New Toys Arrived: 135L & 2x Converter, some test shots. Image heavy!

[EdBray]

My new toys arrived today, thanks Ian (Kerso)

I received my Canon 135L and my Canon EF II x2 Converter, so I nipped out to do some quick test shots.

I was very surprised and pleased by the IQ of the lens with the converters added, and although the focussing hunts a little when both converters are used, the focussing seems quick and accurate with only one converter when used on my 5DMk2.

I tried the lens out in various guises and with all combinations of converter thus giving me a 135mm f2, 190mm f2.8, 270mm f4 and a 380mm f5.6.

I realise that as the focal length increases the will be a corresponding loss of IQ but for versatility and the odd use I was keen to see how the lens would react.

The images below have all been taken at the maximum aperture available and I would expect better IQ from every image once the lens had been stopped down by a couple of stops. The results were interesting to say the least.
The full frame images have had no other PP than to be resized for the web and a little sharpenng added (100% @ 0.6) the 100% crops have had no PP whatsoever, they are as would have come out of the camera.

Whilst exif data should be intact, I found that when the 135L was used with both the 1.4x and 2x converters it still reported that it was still 270mm f4 when it was actually 380mm f5.6.

All images were taken from about 8 metres from the subject.

135mm @ f2

135mm @ f2 100% crop

135L + 1.4x Converter (190mm @ f2.8)

135L + 1.4x Converter (190mm @ f2.8) 100% crop

135L + 2x Converter (270mm @ f4)

135L + 2x Converter (270mm @ f4) 100% crop

135L + 1.4 & 2x Converters (380mm @ f5.6)

135L + 1.4 & 2x Converters (380mm @ f5.6) 100% crop

 

[EdBray]

Some further images which are a little more 'real world'

Window taken from about 40 metres away, lens at its maximum aperture.

135mm @ f2

100% crop

380mm @ f5.6

100% crop, I was amazed when I saw this on the monitor, I cannot believe you can differentiate the net of the net curtain with a 2x and 1.4x converter added to a lens and used at maximum aperture.

Dandilion @ 380mm @ f16 (exif states 270mm)

Blue flower 135mm @ f2

Blue flower 380 @ f8 (exif states 270mm)

Bluebell 380mm @ f11 (exif shows 270mm)

 

[benwall]

Look very very sharp. Nice kit.

 

[snowy]

When Amateur Photographer tested the Canon 135/f2 they declared it the best lens they'd ever tested. That was a few years ago now, so better lenses may have come since then, but it's still got to be one of the best lenses on the market.

Even having said that, I'm still surprised by your stacked TC results

 

[Col_M]

Impressive! the teleconverters hardly affect the quality in your images. I've been thinking about the 135 for a while now and this doesn't help

 

[Treesie]

Thanks EdBray, my mind is made up!

........ just ordered the 2x & 1.4.
Been told thats my spending days over....

 

[kiteninja]

Does the 2x converter not pretrude into the lens like the 1.4 Then ??

I might be tempted to get the 2x if not and hmmmm that looks nice do i really need the 135 damn you

 

[EdBray]

Does the 2x converter not pretrude into the lens like the 1.4 Then ??

I might be tempted to get the 2x if not and hmmmm that looks nice do i really need the 135 damn you

Yes, it does protrude into the body of the lens slightly although it also has a space at the rear to accept the protruding bit of the 1.4x thus, they only work one way and that is that the lens must be attached to the 2x then the 1.4x then the body. They do not fit the other way around as there is no space for the protrusion of the 2x in the body of the 1.4x..

I am still stunned by the quality of the 135 plus stacked teleconverters, yes I admit there is some image degradation, but not so much as to make them unuseable, and I belive more than acceptable for the odd shot, and to be honest, not a great deal worse than my 100-400L was wide open at 400mm with a similar maximum aperture.

 

[markrichardson]

Which teleconverters do you use? I think I might go down this route too!

 

[EdBray]

Which teleconverters do you use? I think I might go down this route too!

Canon EF 1.4x MkII & Canon EF 2x MkII

 

[markrichardson]

Thanks!