What is the Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens?
The Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens is a specialized prime lens designed for portrait photography. It is part of Canon’s EF lens lineup, compatible with both full-frame and APS-C sensor DSLR cameras.
Unlike most traditional lenses, the Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens incorporates a unique soft focus feature, allowing photographers to create a dreamy and ethereal look in their portraits. This lens is particularly popular among portrait photographers who aim to capture a romantic, nostalgic, or artistic mood in their images.
How does the soft focus feature work?
The soft focus feature in the Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens is achieved through the use of spherical aberration. By intentionally introducing spherical aberration, the lens can produce images with a gentle, soft glow and reduced contrast. This effect helps to minimize the appearance of skin imperfections, creating a more flattering and flattering result.
The lens has a dedicated soft focus ring that allows users to adjust the extent of the soft focus effect. By rotating the ring, photographers can control the degree of blurring and customize the overall look to suit their creative vision.
Advantages and considerations when using the Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens
One of the key advantages of the Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens is its exceptional image quality. Even with the soft focus effect, this lens performs admirably in terms of sharpness, detail, and color rendition. The lens also boasts a wide maximum aperture of f/2.8, which helps in achieving shallow depth of field and beautiful background bokeh.
When using the lens, it’s important to keep in mind that the soft focus effect may not be suitable for all types of photography. While it excels in portrait work, it may not be the best choice for capturing action or fast-moving subjects. Additionally, the lens lacks image stabilization, so it is recommended to use a tripod or shoot with faster shutter speeds to prevent motion blur.
In conclusion, the Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens offers a unique and artistic approach to portrait photography. With its soft focus effect and excellent image quality, it allows photographers to create stunningly beautiful and emotive portraits. It is a valuable addition to any photographer’s toolkit, particularly for those seeking to add a touch of romance and nostalgia to their work.
