Let this be a place to talk about zoom -> prime transitions. and perhaps vice versa?
They are tools. Expensive tools.
What tools do you want vs. need.
Two weeks ago I had five lenses and two flashes:
24-105L
16-35L
35L
85L
135L
430exii
580exii
( edit- fast forward to June 2014 and I'm back to zooms AND primes! steady real estate work prompted me to trade my 24Lii for the 16-35Lii, straight up. and with the events I have planned for this year, plus weddings, I wanted the 24-70ii).
Canon Kit
I sold the 24-105L that came with my mark3 on craigslist for $775.
I sold the 16-35L and a 82mm filter for $1475 on ebay.
I paid $1399 for the lens before the earthquake.
They are gone, just like that. May miss them, but I just was not using them.
The only time I used them is on vacation. $2k in lenses to be used once or twice a year, no thanks.
Bye bye zooms.
I wanted to keep the 85L. It's just special for portraits.
YES, it's a lot of glass and therefore quite heavy!
It's the only lens that I kept.
I had a big plan though. The plan was to have three prime lenses, and they would all be super fast.
So I sold my 430exii on ebay. I included a diffuser. The kit fetched $260. Back to the plan:
1. I wanted to get something that was almost just as special as the 85L. But a lot easier to use casually, or on a trip.
At the time I was considering all of this, Pixel Junkie posted an interesting thread,
which pushed me over the fence. I got the 50L (my 2nd time on this train).
2. Remember I sold the 16-35L. The 50L is really close to my 35L.
The combination of this resulted in a need for a wide prime.
Incoming! The 24L ii.
Other tidbits of information... why did I make the transition from HOLY TRINITY to UNHOLY?
All capabilities mentioned rely on the fact that I am using the 5D markiii.
I am not 100% sure if I would have the same feelings if I was shooting with the 5DC, for example.
> The 35L vs 50L.
The 35L is great. Why?
It's good for people and stuff. Good in low light, good at night therefore.
So the baby of the holy trinity was my go-to lens for social activities at night.
Also, for environmental portrait.
The 50L is very close FL wise to the 35L, so it will work for virtually all of the same things as a 35L.
But it will be a little more special (color, bokeh, 1.2, build).
The 50L is great for people.
It's the very good walkabout FL on a FF.
If I want to go on a vacation and bring just one lens, 50L it can really do it all.
- the candids, the portraits, the landscape, evening.
There is something about the 50L, the rendering... yea you knew that.
But 50mm is really a great place to be. When you have it, you just feel good. You are versatile!
> 35L vs 50L.
> Owning 50L and 85L, what is unholy about this?
The 85mm is a MAJOR commitment, financially and also it's practicality.
You KNOW when you have the 85L on your body, or in your bag.
The 85mm is obviously perfect for portrait.
But the 50mm is there for portrait and everything else, too.
It allows me to be closer to kids. I love having both.
> 85L vs 135L
With my 5D mark iii, I can do sports with my 85L.
But I am tempted to go for a 4th prime, the 200L.
I know, I had the 135L, but it was NOT getting used.
The 85L was just too much fun. I always made it work in areas that the 135L may have been the proper choice.
I do feel sort of UNHOLY moving my 135L, it was my first prime L.
So affordable, such amazing color and fantastic AF. But I wasn't ever using it. BYE BYE!
> The 24L vs 35L. I would say the 24L is not AS good for people as the 35L, close but no.
But with the 50L I am ok.
The 24L ii came out in 2008. It's AF, build, color... all superb. 35 isn't wide enough to be wide. 24 is wide enough.
If you can afford to have all ..... 24, 35, 50, 85, 135, sweet - you rock!
But will you use them all? In the same month?
They are tools. Get the tools you need -not want.
Draw it up, what do you do with your tools? Which tools help you put money in your pocket?
Before, I had 5 lenses. I felt like I was leaving the house with the shower running all day, for no good reason.
It feels so good to only have 3 lenses.
My unholy trinity! It may not be the best trinity for you. What is your trinity all about?
My UN Holy Trinity Lineup:
- 24L ii - wide
- 50L - standard and portrait, fun walkabout lens, perfect FL
- 85L - portrait
I also moved to a carbon fiber tripod.
The Gitzo1542T. $175 rebate right now.
T for traveler, super lightweight at 2.2 lbs. Super capable though.
I ordered a Markins ballhead Q3-T. T = special made for Gitzo travel tripods.
And also on the way, is a Markins P53U plate, I can not wait for it to arrive.
Use what you own. Own what you need.
I have an insurance policy on my gear - recommended!
My policy needs updating now (down).
Well, that's my story. If you're not using a few lenses in your kit, sell or trade up.
It's a lot of fun once you figure out what tools YOU need.
.
. I took a pretty good hit on my gitzo GT1541 but I did buy it used at a good price and I got a great deal on its replacement, a used gitzo GT2542 (like new) from BH. so I don't feel too hosed overall 
