135/2.8SF example photos?

Does anyone have any photos taken with the Canon 135/2.8 SF lens (with

soft focus engaged) available to view online?

 

Is SF mainly useful for close-up portraits (head/head+shoulders) or is

it also useful for if you back up to take a 3/4 - 1/2 - full length view?

 

Thanks.

The success or failure of soft focus pictures are largely a matter of personal taste.

 

Using soft focus for portraits may be desireable to hide wrinkles and other skin flaws in older subjects. Backing up to include more of the subject may be effective, depending on the subject, pose and background. Full-length, especially reclining posed, glamour subjects can often benefit from soft focus effects to produce striking photos.

 

The degree and quality of the soft focus lens, filter or other device (such as a piece of nylon stocking stretched over the lens) can also affect the effectiveness. Less is usually better than more.

 

It is all very subjective. It's best to have a particular effect in mind and then experiment to see if you can achieve your vision.

There is one example of the soft focus effect with the Canon 135mm f/2.8 SF lens on the Canon website (Canon USA). Click on the lens and then click on sample picture. You will see a comparison of with and without the soft focus effect. It's pretty extreme. I've seen a lot better; it just looks out of focus.

Here's an example of picture taken with the very expensive Zeiss Softar #2 filter on an EF85mm f/1.2L lens.

Here is a <A HREF="http://www.majid.info/galleries/dpreview/headshots/crw_0875.htm">before</A>/<A HREF="http://www.majid.info/galleries/dpreview/headshots/crw_0876.htm">after</A> head shot with mild softening action.<P>

Here is a <A HREF="http://www.majid.info/galleries/farha2/CRW_2008.jpg">before</A>/<A HREF="http://www.majid.info/galleries/farha2/CRW_2009.jpg">after</A> head shot with heavy softening action.<P>

It is unfortunately all too easy to over-soften, even at the "1" setting. Here is an <A HREF="http://www.majid.info/galleries/farha2/CRW_2005.jpg">example</A> of too much softening. I wouldn't use more than f/4 at the "1" setting for normal portraiture. I wouldn't recommend the use the 135mm for full-length portraiture either, the effect looks somewhat artificial.<P>

those pics are fantastic examples of what this lens (135mm F2.8 SF) is capable of.thanks for sharing them Fazal.

 

i was really interested in purchasing this lens too, a year ago,but bought the 100mm F2 USM instead.perfect working distance IMO.and very good for portraits,and smaller and faster than the 135/2.8 . thanks again for posting those pics, now i know too , that the SF really works on this lens,, pc

<p>Here's an image I took with the EF 135 2.8 SF:</p>

 

<p><b>Agashi in Waikiki � </b>Canon EOS A2, EF 135 2.8 SF, Speedlite 430EZ & Fujichrome 100. Soft focus Level 2 at F4. Level 2 at F2.8 is usually too soft for my taste.</p>

 

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I had the lens.

 

It performed very good when you turn your soft scale to Nil (no soft at all). It is quite sharp. Be very careful when you shoot against light, because the internal lens barrel reflects a lot of light, even with lens hood attached.

 

When you turn the soft scale to 1 or 2, it depends very much on your luck, because the result is quite unpredictable, either it is too soft, or it is not soft enough.