Canon
EF 135mm f/2L USM
 vs
Canon
EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
Has a silent focus motor Canon USM vs None
Help
 Focuses quickly and silently
Wider aperture f/2 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest, the EF 135mm f/2L USM captures slightly more light, 1 f-stop
Slightly more magnification 1:5.3 (0.2x) vs 1:8 (0.1x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects more than 50% larger in your photo
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Learn more about
the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM

Reasons to consider the Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Slightly lighter 390 g vs 0.7 kg
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Slightly cheaper $489.00 vs $989.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $500 cheaper (2x less)
Slightly shorter 99 mm vs 112 mm
Help
 More than 10% shorter
Slightly smaller diameter 71 mm vs 84 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller lens at the end
Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus Learn more about
the Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide maximum Wide aperture Help
f/32
Prime lens Fixed focal length prime lenses Help
Typically very sharp
Min focal length Poor wide angle Help
135 mm
Zoom range Poor zoom Help
1x

Compared to sports lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weight Light weight Help
EF 135mm f/2L USM:0.7 kg
EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus:390 g
Length Short Help
EF 135mm f/2L USM:112 mm
EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus:99 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
EF 135mm f/2L USM:$989.00
EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus:$489.00
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Magnification Poor magnification Help
EF 135mm f/2L USM:1:5.3 (0.2x)
EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus:1:8 (0.1x)
Max focal length Poor telephoto Help
135 mm

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor DC 135mm f/2D

Nikon Nikkor DC 135mm f/2D

Sports lens

$1,149
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the Nikkor DC 135mm f/2D vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Compare the Nikkor DC 135mm f/2D vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM

Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM

Low light lens

$370
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the 85mm f/1.8 USM vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Compare the 85mm f/1.8 USM vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

Sports lens

$1,299
Min focal length Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Zoom range Has slightly large zoom range
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

Macro lens

$519
Magnification Has better macro
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Compare the 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

Sports lens

$894
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Compare the 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Wildlife lens

$299
Min focal length Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

Low light lens

$1,999
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Compare the EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus

Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Macro lens

$549
Magnification Much more magnification
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Aperture Narrower aperture
Max focal length Slightly worse telephoto
Compare the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

Low light lens

$1,329
Min focal length Better wide angle
Aperture Wider aperture
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the EF 35mm f/1.4L USM vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM

Sports lens

$769
Max focal length Better telephoto
Aperture Narrower aperture
Min focal length Worse wide angle
Compare the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM vs the EF 135mm f/2L USM

Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Lensbaby Composer Special Effects Canon-ef

Lensbaby Composer Special Effects Canon-ef

Lens

$179
Length Shorter
Weight Slightly lighter
Compare the Composer Special Effects Canon-ef vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Canon-ef

Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Canon-ef

Low light lens

$269
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Min focal length Better wide angle
Auto focus Auto focus
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the 85mm f/1.4 Canon-ef vs the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus

discussion Which do you think is better?

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