Lens questions, a love and hate relationship

[FM Arouet666]

I shoot with three lens;
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

I also have the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM, No IS but it was a lot cheaper. I also have the multiplier, 1.4x I think, but rarely use it. I rarely use the zoom lens, too heavy, cumbersome, a big phallic attention getter in crowded locals.

I would love to have the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM but the price is ridiculous, 4 or 5 times the price of the 17-40mm and much heavier, but the lens is much faster.

My question, I bought these lenses based on advice from internet sites, photography mags etc, but I am still not that happy. I mortgaged the house to get the 24-70mm lens, actually, I snuck the purchase through my work, the wife doesn't need not know the extent of my addiction. I love the lens, very versatile, but really heavy.

What about prime lenses? I like shooting with the 50mm, great in poor light, but I am not up to snuff with planning a shot. A fixed lens demands that you understand what field of view you will observe and plan appropriately, not there yet.

Any advice would be great, and again, thanks for the welcome.......

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. zooms are a compromise for sure

although, that said, the classic photojournalist advise still holds true...

take two wides 18 and oh 24 an 85 and a 200

if your pictures are not good enough, you are not close enough.

of course the guy who said that (Robert Capa) was killed stepping on a land mine while photographing French Army operations against the Viet Minn.

[lakemonster11]

2. His pictures are amazing though.

So are James Nachtwey's. There's a great documentary about him called "War Photographer."

[Fovea]

15. Poor Robert Capa

one of my heroes.

I carry the Nikkor 18-70 and a sigma 70-300, but the rest are primes. Like you I use a 50mm f1.8, the nikkor is a very good light sponge, and inexpensive.

I particularly love the 105mm AI F2.5 prime, famous for the 'Afghan Girl' photo by Steve McMurry.



I also like the Sigma 14mm rectalinear, but it is not for every shot.

[GOPFighter]

3. This highlights my quandry

I have a point and shoot rangefinder, 5 megapixels with a optical zomm from about 37mm to 105mm. It's light, compact and very unobtrusive. I used to have a Pentax SLR with a bunch of heavy lenses, multipliers, etc. I really got sick of all the decisions I had to make and the time and hassle it took to change lenses when the picture I wanted had the potential to change at any moment.

Yet, hearing about all the new DSLRs people here are getting and the lenses, and the fun they are having with them and the resulting pictures... damn I'm getting the itch to switch!

But logically I know I'm better off getting a better point and shoot (8 Mpixels, greater range of zoom) for the portability and rely on cropping and other Photoshop tools to get the results I want. Yeah, there will be some great shots I'll never get from this set up, but that's life...

Ironically, the 50mm lens that came with my Pentax was the lens I used the least even though it was fast (1.4). The lens I kept on my camera most of the time was a 35mm wide angle. I'm still partial to wide angle shots...

[F.Gordon]

4. You have a great lens "package"

Not sure why you are not happy.
:shrug:

If I'm traveling heavy I will take; an ultra wide angle zoom or wide angle prime, a short zoom (I too have the 24-70 f/2.8), a long zoom, two fast primes, and two bodies. If I'm going light I will just bring one fast prime.

Don't get hungup on "speed". I have the EF 50mm f/1.4 .... a very "fast" lens. But I rarely use f/1.4 unless the situation or my "creative" :eyes: impulse calls for using it.

The type of lens you use has absolutely nothing to do with how good your photographs will be. None. Zip. Zero. That's up to you. I told Blue' when she was considering lenses that when you change a lens you are essentially changing the type of "camera" you are using. You have to "learn" a lens the same way you "learn" a camera.

I'd recommend..... putting all your lenses on the shelf except the 50 f/1.8 for awhile. Only use the 50mm. It's sounds like you may be frustrated and overwhelmed by all the lenses you have and just aren't comfortable with any of them. You have all great lenses..... it sounds like you just need to "learn" them. Using a 50mm prime exclusively for awhile will force you to plan and compose your shots.

If you rarely use the 70-200.... sell it. "L" lenses hold their value pretty well.

I have no idea what "kind" of photography you are interested in. What yanks your chain? If it's "travel" and "tourist" kind of stuff (like the excellent photos you posted elsewhere) then learn the "type" of photography that turns ya' on.... then determine "how" a particular lens will suit your interest.

Just my 4 cents. Adjusted for inflation.
:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

6. That's true about changing the lenses

changes the camera. I really noticed that yesterday when I was up on the hillside shooting the same scene with different lenses but leaving the settings the same. B-I-G differences. What works with one sure doesn't work with another one.

[FM Arouet666]

7. Thanks for the reply

I am glad I posted to this forum.

I have been thinking about using the 50mm more often and have started to do so, forcing myself, because I think I learn more through the pain.

You are absolutely right about the 70-200, a big white albatross of a lens, too bulky, rarely useful, I think it will be axed. The 1.4x multiplier is even less useful, waste of money.

I did get a great shot of my wife on the Great Wall, she was crystal clear with the back ground clearly showing the expanse of the wall, out of focus of course. Other than that, I rarely use the lens. I would post it here but my wife would kill me. ;)

Thanks again, I will be getting friendly with my 50mm........ Any recommendations for another prime lens. I currently only have the 50mm. I mostly shoot when I travel, sadly, the only free time I have.......

[RagingInMiami]

10. The one prime lens you're missing

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=194451&is=GREY&addedTroughType=search

[FM Arouet666]

12. Yes, I agree I need a macro lens

If I had more time to use it I would buy it today. Thanks......

[Blue_In_AK]

13. That one's next on my wish list, Raging.,,

[bvar22]

5. I lust for your lenses!

Want to come over to my house and play?

[FM Arouet666]

8. Lust, oh my......

What kind of shots would you take. :blush: :+

Don't get me wrong, I love the lenses, but I think I got way head of myself when I bought them. I probably should have learned more basic photography.

[RagingInMiami]

9. I splurged on the 24-70

And I also have the 70-200 with the extender.

You say you're not happy but what do you feel is missing?

In my collection, I'm missing a true wide angle because I have the 20mm f/2.8 but I have the 10D which means it's a 32mm.

I've looked at the 16-35 but it's too expensive for me to wind up only with a 24mm at wide angle.

So what I've decided to do is not buy anymore lenses for a while and instead save my money for the new 5D, which is going for $3,200 but the price is bound to drop within the next few months.

That way, I will have a full-frame camera with 12.8 megapixels, meaning my 20mm will be just that. And I will have an extra camera body, which will come in handy when I'm shooting protests or sports.

[FM Arouet666]

11. One hundred percent correct.

Except, the 70-200 lens. When do you use the thing? I shoot mostly when I travel, the only time I have, and it is just too big and cumbersome. The narrow field of view makes it a poor choice for the versatility needed when walking around strange new places.

However, I agree with you, the lens itself is great, I have some fantastic shots of my wife, clear as a bell. I guess I dislike the lens for its lack of versatility, which is where I am currently at with my shooting.

I agree completely with the 5D lust, the big boy cameras, the Mark IIs are way out of range for what I shoot, but the 5D looks nice. I will have to find a way to sneak the purchase past my wife, If I fail to post for a while you know I got caught. ;)

[RagingInMiami]

14. I don't use the 70-200 nearly as often as I use the 24-70 but

I would never get rid of it. Here are some shots I took with it.

[Fovea]

16. I hear you

I have a big ass lust for a D2x.

I wouldn't turn down the D200, either.
Maybe George Soros needs a photographer.

I am highly tolerant of being beaten and pepper sprayed
to get that just right shot...