What's the best way to cheat on my wife?

skygod44 wrote in post #14623389
I'm pondering on that....but the AF is reported to be as slow as an iceberg.

Way over exaggerated.

skygod44 wrote in post #14620387
I shoot with 2 x 7Ds, mainly opera/classical concerts, (Missus Skygod is a pro' soprano).

Other info':
1) I also shoot plenty of PR stuff for our musician friends. Those shots end up on business cards, promo flyers, posters and the like = portrait quality needed.

3) I love my 7Ds. I'm not interested in "upgrading" to FF. Might get a mirrorless dSLR in the future if Canon pull their collective fingers out of their arses and make it/release it.


Simon

I don't understand why you're not full frame. The 7D is great for sports but if you mainly shoot opera and classical concerts it seems the 5D2 could be better suited for your purposes

Buy the Sigma and do what you have to do to be satisfied with it, use the money you would have spent on other stuff to get a 135mm L f2.

You could always rely on "camera porn" Just a suggestion.

It is hard with a crop body. Maybe the 7D needs to grow into a 5D3 haha My 50D lost the '0' at some stage

As for the focus issues with Sigma I have 2 Sigma primes, the 50 & 85. The 85 has never faltered since new, it is fast to focus and deadly accurate. The bokeh is first rate and colour and contrast is just so good! I brought it instead of the 85L and so far have not regretted the decision. With the money I saved and off of the IQ of the 85 f/1.4 I went out and sold my Canon 50 f/1.4 brought a Sigma 50 plus a 40D body and grip.

The first copy of the 50 was a dud. It was not back or front focusing that I could see, it just did not focus on anything at all for some reason, everything near or far was OOF. I was bitterly disappointed because when it did get it right (about 1 out of every 10 shots) it really was terrific. It literally blew the Canon 50 f/1.4 right out of the water. Bear in mind I also loved my Canon as well, the Sigmalux is just so much better when it focused right!

I took it back and swapped it over. I said when I picked up the second copy if this one is no good I will get my money back and go for a 50L instead. Well, I tried it after I got it and it was spot on so I was pretty happy. I got it out again on the weekend and the image quality just blew me away. Gee when you get a good one it just makes you shake your head and feel nothing but love for it. Every bit as good as the 85 f/1.4 and noticeably better than the Canon f/1.4.

So for me the Sigma is a worthwhile purchase. BTW I had the Sigma 30 f/1.4 as well till I sold my 50D, I loved it. I now have the 40D as a backup and wished I had kept it, so I may still go out and buy another copy. The only thing I would recommend is do not buy the Sigma lenses from the grey market over in HK or wherever, get local stock where it is easy to just go back into the store and swap it over.

85L if you gonna cheat (spend without wifey knowing) do it in style......

I used to take a girlfriend into the local camera store during my "gear acquisition" days. This shop was very nice for going on "shopping sprees" for odds and ends and accessories.

She never wanted to look at the receipts. She'd just smile and say "It's just money he's not spending on me".

'Course, then it would be her turn!

KCY wrote in post #14623822
I would say a 1D of some sort and a 500L,
Now i know your happy with your body and the 500L is un-practical, but i'm realllllllllllly curious what you could get away with before your wife notices.

Hahahaha...now we're getting into the swing of it!
But I really do have to think "studio".

S.Horton wrote in post #14623838
Get what you like while you can. Tempus fugit.

Blimey Sam, since when did you get all philosophical?

watt100 wrote in post #14625179
I don't understand why you're not full frame...//...

Well, I started out shooting sports (rugby/athletics) and BIF - mainly hawks - and did some paid shoots, plus exhibitions. The concerts started in early 2010, and I still love sports/wildlife in my "spare" time. Plus, not a single one of my clients could tell between shots taken with a 1DX, 5D3, 7D, G12 or a bucket of cement.....so why should I stomp on my bank account, and cut back on my "fun" photography just to get maybe 3% "better IQ" shots?

advaitin wrote in post #14625209
Buy the Sigma and do what you have to do to be satisfied with it, use the money you would have spent on other stuff to get a 135mm L f2.

Wise, my friend. I must admit, reading more reviews, the Sigma could be the way to go, and then the money left over can pay for some windows!!!

nate42nd wrote in post #14625734
You could always rely on "camera porn" Just a suggestion.

Nice!

L.J.G. wrote in post #14625851
...//...the focus issues with Sigma...//... The 85 has never faltered since new, it is fast to focus and deadly accurate. The bokeh is first rate and colour and contrast is just so good! I brought it instead of the 85L and so far have not regretted the decision...//...

More hinting that Sigma got it right.

Love my Sigma 30mm...so the 50mm isn't really what I'm after, I think....

Pete W wrote in post #14625863
85L if you gonna cheat (spend without wifey knowing) do it in style......

Hmmm, 85L? But I'm now reading more about slow front focusing, low hit-rate for sports, not-so-good electronic manual focusing, un-damped focus ring, heavy vignetting, etc., all on a lens which here in Japan costs around 170,000 yen, while the Sigma 85 I've now found (new) for 67,000 yen. That's a huge difference.

tonylong wrote in post #14625890
I used to take a girlfriend into the local camera store during my "gear acquisition" days. This shop was very nice for going on "shopping sprees" for odds and ends and accessories.
She never wanted to look at the receipts. She'd just smile and say "It's just money he's not spending on me".
'Course, then it would be her turn!

Nice story, Tony....but I think a house/concert-hall should put my in Missus Skygod's good-book for a few decades, in all honesty!!!

I suppose I'm more philosophical than ever -- very tough times.

There used to be a shop in Shinjuku that sold used equipment for about half the cost of new. I never shopped south of Tokyo for camera gear, but Misawa (because of the US military) had a wide selection of used gear, as did Morioka and Sendai. It seemed that if a new model of a lens came out, camera buffs would basically give their older lens for very little trade to get the newest version. US Military folks, of course, sell their gear when they run short of money.

I have the 85 L II and love it, but if I was thinking of anything that required fast focus or grab shots, I'd be using the 85 f1.8.

You know I have to post an 85 L shot:

If you are married and looking to possibly spend that kind of money I suggest you just tell her what you want to do. The fact that your images already circulate among her peers should be reason enough. Well that and your happiness, as it seems her happiness is also an issue with the large main floor "hall".

Heck, I only have a girlfriend at the moment and even then run purchases past her for her input on things. Nothing like having a GF who thinks you don't do much with her or spend money on her when you spend a grand on a camera lens.

advaitin wrote in post #14628390
I have the 85 L II and love it, but if I was thinking of anything that required fast focus or grab shots, I'd be using the 85 f1.8.

You know I have to post an 85 L shot:

Sweet shot, and I can perhaps find a 2nd hand 85L somewhere.....
There's no rush either, if I'm honest, especially as I just bought the Sigma 17-50 and a new paraglider (my other passion) in the last 3 weeks!


BUT, are you sure you hit the focus on your shot....?
Now I'm looking at it again, and the front locks of her hair look more in focus than her pupils.

I'm wondering is f/1.2 is really that useable....?

Don't know? My fastest lenses have been f/1.4....and even that was too shallow sometimes.

Cheers for now,

Simon

mikeinctown wrote in post #14628431
If you are married and looking to possibly spend that kind of money I suggest you just tell her what you want to do. The fact that your images already circulate among her peers should be reason enough. Well that and your happiness, as it seems her happiness is also an issue with the large main floor "hall".

Heck, I only have a girlfriend at the moment and even then run purchases past her for her input on things. Nothing like having a GF who thinks you don't do much with her or spend money on her when you spend a grand on a camera lens.

Hey Mike,
Thanks for the comment....did you vote?
If not, go on. Join in the fun!

And I have to say, spending perhaps 70,000 yen on a lens wouldn't really be an issue to me. I'm not rich(!), but I do "OK".

Oh, and really, this is more of a "join in and come up with something interesting as to which lens I should/could get for the studio to replace my EF50 f/1.4" kinda thread, than a "take everything seriously and comment on how people should live their lives" kinda thread.

Oh, you are right. The focus is actually on the forehead, eyebrows and tip of the nose (you can see tiny fine hairs in the fullsize image) and that was at f3.2.

Even if off, I liked that serious expression on Grandgirl2. Here's the more difficult GG1 And GG2 with crop to show the eyelashes.