>>3303352>If I have both a Canon full frame and crop sensor body, what are the benefits of purchasing a 135mm f/2 lens over just using the significantly cheaper 85mm f/1.8 on my crop body to get the same focal length?The EF 85mm f/1.8 is a nice lens but it lacks the stronger 'punch' that the 135mmL lens has and it's better built. It's also considered to be one of the top 3 Primes Canon have made with lovely color reproduction.
The EF 135mm f/2L USM lens is one of the most respected Portrair Lenses out there. It performs very nicely on both Full Frame and APS-C camera bodies. Even on APS-C you can take handheld shots at night on the street with it.
On APS-C you'll get more of an image crop and I used mine with both and APS-C DSLR and an APS-C mirrorless with superb results. Where you'll run into problems is with indoor shots where you can't back up because the room is too small. But that's about the only limitation (environmental). The focus-limiter switch on the lens ensures you're focus range is always narrow and in the right zone to prevent the camera from hunting through the entire range if it can't lock with the AF. Portraits taken at Weddings and other events are luminous with the 135mmL lens. Bokeh is exceptional. The region in focus is deep enough to keep much of the subject in focus.
On Full Frame this lens has a slightly bolder Bokeh with a more intense element of subject isolation. The images, even of boring subject, are punchy and crisp with a soft and dreamy bokeh. You can use it for wildlife and even insects, with many photographers dropping their 100mmL Macro lens in favor of this one. The bokeh at f/2 with 135mm is much bolder and pronounces compared to 100mm at f/2.8.
Worth the money since this lens has dropped in recent years.
