Product Description

A unique, compact telephoto lens that gives the choice of razor-sharp images, or with the twist of a ring, two degrees of soft focus. It works by applying "softness over sharpness," using deliberate spherical aberration on top of a sharp "core" image at apertures from f/2.8 thru 5.6; images taken at apertures smaller than f/5.6 are always sharp. Autofocus continues to function, with or without the soft focus in use. This lens is an ideal addition to a portrait or scenic photographers arsenal. A perfect combination with an EOS Digital SLR, with the camera enabling review of soft focus effect on the LCD monitor.

Product Details

• Brand: Canon
• Model: 2516A003
• Dimensions: 3.60" h x 3.80" w x 5.70" l, 2.00 pounds

Features

• EF mount; telephoto lens
• Internal focusing; aspherical lens
• 135mm focal length
• f/2.8 maximum aperture
• Rear focusing system with Autofocus drive

From the Manufacturer
A unique, compact telephoto lens that gives the choice of razor-sharp images, or with the twist of a ring, two degrees of soft focus. It works by applying "softness over sharpness," using deliberate spherical aberration on top of a sharp "core" image at apertures from f/2.8 thru 5.6; images taken at apertures smaller than f/5.6 are always sharp. Autofocus continues to function, with or without the soft focus in use. This lens is an ideal addition to a portrait or scenic photographer’s arsenal. A perfect combination with an EOS Digital SLR, with the camera enabling review of soft focus effect on the LCD monitor.

Long and Fast
A telephoto lens is essential to any serious photographer. For sports action, you will need a fast shutter speed and a long focal length. A large maximum aperture allows a faster shutter speed. In this telephoto lens line-up, the focal lengths range from 135mm to 300mm. If you want compactness, choose a lens with a smaller maximum aperture.

Customer Reviews

A cheap lens that performs like a million bucks!
When most people think of this lens, the soft focus feature comes to mind. This lens is certainly unique in this respect. But the truth of the matter is that most people find this to be a feature that they will probably find little (if any) use for. So most people pass on this lens in favor of some sort of zoom (ie the EF 75-300mm). But even if you have no use whatsoever for the soft focus feature, this lens is actually one great, large-aperture, telephoto prime. Oh, and it can be had for a song. I have seen this lens go for less that $200 used here at the marketplace, as well as on ebay and craigslist. Even new, it is pretty cheap.

Optically, this lens is a GREAT performer. Sharpness is GREAT, even at f/2.8. It is certainly a MUCH better performer here than ANY Canon telephoto zoom that does not have an L somewhere in it's name. And since it is SO much faster than any consumer-grade zoom, it is MUCH better in both low light AND in situations where you are looking for background blur. And, as is the case most of the time, both saturation and contrast are worlds better than your typical consumer-grade zoom. How does it compare with an L-series zoom? I can't say for sure. But it does cost MANY times less. And it is faster than the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4. So given both the price and performance, this is one GREAT lens.

Great lens for the price - and I still haven't used soft focus
I wanted a longish, cheap, wide and sharp lens, and at 135mm/f2.8, this one fit the bill. I'm using it for taking pictures at conferences and fashion shows. Still haven't used the soft focus feature.

The only thing to watch is that its so long and wide, that the focal plane is really pretty short, so be careful with where your focus is. For that reason, it's probably not a beginner's lens.

Not Bad At All
I bought this lens because I needed its focal length on my 5D. It seems like a toy when compared to L-glass, so I was a little worried. The manual focus ring is a joke, put it on the 5D and took a few shots, I was surprised at how sharp this lens was wide open. I even tried the soft focus feature......nice and soft, yet still in focus. There is a little learning curve with the soft setting, but nothing a few test shots won't solve. On a crop sensor camera its a bit tight. For the money I spent, not bad, not bad at all. I'm very happy with it!