Help me spend my money!

OK, so I've decided to sell my 24-70L because I just never, ever use the lens at weddings. Even when I go on vacation I never bring it. So why hold on to a lens I never use right? And hey, why keep the money in a bank account when I can get another fancy lens right?

Anyways, here's what I got right now.

24L II, 35L, 50L, 85L II, 100L, 135L, 16-35L, 24-70L, 70-200 f2.8 IS II

On a side not, I may also end up selling the 35L because in all honestly, with the 24L + 50L combo, I can live without it. Great lens, but just not a focal length that is critical to me.

Sooooo....I've been looking at a few options.

8-14L Fisheye
I've used the 15mm Fisheye several times and it's certainly a fun lens to use. I view it as a specialty lens, however I can see myself using this at every wedding for a handful of shots, which is still more shots than I would take with an unused 24-70L!

45mm TSE
I think it's an interesting lens and of course it seems like everyone is using the "TSE" effect at weddings these days. I'm not sure I am crazy about that. That's not to say I don't like the photos when done right. Also, I can approximate that effect with plugins. I know, I know...it's not the same. But hey, I've fooled several wedding photographers before. They were like "What? When did you get a TSE lens"?

14L II
Seems like the next logical short prime to get to give me 14, 24, 35, 50, 85, 100, 135? Don't really have a reason aside from that.

Heck, do I sell both the 24-70 and the 35L and get the 8-14 and 45 TSE?

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Thoughts? Comments?

Samyang 14mm is much less expensive, but you surely don't NEED 16-35 PLUS 14mm PLUS 24mm. That is absurd overlap on the ultrawide end.

You can buy a Sigma 15mm fisheye for $600 or less.

ts-e is an option I have considered many times but continue to decline because...it's not necessary and is frequently misused/overused.

Or...put the money towards a camera...OR...just sell it and keep the money.

Yeah, the 14L is dead last as far as options is concerned. 16mm is wide enough and I won't gain all that much with the 14L.

I like the 8-15. Of course, it's an L, and I am indeed an L lens whore. I think the circular look at 8mm is interesting. Yes, I would just get the old 15mm FE for the few odd shots I'll use the lens for, but what's the fun in that?!?

Well, one thing for sure, I decided to also sell the 35L, so there might be a budget for 2 new lenses now.

Stay tuned!

I have the 15 fish and the 45 TS-E if it came down to money I'd buy the fish... if that wasn't part of the equation the 45 TS-E. I love them both. The 8-15 fish doesn't do it for me.

If you sell the 24-70 you'll only have primes from 35mm to 70mm. I guess your 50mm prime would take care of most of that but that's a lot of lens swapping if you need to get a little tighter than 35mm but not so tight that your 70-200mm would cover it. I have the 16-35, 24-70 (and the 24-105!!), and the 70-200. The 24-70 (or the much lighter 24-105) stays on one camera while the 70-200 stays on another for the getting ready, ceremony, portraits, etc. If I need to get wider than 24mm, that usually means it's reception time, in a darkened venue, so I can stash my 70-200 and put the 16-35 on that body and have great coverage for everything from large dance parties up to tighter shots of toasting and bouquet toss.
Just MHO.

I like the idea of the fisheye. Even though it is a lens you might only take a dozen shots with it is something 100% different then any other lens.

Kinda gimmicky but may help book a few weddings as some brides may really be fond of one or two of your fisheye shots..... Don't know if I can afford the new canon L fisheye anytime soon but after covering the wide end on my lenses I think the Sigma 15 will be next on my list.

help you spend your money? No problem.

Buy me and Omar a new 5DIII. You owe us, buddy.

PhotoMatte wrote in post #14222582
If you sell the 24-70 you'll only have primes from 35mm to 70mm. I guess your 50mm prime would take care of most of that but that's a lot of lens swapping if you need to get a little tighter than 35mm but not so tight that your 70-200mm would cover it. I have the 16-35, 24-70 (and the 24-105!!), and the 70-200. The 24-70 (or the much lighter 24-105) stays on one camera while the 70-200 stays on another for the getting ready, ceremony, portraits, etc. If I need to get wider than 24mm, that usually means it's reception time, in a darkened venue, so I can stash my 70-200 and put the 16-35 on that body and have great coverage for everything from large dance parties up to tighter shots of toasting and bouquet toss.
Just MHO.

Well, I've got the 24L and I don't have any issues with lens swapping. I just never, ever use my 24-70L. NEVER!

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #14222570
I have the 15 fish and the 45 TS-E if it came down to money I'd buy the fish... if that wasn't part of the equation the 45 TS-E. I love them both. The 8-15 fish doesn't do it for me.

The 15 fish + 45 TSE combo is a thought. Why doesn't the 8-15 do it for you? Too expensive for a specialty lens?

215-photography wrote in post #14222807
I like the idea of the fisheye. Even though it is a lens you might only take a dozen shots with it is something 100% different then any other lens.

Kinda gimmicky but may help book a few weddings as some brides may really be fond of one or two of your fisheye shots..... Don't know if I can afford the new canon L fisheye anytime soon but after covering the wide end on my lenses I think the Sigma 15 will be next on my list.

That's what I am thinking. I'll absolutely use it on a handful of shots at each wedding, which is more than I could say about the 24-70L!

I've had the 15 fish for a number of years now... I love what I can do to hillsides and beaches with it. Like below... it wasn't that undulating but the fish allows me to make it much more dramatic.

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Hmm...Peter, thanks for that. Definitely food for thought.
If you had a choice of just one TSE, what would it be? 24? 45?

Personally I'd opt for the 45 as I prefer the focal length... Bobby has both doesn't he? Maybe ask him?

How about the 17mm TS-E? You get another prime and you get TS-E for those grand sweeping shots of the church interior.

But looking through your gear list, I might look into upgrading to the 600EX speedlights. And maybe upgrade the B800 to a second E640.

frugivore wrote in post #14223511
How about the 17mm TS-E? You get another prime and you get TS-E for those grand sweeping shots of the church interior.

But looking through your gear list, I might look into upgrading to the 600EX speedlights. And maybe upgrade the B800 to a second E640.

Interesting thought. I think I prefer the 45 TSE. But do I reaaaaaaaally want/need a TSE lens? That is the question. After seeing all those TSE shots used in weddings, I am at a point where I like and also hate them.

600EX? Nah. I'm good with the 580EXII for now.
A second E640? Indeed, I've been thinking about that! Good call!

I took this shot with a borrowed 15 FE.

BTW, the 24-70L is gone now, so that's the end of that.