Revamping entire kit - Am I crazy?

[crn3371]

You can see in my sig what I currently shoot with. When I shot film I had a basic 3 lens prime kit - a 28mm, 50mm, and a 200mm. I'm seriously thinking of unloading all my current gear (except the 100 macro) and replacing it with a 5D classic and the aforementioned 3 primes. I figure that for what I can sell my 20D and 3 zooms for it should be close to an even swap. I shoot a little bit of everything. Am I nuts for even thinking this? I would like the speed of the primes, but am I romanticizing over the simpler days of only having primes to shoot with? I know that zooms are convenient, but I also feel that they have made me a little more lazy as a photographer. Let me know what you think. Don't be afraid to slap me back to my senses.

[Steve Wintrow]

in my opinion you have almost the best group of lenses at this time. the only one I would ad is the 24-70L. I have this grouping of lenses plus a 17-35 tamron. This fits all my needs. My only wish list would include a 85 1.2 and a 500 4.0 IS.

I shoot a variety of things also but can adapt any lens that I have for any shooting. I am amazed how many portrait photographers use the 70-200 with outstanding results.

This is my $.02 worth. hope it helps. you will love your current lenses with the 5D.

[gonzogolf]

I dont know about slapping you to come to your senses, but... Its easy to look at some of the shallow depth of field work done with fast primes here and decide that you want to do that. The results are amazing. But is that sort of showcase work what you ordinarily shoot? The fact that you have two long zooms lends me to think that you dont. Just pick up one prime, like the 85 1.8 and test the waters before you sell the current lineup.

[JeffreyG]

What do you use the 100-400 for now? You are discarding that range pretty much completely with the proposed change.

For me personally, I do not find zooms make me lazy and changing lenses constantly is not in my opinion a virtue. I put up with primes when I need the fast apertures they offer. When I do not need the light gathering or shallow DOF of fast apertures, I use zooms.

If you find zooms make you compositionally lazy, try changing your approach. Do not bring the camera to your eye when you are contemplating a subject. Walk around. Look at the subject. Think about perspective first, and then thing about how you might frame that perspective.

Finally - then choose a focal length and take the picture.

[crn3371]

Yeah, giving up the 100-400 would be painful. I like the idea of maybe just starting off by adding a nice fast prime to my lineup and taking it from there.

[DStanic]

Yeah, giving up the 100-400 would be painful. I like the idea of maybe just starting off by adding a nice fast prime to my lineup and taking it from there.

Sounds like a plan. I was going to suggest selling your 17-85 first so that you are "full frame ready". When you come across a good deal on a 5D then sell the 20d and whatever else you can part with. I would still keep the 70-200, it's just such a fantastic lens!

[gkarris]

Hey, whatever makes you comfortable.

I'm still getting used to that screen in the back... :eek:

If I wanted the pic right away, I brought my Polariod... :D

[PhotosGuy]

I also feel that they have made me a little more lazy as a photographer. Looking at the threads you've started, I see only 4 in the "Share" areas vs. a total of 46 since 2005, so you're looking lazy to the extreme to me? Change your diet to energy food & go out & take pictures. Or trade it all in for a http://www.barcalounger.com/index.php

How's that for "Don't be afraid to slap me back to my senses."? :D

[gkarris]

Change your diet to energy food & go out & take pictures. Or trade it all in for a http://www.barcalounger.com/index.php


dude, that homepage pic SCARES me...

[crn3371]

Looking at the threads you've started, I see only 4 in the "Share" areas vs. a total of 46 since 2005, so you're looking lazy to the extreme to me? Change your diet to energy food & go out & take pictures. Or trade it all in for a http://www.barcalounger.com/index.php

How's that for "Don't be afraid to slap me back to my senses."? :D

Ouch :oops: (but you do have a very valid point, Frank)

[PhotosGuy]

Ouch Sorry about that. I've never been a member of the Measurebater Fraternity.
I used to know this guy (VERY German) who always had the latest equipment, but always showed me the SAME needle-sharp prints! I liked him a lot 'cause I'd buy his "obsolete" stuff at an excellent price when the new models came out. I could always sell his old stuff I already had for more than I'd paid for the new. Wish he was still around!!! :wink:

[rogazilla]

I say keep what u have, add the 5d and use ur 20d for back up. Then slowly add the primes too.

[crn3371]

Sorry about that. I've never been a member of the Measurebater Fraternity.
I used to know this guy (VERY German) who always had the latest equipment, but always showed me the SAME needle-sharp prints! I liked him a lot 'cause I'd buy his "obsolete" stuff at an excellent price when the new models came out. I could always sell his old stuff I already had for more than I'd paid for the new. Wish he was still around!!! :wink:

Thankfully, I've never shot a ruler, focus chart, or row of batteries. I do confess to being a bit of an equipment junky. Perhaps it's time to spend less time in Equipment Talk, and more time in Photo Sharing and to get over the notion that my photos aren't good enough to share.

[mattia]

Don't lose the zooms, but do add a fullframe cam and a prime or two. The only crop cam I shoot these days is a IR converted 30D, and I sometimes wish that was full frame as well.

Re: glass, I say start building a primes kit, see what you like, and sell as you find you don't use. I feel the two complement each other; my zooms are far more practical in some ways, and I don't see myself 'losing' the 24-105, 70-200 or 100-400 any time soon. A full frame with a 50 or a crop with a 35 is a great pace to start, I find...