Two new L babies in the family !

[Rob612]

Ok, my dealer had a problem with my Bigma order. He was sorry about keeping my money for such a long time and having problems with the Sigma importer here (I had ordered and paid a down payment with the intention to pay it in full when the lens was there) that he made me an offer I could not refuse.

As a result, now I am the proud owner of (both used, but who cares if they work as they do, they just came in his store a week or so ago) a 35-350 USM L (with all the limits that I have read about, but I had it for testing and in the end I really liked, despite the fact that it needs some f/stop to perform at his best) AND of a... (drum roll) a 70-200 f/2.8 L !!!

Whats the moral of the story ? Actually I have two of them:

1) Sometimes placing an order and have it not filled can be a good thing (I must remember this when I stock trade...)

2) I need a new bag because all my gear won't fit in what I actually have ! :D :D :D :D


Here are the two new babies (the 70 200 is missing the hood, but he promises that he'll get it for me tomorrow)

[sixshot]

Damn. Nice going.

[Andy_T]

WOW :shock:

That's a very nice deal, apparently.

Best regards,
Andy

[Rob612]

Have you noticed the old huge leather (i checked, its real leather) covered case of the 35-350 ? It really serves nothing (I got also the new bag, I could not stand to have lenses around being unprotected) but it is really beautiful. Gotta find an use for that. Maybe the change box for future purchases ? So you already know what that money is there for !!!!! :D

[Rob612]

WOW :shock:

That's a very nice deal, apparently.

Best regards,
Andy

Tell you what, here for the 35-350 I have no idea of the price since is discontinued and I cannot find any place online that carries it. But I checked out the online price (locally) for the 70-200. It runs from a minimum of almost 2,200 EURO, at the lowest, that is about 2760 US$. This for the NON IS version (the one I've got). I got mine for 700 Euro. Sure, both lenses are used (were used by one of the Team Ferrari photographers, now the guy switched to IS and longer primes) and they do show the signs of hard working. But I have tested both of them extensively (of course, in the afternoon I had them in hand before making my decision, so not really extensively but enough to make all the nedded tests at different aperures, differnt light angles, different and detailed subject etc) and as long al they work fine, I do not really care of some scratches on the body.

Plus, the guy - that by now has an excellent relationship with me - is absolutely ready to refund me the full amount in case I have problems. He knows me and I know him, so we got a deal.

I'm so excited, finally some RED in my bag... Can't wait to find the time to go somewhere to take picture that are not "test". I predict that either tomorrow or the day after my guys in the office will have to call me on the cellphone, if the need arise. I will be busy doing something else, and I do not want to wait the weekend (but I will shoot on the weekend also, we are having an IPSC Match coming and the 70-200 seems the best choice, so double shooting, gun and camera !)

[lost]

Congrats, those are some nice lenses!!

[Michaelmjc]

lucky! congrats man, hope you enjoy them.

[mvonditter]

You will love the 35-350L. It pretty much lives on my 1Ds. As to f stop issues. Ya, on the long end you shouldn't go below f/8, but man what a lens for all around shooting. I took some shots at Imola for the F1 race in 2003 and MS in his Ferrari looked pretty damed good at 130mph at 200 meters. Dead on great shot. you can even read the fine print on the side of the car. If you want to see it, I'll dig it up when I get home.

[Rob612]

You will love the 35-350L. It pretty much lives on my 1Ds. As to f stop issues. Ya, on the long end you shouldn't go below f/8, but man what a lens for all around shooting. I took some shots at Imola for the F1 race in 2003 and MS in his Ferrari looked pretty damed good at 130mph at 200 meters. Dead on great shot. you can even read the fine print on the side of the car. If you want to see it, I'll dig it up when I get home.

I'll love to see that !

[Grimnar]

I'll love to see that !

Ditto on that one:D

[felix21685]

i wanna see :)

[mvonditter]

i wanna see :)

Here ya go

[mvonditter]

i wanna see :)


And for those JPM fans

[mvonditter]

i wanna see :)

Ok, lets try this again with gusto

[felix21685]

nice nice

[mvonditter]

nice nice

Rubino anyone?:)

[Rob612]

OK, I'm sold (well, actually I already was...) on my new lens ! They all look low in contrast for my taste but the details are all there, and contrast can be solved easily with a touch of PS. Thanks a lot. Great shots and thanks for sharing.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Nice!

That 35-350 used to sell for about $1,700.00 new If I remember correctly..
Looks like you made out better than a Bigma for sure!

[mrclark321]

Congrats Rob....It's always nice to win the lottery!!!

Dan

[Rob612]

Nice!

That 35-350 used to sell for about $1,700.00 new If I remember correctly..
Looks like you made out better than a Bigma for sure!

That's interesting: 1700 US$ is about the value of the 70-200 nowadays @ BH. With the awful prices we have here would have been probably about the same as the 70-200 and I had the 35-350 for 600 EU. Even better deal than the 70-200, then. Well, I'm really happy of the deal. And yes, I am absolutely convinced that I made better than the Bigma.

Now, if only I was not stuck in the office this morning... Well, I guess I'll escape at lunch :) I came in very early (6.30 AM) on purpose, so I have everything fixed up for my folks (Im self employee and have some guys working for me) for the afternoon and tomorrow.... :D

Edit to add: I'll probably escape even earlier, we have a day with such a wonderful light today that I hate the Idea of loosing several hours of it... :D

[mvonditter]

OK, I'm sold (well, actually I already was...) on my new lens ! They all look low in contrast for my taste but the details are all there, and contrast can be solved easily with a touch of PS. Thanks a lot. Great shots and thanks for sharing.

Actually these are the tuned down version so I could get some size on the screen on the board. Still haven't figured it out just yet.:oops:

[Kelv2888]

I'll trade you my 70-200 F4L for your 70-200 F2.8. lol

[Rob612]

I'll trade you my 70-200 F4L for your 70-200 F2.8. lol

That's a big deal for me, let's plan it !!! LOL

:D:D

[drisley]

That's interesting: 1700 US$ is about the value of the 70-200 nowadays @ BH.
It's actually about $1100 :)