Canon Telephoto Primes

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Canon Telephoto Primes

Peter Kun Frary

Canon EF 85 1.8 USM

The EF 85 1.8 USM is Canon's shortest telephoto. The fast aperture and natural perspective of this focal length make it a wonderful lens for indoor portraits and candids. This is the shortest focal length for flattering head and shoulder portraits. Wider lenses distort and enlarge objects slightly nearer to the lens, e.g., noses and hands. When shot wide open to F2.8, the shallow depth of field creates beautiful background blur and really makes the subject pop. However, because the depth of field is shallow, be sure to focus on the most important features (the eyes for humans and animals).

Angela Rips a Lick • Canon EOS A2, EF 85 1.8 USM & Kodak TMY

It's relatively small (71.5 mm L) and light (425 g) for a fast lens, slightly larger than a 50 mm 1.4. Although not a macro lens, it focuses close enough for nice head shots (.85 m/2.8') and is well corrected for distortion. I've found it to be extremely sharp, contrasty (Photodo 4.1 MTF) and flare resistant. Because it employs internal focusing (IF), the front element does not rotate nor does the barrel change in length. The 58 mm filter size makes filters inexpensive and easy to share with other Canon lenses.

EF 85 1.8 USM • Shortest lens for flattering head and shoulder portraits

The ring-type USM is silent and shockingly fast. Like all ring-type USM lenses, it has FT-M and a distance window. FT-M (Full-Time Manual) allows you to manually focus without flipping the AF/M switch, even after locking exposure and AF (keep the shutter half depressed while adjusting focus). The manual focusing ring is fairly wide and turns almost as smoothly as a manual lens. Thankfully, the construction is more beefy and handsome than the old AFD designs such as the EF 50 1.8 or EF 135 2.8 SF. Finally, it uses the massive ET-65 III (or ET-65 II) lens hood, a clip-on design.

If you shoot a lot of portraits, especially in small studios, this is a must-have lens. For the price of a consumer zoom ($390), you can have image quality that rivals the finest L series lenses.

Here are more images shot with the EF 85 1.8 USM: Jamie and Anthony

Canon EF 135 2.8 Soft Focus

The EF 135 2.8 SF was among Canon's original EF lens offerings during the 1987 EOS System debut. The designation "Soft Focus" refers to the two levels of dial-in spherical aberration that softens and imparts a beautiful glow to the image. Unlike a soft filter, you can quickly vary the effect by changing the aperture or soft focus setting. AF works perfectly with soft focus engaged, but if you change soft focusing settings after AF, you'll have to refocus. The soft focus effect is only visible from F2.8 to 4, so you need to use Av or M mode and shoot slow ISO during the day. Highlights, especially on backlit subjects, enhance and intensify the glowing effect.

Agashi in Waikiki • Canon EOS A2, EF 135 2.8 SF, Speedlite 430EZ & Fujichrome 100. Soft focus Level 2 at F4. Level 2 at F2.8 is usually too soft for my taste.

When soft focus is turned off, this is an extremely sharp (Photodo 3.9 MTF), contrasty and flare resistant (7 elements) telephoto lens. Unlike most of Canon's consumer primes, this lens is surprisingly sharp wide open at F 2.8. Of course, it needs to be sharp as most portraits are shot at F2.8 to 4 to render distracting backgrounds out of focus.

The front element does not rotate, nor does the barrel change in length when focusing. Although it uses AFD, it focuses surprisingly fast due to its IF design, almost as fast as ring-type USM. Moreover, the sound of the AFD motor is soft and muted, softer than most AFD designs. It has a distance window but lacks FT-M. Manual focus is loose and gritty, but slightly better than the EF 50 1.8 (MK I). I wish the minimum focusing distance was closer than 1.3 m (4.3'), but at least that's near enough for a head and shoulders shot. This lens has 52 mm filter threads and uses the massive ET-65 III (or ET-65 II) lens hood, a clip-on design.

EF 135 2.8 SF • This ultra sharp lens is small (98.4 mm), light (390 g) and makes women beautiful • Taken with EOS 5D, EF 24-105 4L IS USM, Bogan Tripod & White Reflectors.

I don't use this lens for anything except outdoor portraits of women and occasional street photography. It's too long for typical studio or indoor use. Most women love the glamorous, blemish free glow it imparts. The 135 mm perspective makes models look thinner than 85 or 100 mm lenses. Although build quality is a little light and plasticky, I've had no problems with this lens in over 15 years of use. For only $370, you won't see much better quality this side of an L lens.

Canon EF 200 2.8L USM Review

Canon EF 300 4L USM Review

6/21/2001 • Revised 6/12/2006

©Copyright 2001-2006 by Peter Kun Frary • All Rights Reserved

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. Home • Photography Index • Normal Zooms • Telezooms • Wide Angle • Normal • Telephoto .

.	Home • Photography Index • Normal Zooms • Telezooms • Wide Angle • Normal • Telephoto	.
.	. Canon Telephoto Primes Peter Kun Frary Canon EF 85 1.8 USM The EF 85 1.8 USM is Canon's shortest telephoto. The fast aperture and natural perspective of this focal length make it a wonderful lens for indoor portraits and candids. This is the shortest focal length for flattering head and shoulder portraits. Wider lenses distort and enlarge objects slightly nearer to the lens, e.g., noses and hands. When shot wide open to F2.8, the shallow depth of field creates beautiful background blur and really makes the subject pop. However, because the depth of field is shallow, be sure to focus on the most important features (the eyes for humans and animals). Angela Rips a Lick • Canon EOS A2, EF 85 1.8 USM & Kodak TMY It's relatively small (71.5 mm L) and light (425 g) for a fast lens, slightly larger than a 50 mm 1.4. Although not a macro lens, it focuses close enough for nice head shots (.85 m/2.8') and is well corrected for distortion. I've found it to be extremely sharp, contrasty (Photodo 4.1 MTF) and flare resistant. Because it employs internal focusing (IF), the front element does not rotate nor does the barrel change in length. The 58 mm filter size makes filters inexpensive and easy to share with other Canon lenses. EF 85 1.8 USM • Shortest lens for flattering head and shoulder portraits The ring-type USM is silent and shockingly fast. Like all ring-type USM lenses, it has FT-M and a distance window. FT-M (Full-Time Manual) allows you to manually focus without flipping the AF/M switch, even after locking exposure and AF (keep the shutter half depressed while adjusting focus). The manual focusing ring is fairly wide and turns almost as smoothly as a manual lens. Thankfully, the construction is more beefy and handsome than the old AFD designs such as the EF 50 1.8 or EF 135 2.8 SF. Finally, it uses the massive ET-65 III (or ET-65 II) lens hood, a clip-on design. If you shoot a lot of portraits, especially in small studios, this is a must-have lens. For the price of a consumer zoom ($390), you can have image quality that rivals the finest L series lenses. Here are more images shot with the EF 85 1.8 USM: Jamie and Anthony Canon EF 135 2.8 Soft Focus The EF 135 2.8 SF was among Canon's original EF lens offerings during the 1987 EOS System debut. The designation "Soft Focus" refers to the two levels of dial-in spherical aberration that softens and imparts a beautiful glow to the image. Unlike a soft filter, you can quickly vary the effect by changing the aperture or soft focus setting. AF works perfectly with soft focus engaged, but if you change soft focusing settings after AF, you'll have to refocus. The soft focus effect is only visible from F2.8 to 4, so you need to use Av or M mode and shoot slow ISO during the day. Highlights, especially on backlit subjects, enhance and intensify the glowing effect. Agashi in Waikiki • Canon EOS A2, EF 135 2.8 SF, Speedlite 430EZ & Fujichrome 100. Soft focus Level 2 at F4. Level 2 at F2.8 is usually too soft for my taste. When soft focus is turned off, this is an extremely sharp (Photodo 3.9 MTF), contrasty and flare resistant (7 elements) telephoto lens. Unlike most of Canon's consumer primes, this lens is surprisingly sharp wide open at F 2.8. Of course, it needs to be sharp as most portraits are shot at F2.8 to 4 to render distracting backgrounds out of focus. The front element does not rotate, nor does the barrel change in length when focusing. Although it uses AFD, it focuses surprisingly fast due to its IF design, almost as fast as ring-type USM. Moreover, the sound of the AFD motor is soft and muted, softer than most AFD designs. It has a distance window but lacks FT-M. Manual focus is loose and gritty, but slightly better than the EF 50 1.8 (MK I). I wish the minimum focusing distance was closer than 1.3 m (4.3'), but at least that's near enough for a head and shoulders shot. This lens has 52 mm filter threads and uses the massive ET-65 III (or ET-65 II) lens hood, a clip-on design. EF 135 2.8 SF • This ultra sharp lens is small (98.4 mm), light (390 g) and makes women beautiful • Taken with EOS 5D, EF 24-105 4L IS USM, Bogan Tripod & White Reflectors. I don't use this lens for anything except outdoor portraits of women and occasional street photography. It's too long for typical studio or indoor use. Most women love the glamorous, blemish free glow it imparts. The 135 mm perspective makes models look thinner than 85 or 100 mm lenses. Although build quality is a little light and plasticky, I've had no problems with this lens in over 15 years of use. For only $370, you won't see much better quality this side of an L lens. Canon EF 200 2.8L USM Review Canon EF 300 4L USM Review 6/21/2001 • Revised 6/12/2006 ©Copyright 2001-2006 by Peter Kun Frary • All Rights Reserved	.
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