Lose a lens, gain a lens

[iwatkins]

Hi All,

The Sigma 50-500EX went today. Great lens, good-very good image quality but wasn't the sharpest if I'm totally honest. Even so, would still recommend it to anyone as a great value long telephoto zoom.

It got traded in, hence gone. :cry:

Got traded in for a Canon 100-400 U L IS. 8)

First tests show it produces great output and I can easily hand hold, with IS on at 1/125 no problem. Need to play with it more, but I'm happy with it to say the least.

Will get it's first real test at the weekend at Donington Park for the first round of the British GT Championship. And then again on a Good Friday trackday at Bedford Autodrome. 8) And I have the whole of next week off, so if my licence comes through, I'll be off to try and shoot the kingfishers at their nest.

As an aside, sorting out through all my lenses, bags, paperwork to make room for all the new gear after the old went, I realised I now have two L lenses. How did the curse of L creep up on me ? I didn't see it happening and suddenly I'm in this situation ? I could stop anytime I want, honest, I could....

Cheers

Ian

[Belmondo]

As an aside, sorting out through all my lenses, bags, paperwork to make room for all the new gear after the old went, I realised I now have two L lenses. How did the curse of L creep up on me ? I didn't see it happening and suddenly I'm in this situation ? I could stop anytime I want, honest, I could....

Cheers

Ian

I happened to think of a great tag line to use for people who are thinking of buying L lenses, but who are fighting it:

'It will eventually become clear to you.'

The clearer our images become, the easier L lusting is to understand.

[Tom W]

I'm with you, Ian. They seem to be multiplying. Fortunately, Canon doesn't make anything longer than 1200 mm (that I know of). :)

[iwatkins]

I'm with you, Ian. They seem to be multiplying. Fortunately, Canon doesn't make anything longer than 1200 mm (that I know of). :)

:lol:

Saw the 1200mm listed in an article in a UK magazine. Special order only and £60,000 price tag. Surely, just buy the 600mm and a 2x tcon ? :wink:

Cheers

Ian

[Tom W]

I'm with you, Ian. They seem to be multiplying. Fortunately, Canon doesn't make anything longer than 1200 mm (that I know of). :)

:lol:

Saw the 1200mm listed in an article in a UK magazine. Special order only and £60,000 price tag. Surely, just buy the 600mm and a 2x tcon ? :wink:

Cheers

Ian

Anybody want to buy a house? I can put a red stripe on it.... :)

[Cadwell]

Congratulations on your new toy, Ian. I hope you have much joy with it. :D

Sunday will be my first time at Donington with the Sigma 120-300mm F/2.8 EX so I am hoping for good weather! The forcast currently shows "sunny" so keep everything crossed ;)

It's Saturday I am really looking forward to though. Endurance racing at Brands Hatch and they're running the Grand Prix circuit! One of only two car races on that track this year. In my opinion, the Brands Hatch GP circuit is the best track in the world, unspoilt from it's 80's heyday and fantastic for photography. Pilgrims Drop and Dingle Dell are without compare for car action shots :D :D

[KiwiRob]

The Cutting at Bathurst has also got to be up there as well.

[samdring]

Well done Ian - really chuffed for you.
Often pop into Donny (just down the road from me) and will look out for the little cream lens with the pink stripe!

[IanD]

"L" does creep up on you. Got 3 of them resting peacefully in the backpack. The 100-400IS seems to be grafted onto the 10D. However the others do see a share of the work. Lately they have been trying to convince be to get them a new baby brother/sister. They alrerady have a name picked out 400 F5.6L Sounds kind of cute. Not too sure if the 100-400 would be jealous of a prime 400. Have to do some more research. :lol:

[CyberDyneSystems]

In a thread littered with posters who have purchased some of my own used Sigma's... :wink:

.... I know exactly what you mean. :mrgreen:

When I purchased the 50-500mm... I said to myself quite clearly,. "I will NEVER spend more $$$ for a lens than I am spending on this lens ($950.00 or so with tax) ...

...Boy was I wrong.

And now,.. I am find myself in the awkward position of 100% Canon except for my precious 500mm f/4.5 Sigma EX...

(mind you, most were used and/or at stupid cheap prices...)

Even so,. never would have believed it... never.

[Tom W]

In a thread littered with posters who have purchased some of my own used Sigma's... :wink:

.... I know exactly what you mean. :mrgreen:

I wonder who that may be??? :)

When I purchased the 50-500mm... I said to myself quite clearly,. "I will NEVER spend more $$$ for a lens than I am spending on this lens ($950.00 or so with tax) ...

...Boy was I wrong.

And now,.. I am find myself in the awkward position of 100% Canon except for my precious 500mm f/4.5 Sigma EX...

(mind you, most were used and/or at stupid cheap prices...)

Even so,. never would have believed it... never.

Yep - and since I bought that very fine Sigma, I've just made my second "L" purchase. I picked up the 17-40 in early February, before the famous wedding (a great excuse - got the 10D, the 17-40, and a 50-1.4 based on that social event, not to mention a certain 70-200 Sigma).

Good glass is contagous.

[KennyG]

I'll also be at Donington on Sunday (weather permitting) but without credentials for this meeting, so its fighting for the good spots.

What say we meet up beside the Spitfire at 12:00 ?


For the uninitiated...
http://www.stiuk.dial.pipex.com/spitfire.jpg

[Cadwell]

I'll also be at Donington on Sunday (weather permitting) but without credentials for this meeting, so its fighting for the good spots.

What say we meet up beside the Spitfire at 12:00 ?


:shock: What? During the Ginetta race :shock: ;)

OK... Spitfire at noon. I'll stand you a coffee. I'll be the one struggling under a 10D and Sigma 120-300.

The weather forecast is now less good. "Sunny Intervals" as opposed to "Sunny". Wanna bet it'll be "monsoon" by Sunday? :roll: (in which case I'll be the one with no camera wearing a Ferrari jacket ;) )

Glenn.

[drisley]

Let's see some good pictures, and please be competitive!!!
(banjo showdown music starts to play...)

:lol:

[Cadwell]

:shock: We're not talking "Deliverance" type banjos here are we? 'Cos if so I'm not going. :!:



;)

[defordphoto]

Ian: Congrats!! You will not regret your move. I am looking forward to seeing your shots from the weekend!!

When it comes to L-glass, the saying is: Your money are belong to us. Get used to it. :lol:

[KennyG]

:shock: We're not talking "Deliverance" type banjos here are we? 'Cos if so I'm not going.

Heck no, the idea is to emulate one of those photog line-ups you see at big sports events with a forest of white lenses. I know of at least two other white lens addicts (sorry, users) coming along. I promise not to bring the 500L, just the 300 and 100-400 and 70-200 and.... and.... :lol:

[iwatkins]

I'm not going, too scared now.... :)

Seriously, would be good to meet up. If it isn't chucking it down, I'll try to make the Spitfire by noon.

I'm specifically going to get shots of the GT cars (friends of mine did the tuning work on the Balfe Motorsport Mosler last year) but I'll probably get there early and do and see as much as I can.

Cheers

Ian

[Cadwell]

Unfortunately they're running the National circuit not the GP so that eliminates several of the best photo locations :( Donington is not the best for photography.

Weather forecast is still showing as "Sunny intervals" but is now bracketed by "Heavy Rain" on Saturday and "light showers" on Monday... :shock:

Glenn