2.8, it's not quite as capable of strong background blurs, but uses 8 or 9 curved aperture blades to render very nice bokeh. The new Mark II is very sharp and high performance. It adds fluorite to the optical formula (which only the 70-200/4 IS also uses, among the five versions of EF 70-200 Canon has offered). It also has 3 to 4 stop stabilization (same as the f4 and up from 2 to 3 stop on the earlier f2.8 IS). Later you may want to add faster primes. But that often comes down to personal preferences. If the 70-200/2.8 IS Mark II is too pricey, if you can find a used one, the original version of the lens was now slouch, either...
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8228353946_923d2ab512.jpg
Both! br br In fact, I have: br br 70-200/2.8 IS... (
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davidrb wrote:
Very well put Alan. Dame is searching for experienced information here and you have nailed what she needs to hear. Is the 135 a challenge or pleasure to shoot?
Exactly! So much great info and photos as well. Thank you.