Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM review: It took 27 years, but Canon has made another legendary portrait prime

The Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM has a lot to live up to. Canon last released a 135mm pro lens all the way back in 1996 – and the Canon EF 135mm f/2L was one of the absolute best lenses for portraits, hence why it hadn't been replaced in for 27 years.

But now the time has finally come – and the wait has most certainly been worth it, because the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM is absolutely an artist's tool. And for me, the question is: does it trump the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, my personal favorite, as the best portrait prime on the system?

While they're much rarer than their 85mm siblings, 135mm lenses are often regarded as the ultimate choice for portraiture as they offer a focal length that's very flattering for human facial features with beautifully defocused backgrounds – especially in tandem with a fast f/1.8 aperture.

And aperture is the key. There are a number of Canon zooms that cover the 135mm focal length (arguably the best option for portraiture being the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM) but, if you want the widest aperture and most refined optics that only primes can afford, the the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM is a league apart.

Let's see if it can best the mighty 85mm f/1.2L…

Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM: Price

A specialist optic, the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM comes with a specialist price tag of $2,399 / £2,229 / AU$3,599.

The current RF lineup has nothing directly comparable in terms of strict focal length, but in terms of achieving a similar look and "compression" there are two alternative optics to consider.

First is the most direct competitor, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM prime that's shorter but faster, which commands a cool $3,099 / £2,999 / AU$4,829 asking price.

Then there's the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, a telephoto zoom that compensates for its slower aperture with a longer focal length, at $2,999 / £2,999 / AU$4,699.

Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM: Specifications

Build & handling

Canon has managed to improve every single specification from the EF 135mm f/2L USM – perhaps the most significant being the addition of optical stabilization. The lens offers 5.5 stops natively, which reaches up to 8 stops when combined with a camera with in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

Image stabilization is particularly helpful with longer focal lengths, which amplify any camera shake, and enables you to achieve steadier shots in low light (where you'll be pushing your shutter speed) or when panning during sports or wildlife photography.

It also pushes the aperture to f/1.8, with 9 diaphragm blades for silky smooth rendering and circular bokeh balls. The L-series designation, reflected by the coveted red ring on the nose of the lens, signifies the highest professional performance – chiefly weather sealing, for shooting in all conditions, as well as Canon's finest optical formulation.

For the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM, this means a sophisticated 17-element construction in 12 groups, comprising 3 ultra-low dispersion lenses to control chromatic aberrations, finished with Canon's top-tier Air Sphere Coating to help prevent flare and ghosting. It also boasts a Nano USM motor for smooth, fast and near-silent operation.

As with all Canon RF optics, the 135mm lens features a customizable ring that can offer lens-based control over a range of shooting settings, including but not limited to ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Further customizable control comes in the form of additional lens function buttons, which can be invaluable for changing settings on the fly.

The RF version of the 135mm has grown a bit in size from the EF version, with the optical image stabilization and extra stop of aperture making this a larger lens – particularly if using it on a smaller body like a Canon EOS R8, as we used for part of our testing, where it threatens to become front-heavy. It definitely balances better on bodies like the Canon EOS R5, which we used for the bulk of this review.

Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM: Performance

I'm aware how privileged I am to do the job I do, and just how jaded I am by the sheer volume of kit I'm lucky enough to test. So it's not often that a lens comes along and makes me say, "Wow, I think need one of these," but when I put the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM on the front of my RF I legitimately said out loud, "Wow, I think need one of these."

This is an awesome portrait lens. Truly awesome. I basically can't fault it. The frankly ridiculous amount of stabilization on offer makes it a dream to handle even when dragging the shutter. It's fast, it's responsive, it feels great in the hand and it balances great with a camera like the R5 – though again, it can be very nose-heavy on smaller bodies, so you might want to consider adding a grip depending on your setup.

The image quality is simply sensational. "Tack-sharp" might even do it an injustice, such is the piercing quality even wide open. The quality of the subject separation and falloff is absolutely beautiful; backgrounds absolutely melt into a mush of bokehliciousness. And unlike the hybrid primes (such as the Canon RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM), the bokeh doesn't bulldoze into Petzval territory – which is how I prefer things unless I specifically want that effect.

While it's a madman who shoots portraits at 200mm, I have to say that it's a lot of fun putting this lens on an APS-C body and getting images at an equivalent 216mm focal length – though the required working distance makes it completely impractical for many situations.

And that's not entirely untrue of the pure 135mm focal length. If you've never shot with this kind of lens before, you might be surprised at the amount of working room you need for a headshot – let alone a half-, three-quarter or full-length shot. In terms of physical space, you might find yourself running out of room unless you have a large studio.

Taking the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM outdoors obviously solves the floorspace issue, but it introduces another one: the practicality of that working distance. Communicating with your subject can be difficult, especially if you're shy of voice or you tend to hide behind the camera.

This is one of the key areas where the RF 85mm f/1.2L is the better option – and why 85mm lenses are so much more common – because the working distance is just so much more manageable. Because not only do you have to be aware of how you're communicating with your subject; you also need to consider that most subjects can feel very disconnected when you're standing miles away to get your shot.

That aside, the results from this lens are absolutely exquisite. There's a reason why the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM carries a premium price tag – and you've only to look at the images it produces to see what it is.

Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM: Sample images

Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM: Lab results

We run a range of lab tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.

We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the center of the image frame, corners and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths. The tests also measure distortion and color fringing (chromatic aberration).

Sharpness:

Sharpness in the center of frame is very good at f/1.8, and the lens becomes razor-sharp if you stop down to f/2.8. Corner sharpness is a little less impressive, but is still far from being soft.

Fringing:

Clearly Canon's engineers have been very busy eliminating fringing from the RF 135mm's image quality, and they've done an incredible job – these are some of the lowest fringing levels we've seen from any lens.

Distortion: 0.93

The lens produces a touch of pincushion distortion, but not enough to be distracting.

Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM: Verdict

The Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM is the best 135mm lens I've ever used, which isn't something I say lightly. If you're a professional portrait photographer with the physical space and personal capacity to work with this focal length, you should absolutely get your credit card ready right now – this is an instant purchase.

However… will I be replacing my beloved RF 85mm f/1.2L? The answer is no.

That isn't a reflection on the RF 135mm, which is breathtakingly good. But there are two key factors – the first one being that, for the work I do, the working distance is a little too much of an ask. When I'm working with professional models, shooting full-lengths at 135mm is absolutely fine. For social photography, though, I find that 85mm is better for mainting the kind of connection that keeps clients comfortable.

The second factor is that 85mm at f/1.2 gives slightly more pleasing defocus / bokeh / blurry backgrounds than 135mm at f/1.8. While the magnification of 135mm is certainly better at isolating a subject from the environment, I prefer the look with my 85mm wide open.

But honestly, it's a matter of inches; broadly speaking, you get similarly delicious results at 85mm f/1.2 as you do 135mm f/1.8 – and it's the same at 200mm f/2.8 on a 70-200mm trinity, though obviously the working distance is even more extreme there!

Still, all of that being equal, you absolutely cannot fault this lens. It's a bona fide banger and an instant classic. And best of all, the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM is cheaper than both of the alternatives!