CANON RF 135mm F1.8L IS USM

26 years after the EF 135mm, Canon’s resurrected this classic portrait focal length in a new RF mount

After a quarter of a century, the Canon RF 135mm F1.8L IS USM finally replaces the legendary Canon EF 135mm f/2l USM. The new RF model will natively fit EOS R mirrorless cameras, and while the focal length remains identical, it has a slightly wider maximum aperture of f/1.8, making it a third of an f-stop brighter.

The RF 135mm F1.8L IS USM has image stabilisation that Canon claims will deliver sharp shots when shooting 5.5-stops slower than usual, or a 8-stops with an EOS R system body with in-body image stabilisation, such as the new EOS R6 Mark II. This should make it a dream to shoot with in low light.

A focal length of 135mm is a short-telephoto ideal for tight headshots, or for taking candid-style shots at weddings where you don’t want to be so close to your subjects. A Nano USM motor is also on the spec sheet for fast, quiet autofocus.

The short telephoto focal length also helps compress facial features for more flattering portraits, and is paired with a circular 9-bladed aperture that Canon boasts delivers beautiful bokeh, though we look forward to testing it soon to see if it lives up to these claims.

An emphasis has been put on top image quality with Canon’s RF L-series lenses, such as the Canon RF 85mm F/1.2L USM DS, and Canon’s keen to stress that its new RF 135mm lens is no exception, stating the lens delivers “exceptional image quality across the entire frame”.

Canon uses special UD (Ultra Low Dispersion) lens elements to combat chromatic aberrations – and the RF 135mm F1.8L has three of them. It also gets special ASC and Super Spectra coatings. ASC stands for Air Sphere Coating, a technology to help reduce reflections, flare and ghosting, while the Super Spectra Coating which is a multi-layered vapour-deposited coating also combats reflectance issues.

Shipping starts in Dec for £2599/$2099.