Lens Optimization

So... some other threads around here have got me thinking about my current lens lineup. My current situation:

I have a canon 5d2 and 5d3. I plan to sell the 5d2 after I send it to canon for sensor cleaning (visible dust in high aperature pictures, I don't want to sell it in that condition...). I also have an Elan 7e that I bring out from time to time when the film bug bites, but it usually quickly goes away.

My lens lineup includes:
Canon 16-35 2.8 II
Tamron 28-75 2.8
Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II

Canon 50mm 1.4
Canon 85mm 1.8
Canon 100mm 2.8 IS Macro
Canon 300mm 4 IS

Canon 1.4x II TC

The lenses I use the most by a significant margin are my 70-200 and my Tamron. I use the 50 1.4 quite a bit as well. My primary use is capturing moments with my family, family events, and I do some volunteer photography work for a local non profit foundation, these events have included out door concerts, 5K runs. My 70-200 does most of the heavy lifting.

I am pleased with the shots I get from the 85 and 100mm lenses, but they just don't get used very much. Same with the 300mm, I can think of all sorts of times when I could or would like to use the lens, but really don't use it much. The 16 to 35 is a tricky one, because I really enjoy having it, am happy with the shots I get from it, and when I do use it find myself smiling, but just don't quite as often.

Any thoughts on things I could change up in my lineup without extra cash out of pocket that might make me smile more than I already do when clicking away? Thanks for taking the time to read and offer your feedback ( I know there's many of these kinds of posts running around here already! )

35L or 50L so that you improve the family shots?

You don't seem to have a use for the 135L

The 300 F4 seems redundant if you can use the 70-200 with the extender.

Yeah, the 300 is nice but I think that one must go. Do you think the 50L is leaps and bounds beyond the 1.4? The 35L is a good idea, I hadn't considered that at all but the focal length is not one I have and could certainly be fun to learn. thanks for the feedback!

Sell:
Canon 16-35 2.8 II
Tamron 28-75 2.8
Canon 85mm 1.8
Canon 100mm 2.8 IS Macro
Canon 300mm 4 IS

Stay:
Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II
Canon 50mm 1.4
Canon 1.4x II TC (if you use it)

Buy:
17-40L because you don't use the 16-35 that much
24-70L to upgrade the tamron
35L /85L to upgrade the 50F1.4 (I don't like the 50L)

Ephur wrote in post #14542614
Yeah, the 300 is nice but I think that one must go. Do you think the 50L is leaps and bounds beyond the 1.4? The 35L is a good idea, I hadn't considered that at all but the focal length is not one I have and could certainly be fun to learn. thanks for the feedback!

Canon's 50mm f/1.4 has some strengths and some weaknesses. It can fringe badly, and bokeh can look less great than it should, both because of the fringing and because of turning round things into ovals (several different ovals due to the frindging). For some it focuses inconsistently.

None of this might show up in many or most pictures but if you suffer from it a better 50mm might help. The Sigma might already be a step up. But given your preferences it sounds like making your 50mm prime pictures (kids indoors?) better sounds like a good investment.

I definitely have focus issues with the 50 1.4, I tried to MA on my 5dII and never really got improved results. Not just wide open, but stopped down to 2.8/3.5 I still would end up with front and back focus. I partly blamed my 5dII, partly blamed my skill, but I think at the end of the day this lens is just not up to par with the others in my collection.

I started with a 17-40 but gear lust got the better of me and I sold it originally to get the 16-35, probably didn't need to do that haha, changing back to the 17-40 and taking the extra cash into something else is a good idea too.

Ephur wrote in post #14544488
I definitely have focus issues with the 50 1.4, I tried to MA on my 5dII and never really got improved results.

MA won't work. For some reason this lens has a tendency to pick up on objects that are right next to where you want to focus and use those instead. I didn't observe this with other AF lenses.

Sell:
Canon 16-35 2.8 II (others will disagree, but I'm not sure 2.8 is worth the $$$ at this focal length)
Tamron 28-75 2.8
Canon 50mm 1.4 ?? - see below
Canon 85mm 1.8 ?? - see below
Canon 100mm 2.8 IS Macro
Canon 300mm 4 IS (you can use your 70-200+1.4 to get 280/4)

Keep:
Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II
Canon 1.4x II

Buy:
17-40L/4 (UWA are fun to have and use! Gotta have one if you can afford it)
24-70L/2.8 or 24-105L/4 IS to upgrade the Tamron
580EXII if you don't already have one

Where I am torn and depends on what Focal length you really want:
Your Prime lenses. I would probably sell both the 50 and 85 and get the L lens for the Focal Length you would get the most use out of 24L/35L/50L/85L.

uOpt: For a long time I really did think that I was just mis using my 50mm 1.4, but I think I may finally be at the point where I am confident it's lens issues and not just lack of personal skill (there's still a lack, but not as much as one!)

MrB: I do have a 580EXII and also have some cheap strobes (a photobasics kit, they actually work pretty well!) and some Yongnuo RF-603 triggers.

I'm feeling really reluctant to sell the 16-35, but that's the lens that will really fund getting a nice prime, either the 35 or the 50. Since so much of my shooting really does revolve around family there are times I will be indoors and need the focal length. However, with the 5dIII sure I can bump my ISO and recover that stop :\ My 85mm 1.8 takes great pictures, but I just never use that focal length, it's either a little tight, or not tight enough. Since I'm not taking a lot of shots with it though, I think I should rip the bandaid off and go for it.

I am def going to sell the 300MM F/4. That one is really redundant. I like all the suggestions here that really reduce the size of my overall kit too, I think with so many lenses I always feel compelled to take as much as I can with me so I'll have just the right tool 'in case' I need it. Meh! That's not so much fun when it means having to worry about more and carrying more. I know my wife would appreciate if I had a few less items in my pack lol

Ephur wrote in post #14545842
uOpt: For a long time I really did think that I was just mis using my 50mm 1.4, but I think I may finally be at the point where I am confident it's lens issues and not just lack of personal skill (there's still a lack, but not as much as one!)

Yeah.

My personal TODO list included this item for a long time: find out why the 50mm f/1.4 tend to pick up areas to focus on that are clearly further away from the camera-selected focus point than other lenses.

The outcome of the investigation might be that I was dreaming but I don't think so. My rate of OOF shots with this lens is higher, it only happens when there was a close constrasty thing to grab on to and it's happening more than you can explain simply with shallower DOF of this lens.