Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 at DVinfo.net

Jeff Harper · May 29th, 2011, 03:51 AM

I own the Canon FD 135 F/2.5 and have used it only once in the months that I've had it, till I decided yesterday to take it out to the park.

What a great lens! The lens cost me under $100, and the quality is very high. Granted with a fixed angle of 135mm, you are stuck using it as a telephoto, but what great photos you can take of people without intruding!

The below photos were taken from around 200 feet away, and I was impressed with the detail and color reproduction. The do not look nearly as great below they do on my PC, but still I was impressed.

Patrick Janka · May 29th, 2011, 08:39 AM

How is it in video mode?

Jeff Harper · May 29th, 2011, 10:24 AM

Phenomenal. Any lens performs about the same in either mode, I have found. It's just getting the settings right, which is the tricky part.

Jim Snow · May 29th, 2011, 12:32 PM

Nice photos Jeff! If the video bit doesn't work out for you, you have a bright future in photography! - - - just kidding; your video work is great!

Jeff Harper · May 29th, 2011, 04:09 PM

Thanks Jim, I'm about to go back to the park and do some more, but likely no wedding parties I can snap today.

I couldn't believe I didn't have a booking for yesterday, it was huge for weddings, there were five at the park yesterday alone. I"m completely booked for October, almost full for November, but nothing yesterday, very weird, but I enjoyed the time off, for sure.

Jeff Harper · May 29th, 2011, 06:43 PM

I took out my Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 today and shot the same type of shots from the same location. The Canon makes the Tamron look pretty sick. I'm going to start looking for an old Nikon or Canon zoom. The Tamron does well at F/2.8 for ceremony and reception work, but these Canon primes really ruin me for other lenses.

Kevin McRoberts · May 29th, 2011, 08:48 PM

I was toying with my 135 yesterday as well (Olympus OM Zuiko 135/2.8) getting some "wildlife" footage of our puppies and their mom from halfway across the yard w/ ETC.

Amazing how intimate you can get from 50 yards ;D

Jeff Harper · May 31st, 2011, 04:24 AM

I love the candids I can get with the lens. Problem is with keeping the camera steady. I had this little guy in perfect focus (second shot) but the movement of the camera is so severe at times I just can't get a great shot handlheld. He came out blurred, as you can see.

In the first shot, I was lucky, it's nice and sharp. Outdoors it is easier since using a higher frame rate, so I get lucky fairly often, but for critical shots, you can't count on it, at least handheld. 270mm is just too much for my shaky old hands.

Kevin McRoberts · May 31st, 2011, 08:11 AM

Definitely a lens for tripod use

Brian Luce · May 31st, 2011, 03:34 PM

I own that lens too, the FD version. Nice glass but be warned, she's heavy! You can buy them dirt cheap on ebay.

May 29th, 2011, 03:51 AM	#1
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 I own the Canon FD 135 F/2.5 and have used it only once in the months that I've had it, till I decided yesterday to take it out to the park. What a great lens! The lens cost me under $100, and the quality is very high. Granted with a fixed angle of 135mm, you are stuck using it as a telephoto, but what great photos you can take of people without intruding! The below photos were taken from around 200 feet away, and I was impressed with the detail and color reproduction. The do not look nearly as great below they do on my PC, but still I was impressed. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

May 29th, 2011, 08:39 AM	#2
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 How is it in video mode?

May 29th, 2011, 10:24 AM	#3
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 Phenomenal. Any lens performs about the same in either mode, I have found. It's just getting the settings right, which is the tricky part. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

May 29th, 2011, 12:32 PM	#4
Jim Snow Trustee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,104	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 Nice photos Jeff! If the video bit doesn't work out for you, you have a bright future in photography! - - - just kidding; your video work is great!

May 29th, 2011, 04:09 PM	#5
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 Thanks Jim, I'm about to go back to the park and do some more, but likely no wedding parties I can snap today. I couldn't believe I didn't have a booking for yesterday, it was huge for weddings, there were five at the park yesterday alone. I"m completely booked for October, almost full for November, but nothing yesterday, very weird, but I enjoyed the time off, for sure. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

May 29th, 2011, 06:43 PM	#6
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 I took out my Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 today and shot the same type of shots from the same location. The Canon makes the Tamron look pretty sick. I'm going to start looking for an old Nikon or Canon zoom. The Tamron does well at F/2.8 for ceremony and reception work, but these Canon primes really ruin me for other lenses. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described." Last edited by Jeff Harper; May 29th, 2011 at 08:54 PM.

May 29th, 2011, 08:48 PM	#7
Kevin McRoberts Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 700	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 I was toying with my 135 yesterday as well (Olympus OM Zuiko 135/2.8) getting some "wildlife" footage of our puppies and their mom from halfway across the yard w/ ETC. Amazing how intimate you can get from 50 yards ;D __________________ Freelance pudgy bearded lighting camera operator www.mcbob.tv

May 31st, 2011, 04:24 AM	#8
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 I love the candids I can get with the lens. Problem is with keeping the camera steady. I had this little guy in perfect focus (second shot) but the movement of the camera is so severe at times I just can't get a great shot handlheld. He came out blurred, as you can see. In the first shot, I was lucky, it's nice and sharp. Outdoors it is easier since using a higher frame rate, so I get lucky fairly often, but for critical shots, you can't count on it, at least handheld. 270mm is just too much for my shaky old hands. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

May 31st, 2011, 08:11 AM	#9
Kevin McRoberts Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 700	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 Definitely a lens for tripod use __________________ Freelance pudgy bearded lighting camera operator www.mcbob.tv

May 31st, 2011, 03:34 PM	#10
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	Re: Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 with GH2 I own that lens too, the FD version. Nice glass but be warned, she's heavy! You can buy them dirt cheap on ebay.