[genewch]

I have a 100mm macro and love it. Recently I carried it in a trip to China, and it captured scenes from the coach window very well. This focal length is fine for shooting out from the window of the coach. But the focusing speed seems to be slower than my 17-40mm and not fast enough.

I'm considering a second tele. I have to decide on either 135mm f2 or 200mm f2.8. I'll use it for traveling and music concert rehearsals. The 135mm f2 has a super wide aperture and helps in shooting rehearsals in which a flash doesn't help, but is the focal length too near the 100mm that it doesn't gain enough advantage? The 200mm f2.8 is also famous for sharpness and speed, and is $1000 less than the 135mm, but I wonder if it's less useful than the 135mm.

I have 2 considerations. (1) 135mm f2, then 1.4x extender. (2) 200mm f2.8. For either option, I may need a 50mm or 85mm to fill in the mid-range. What do you think?

[kkyy]

Gene,

I think life is too short waiting.:-)

You have missed thousands of shots in this few months wondering what to get, whatever you choose, go get it and shoot. Life is too short for forum chatting alone.

Go get the 135, it is fantastic, and most importantly, is easy to sell than the 200 2.8 if you are not satisfied with it.

Tomorrow, go go go.

kkyy

[老叟]

life is too short?? no, for you two it is still a long way to go , so take a break!!
Why not??

[kkyy]

老叟,

"for you two it is still a long way to go......."
I hope so. :-)

I said that becasue I have been discussing with Gene, including PM, for a few months already for his stage photography. It seems to me he has some inclination but needs some adrenalin rush to go for it. That's what I intended to do. The philosophy is not everyone obviously, just for Gene. Hope you understand that.

Regards,

kkyy

[genewch]

Thanks for remembering me. :) I'm quite a hesitant guy because I don't want to get something that might become a waste. I don't shoot as much as most folks here. The 135mm gets some flexibility in converting to a near 200mm. I worry that the 135mm has a so near focal length to my 100mm macro that it overlaps in its role. Of course a 135mm + 1.4x extender can make a near 200mm lens. Is this combination having comparable image quality as the 200mm f2.8?

I think many people will recommend me a 70-200mm f2.8. Well, zooms are very convenient to use, but it's so heavy in weight and money. :( For tele lenses, it's fine to use primes. I'd rather reserve zooms for those frequently used focal lengths, like my 17-40mm (a 24-70mm is not wide enough and too expensive though I don't use 17mm at all times). So I think some guys may think my shooting behaviour is so strange. Fewer and fewer people use primes nowadays, and I'm possibly not quite a "conventional" guy following what most people do.

[kkyy]

What quality are you looking at? 135 +1.4 is at least as good, if not better than 70-200 2.8 IS.

http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=185547&page=3

[genewch]

Wow, thank you for your answer. It's a good reference. Where to find the 135mm + 1.4x MTF? I'm thinking of that 135mm seriously.

Another silly question. Since I have the 17-40mm and 100mm macro, what lens can fill up the mid-range? 50mm or 85mm? A 24mm f1.4 or 35mm f1.4 is very fine, but I'll not consider these wide-angles now because the zoom can help me. I usually take scenery pics and sometimes for people, like performers and audience in music concerts. The 24-70mm is too heavy and too expensive though f2.8 sounds pretty good.

[kkyy]

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~ashon/photo/comparo6.htm

Check PM later for 135+1.4x

[genewch]

Thank you. I think the 135mm + 1.4x can be a good substitute for the 200mm, but it becomes a little heavier. The quality is still very good.

I heard of some news long ago that the 135mm or 200mm will be stopped from production. Is it true?

[madxngai]

少人買不一定會停產！何況135L在外地很暢消呢！

[beancurdbean]

好難想像呢兩支會停產, 除非出IS版 ^^

[genewch]

There is a lot of news on focus shift of Canon lenses. Is it safe to buy water goods of 135mm or 200mm and the 1.4x extender? They have no IS or electronic parts, so it might be ok to have water goods, especially the 1.4x which only contains a tube of several pieces of glass. Any advice or suggested shops to buy?

The 200mm gives me longer reach from the seating area to the stage, but the 135mm gains flexibility with 1.4x. Hmm... interesting thought on buying.