Any Canon users sold a 70-200L in favour of 135L and 200L (2.8)?

harryduns

harryduns

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As the title says; anyone taken this route? I own a 70-200L IS Mark I and though it does offer great versatility, as a portrait and wedding photographer I find I only reach for it as a last resort when my primes aren't quite long enough.

I also own Sigma's 50-500, so that's typically what I go for if I'm specifically going out for a spot of wildlife photography or suchlike - though it's even bigger and heaver!!

The weight and sheer conspicuousness of the big, white 70-200 is a turnoff for me, so I was thinking that selling it and spending the money on the 135L and the 'primepipe' 200 2.8 Mark II might give me a set of(individually) lighter lenses that would prove more useful to me personally. I've seen some wonderful shots with the 135L and have eyed them occasionally, but have never quite felt able to justify owning it alongside the 70-200. The 200 prime also seems to have a slight edge in sharpness over the zoom wide open at 200mm.

I'm not sure I'd miss IS or not, given I mainly shoot people rather than still things.
 
I have a EF70-200 F4L lens and found myself always using it at 200mm. I got offered a EF200 F2.8L at a good price and have not looked back, my favourite lens :-)
 
Ive owned the 135 and 200, also a few different 70-200s, not a great fan of zooms tbh. Id definitely go for the primes, especially as your 70-200 gets such little use. Faster, sharper, smaller, lighter... black!!!
 
I have also had all of the above and think the 135f2 is by far and away the best of these lenses. For h&s shots at a wedding the 135f2 offers images which are pure magic. Not sure which bodies you have but f2 offers decent shutter speeds at sensible iso values even in dim light. This is a fantastic gig or event lens as well.
 
The 135 is by far and away the best lens I've owned on canon (lol, in fact I've still got it despite switching to Olympus), it's basically a lovely lens and not a bad range at all on full frame.

BTW, for reference I've had the 70-200 f4 and f2.8 sigma. Not the 2.8 canon ii so can't compare to that.
 
Last edited:
gary43 said:
I have also had all of the above and think the 135f2 is by far and away the best of these lenses. For h&s shots at a wedding the 135f2 offers images which are pure magic. Not sure which bodies you have but f2 offers decent shutter speeds at sensible iso values even in dim light. This is a fantastic gig or event lens as well.
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I use a 5D3 :) My go-to lens for dark rooms has been the 50L up until now, but I've just parted with it to fund an 85L II! Selling the 70-200 would allow me to complete the classic 35/85/135 set, and maybe grab the 200 if I decide I really need the reach. As I say, the 135L is a lens I've coveted for a while but haven't bought because I feel like having it and the 70-200 would be unjustifiable... hence maybe shifting that lens :D
 
I could be wrong, but I think the general feeling is get the 135L :)
 
Personally, if I was shooting weddings or gigs again the 135L would be the first lens in my bag. It focuses much faster than the 85L2 so allows you to get candids that the shorter lens might miss.
 
Just getting rid of my 70-200 f4 in favour of a 70-300L. I also have a Primepipe mk 1 which I may keep as it's a great lens and works well with a 2x.

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