Canon EF 135mm F2L USM vs Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.
Verdict at a glance
- Canon EF 135mm F2L USM is faster by 10.8 stops (f/2.0 vs f/85.0), letting in more light.
- Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is lighter by 325g.
- Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM goes wider (85mm vs 135mm).
- Canon EF 135mm F2L USM reaches further (135mm vs 85mm).
- Canon EF 135mm F2L USM is the newer design (1996 vs 1992).
| Spec | EF 135mm F2L USM | EF 85mm f/1.8 USM |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Canon | Canon |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF |
| Type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 135mm | 85mm (wider) |
| Max aperture | f/2.0 (faster) | f/85.0 |
| Released | 1996 | 1992 |
| Blades | 8 | 8 |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Groups | 8 | 7 |
| Af motor | USM | USM |
| Elements | 10 | 9 |
| Weight g | 750.0 | 425.0 (lighter) |
| Filter mm | 72 | 58 |
| Length mm | 112.0 | 71.5 |
| Diameter mm | 82.5 | 75.0 |
| Min focus m | 0.9 | 0.85 (closer focusing) |
| Max magnification | 0.19 | 0.13 |
Canon EF 135mm F2L USM
A fast 135mm telephoto prime, long known for sharpness and strong subject isolation. A favorite among Canon portrait and event photographers.
Pros
- f/2 aperture
- Very sharp
- Fast focus
- Pleasing background blur
Cons
- No image stabilization
- Long for tight spaces
- Narrow focus margin at f/2
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
The EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is a fast, compact short telephoto that has been a staple Canon portrait lens since 1992. Ring-type USM focusing and full-frame coverage.
Pros
- Quick, quiet USM autofocus
- f/1.8 aperture
- Light for its focal length
- Full-time manual focus
Cons
- Purple fringing at wide apertures
- No image stabilization
- Fairly long minimum focus distance (0.85 m)