Canon RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM Released – Fast Stabilized Portrait Lens

Lens News

by Jeff LochNovember 2^nd, 2022

Along with the launch of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, the company has just released a new RF lens: the Canon RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM. As its name suggests, the lens has an Optical Image Stabiliser for up to 5.5 stops of stabilization. Apart from that, the lens barrel has a control ring and two function buttons. So let’s take a closer look at it!

Since the launch of the Canon EOS R in 2018, the company stopped developing new Canon EF lenses and put all its glass-design energy into making Canon RF lenses. Now the company has the “holy trinity” of fast zoom lenses, including the Canon RF 15-35mm F/2.8L IS USM, the RF 24-70mm F/2.8L IS USM, and RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM. 

Regarding high-end “L” prime lenses, they only released the RF 50mm F/1.2L, RF 85mm F/1.2L, and very long telephoto lenses. As you can tell, Canon RF L options are still missing in the wide-angle range, but they plan to release 32 new RF lenses by 2025.

To start completing the RF L lens lineup, the company has just released a new exciting portrait lens: the Canon RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM.

Canon RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM features

The Canon RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM is described by Canon as the successor of the EF 135mm F/2L USM. I’m not the biggest fan of the 135mm focal length as I usually find it too long for portrait shoots, but many photographers like it more than an 85mm prime lens, for example, to compress backgrounds.

The RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM has built-in Image Stabilization up to 5.5 stops. If you combine lens IS with cameras such as the EOS R6 Mark II that features IBIS, you can even get up to 8 stops of image stabilization. On the inside, you’ll find a Nano USM motor for fast, quiet, and reliable autofocus operation. 

Like every Canon RF lens, the RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM features a control ring on the lens body that you can assign to various settings, including shutter speed, aperture, or ISO. Furthermore, this is the first Canon lens, other than super-telephoto lenses, to feature two lens function buttons. You can assign these buttons for the AF-Stop function or other features.

Lens design

The lens design of the Canon RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM has three UD elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and ensure high resolution. 

The RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM benefits from ASC and Super Spectra Coating to reduce ghosting and unwanted lens flares. Lastly, the fluorine coating helps to keep the lens free from dirt, fingerprints, and smudges.

Since this is an L-series prime lens, it is dust- and water-resistant with seals around the lens mount.

The 9-blade aperture should provide a pleasing bokeh. Lastly, the minimum focusing distance is 70cm/2.3ft.

Price and availability

The Canon RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM is available in December or January and will be priced at EUR 2649. 

For more information, please visit Canon’s website here.

What do you think about this new Canon RF prime lens? Did you start investing in Canon RF lenses, or are you waiting for the lineup to be more prominent? Do you often shoot or use 135mm prime lenses? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments down below!