My transition from 5 lenses to 3. My zoom vs. prime decisions are over.

Well, you know me. It'd be the 28-105II on the 1DsII and the 600exrt. Underwhelming, I know, but I love that it gets the job done.

I am not going to get any lenses this year.

I bought 4 lenses the last two years:
2012: 85LII and 17-40L
2013: 70-200LII and 35A

I really love my setup, I can shoot everything with it. My next lens would be a better WA, like a Canon 14-24L / 16-50L / 16-20A. But not this year.

But I also think it is hard to resist the Sigma 50A this year.

Things I want to buy this year:
- Monitor (Dell Ultrasharp 2713H)
- Canon 1.4xII Extender
- Big Softbox
- 2 Stripboxes
- Maybe a beautydish
- Godox 360AD flash
- Maybe a second body

My next prime will be an 85L

It is decided.

My next lens will be the 50L, I will personally get much more use out of this focal length, over the 85L.
My 100L is fine for portraits at 2.8 and it gets a lot more use as a macro lens for me.

InfiniteDivide wrote in post #16615034
My next lens will be the 50L, I will personally get much more use out of this focal length, over the 85L.
My 100L is fine for portraits at 2.8 and it gets a lot more use as a macro lens for me.

You will sell the 1.4, add the 1.2?
I've seen a few 1.2 in the f/s section recently, cheap.

Dj R wrote in post #16618286
You will sell the 1.4, add the 1.2?
I've seen a few 1.2 in the f/s section recently, cheap.

Yes, I would have jumped on a recent UB dated 50L but I am living in Japan, so after an import duty
it wouldn't save me much of anything, vs a used one here.
I must sell my 10-22mm and 17-55mm before investing in more lenses.
Or at least I keep telling myself that until I find a good deal on one here.
However selling my lenses is no problem. No US customs fees for buyers, and I provide tracking through JP post.

I must have the 135L! I won't rest till I get one.

Buylongterm wrote in post #16619931
I must have the 135L! I won't rest till I get one.

I will have you know that your comment has pushed me over the edge to buying a 135L in the next few months.

I've been going back/fourth on it, tempted to buy more mirrorless gear and just continue to borrow or rent a 135L as needed, but, what the heck. The 135L will be the only L glass I buy this year.

hmmm, been thinking for a while. As my signature shows, I have a 24mm 40mm 50mm and 100mm prime lenses.
I want to carry three primes in my bag,I want to sell my 50 1.4 as I use my 40mm stm much more.
I thought I wanted the 50L, but fear it's too close to my 40mm. I would consider the 85L but I fear it focuses too slow and is close to my 100mm.

This would be strictly for handheld and some tripod use. I can handhold my 50 1.4 with fast shutter just fine.
DOF is not an issue.
I hear many people say the 85L is magic, but others don't suggest it;
as is uncommon to be used outside of a studio with lighting at 1.2-1.8.
To be honest, my 100L does not get much use as a portrait lens because
my friends and I often don't intend to take portraits.

I am shooting environmental portraits, but not paid work.
I have a fear the 85L is heavy, slow and too long. Any thought?

The 85LII is perfect for everything, not just indoor portret. It is not the fastest out there, but nothing to worry bout. It is my favorite lens and I never missed a shot by it's AF. I travel with it all around the world, and this lens produceses the best images everytime. It is the last lens I would sell.

I've actually been holding on to the same setup for quite a while now. I thought about what would be a great minimal kit. Something like 17-40/50/100/400 or 17-40/35/135/400. I would probably sell me 24-105 and 70-300 but I don't really want to take the loss. They are both very good ( the 70-300 is excellent but I just prefer the 400 now )

http://www.theairborne​toxicevent.com/news/ki​mmel-tonight-2.html
a band post a tiny lil jpeg of one of my images today.
shot with 200L.

here is one from the set:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/imryanmac/11060​922775/

Sick shot!

For a long time the 24-70 2.8L, Sigma 35 f/1.4 combo held me over for a while for small events.
When I'm out for fun I now carry a 50L + 70-200 f/2.8L II + 600 EX-RT + ST-E3-RT

member "VirtualRain" had a funny comment about my transition:
"Thanks for your insights. I read through your unholy trinity prime thread... I thought it was interesting that you went from zoom to primes to zoom and back to primes. It either confirms your schizophrenia or that primes are a solid solution to photography at these focal lengths"

my reply:
LOL
it confirms that I am willing to sacrifice convenience of a zoom to get unparalleled results that these L primes produce.
my feet work (for now).

Dj R wrote in post #16750989
member "VirtualRain" had a funny comment about my transition:
"Thanks for your insights. I read through your unholy trinity prime thread... I thought it was interesting that you went from zoom to primes to zoom and back to primes. It either confirms your schizophrenia or that primes are a solid solution to photography at these focal lengths"

my reply:
LOL
it confirms that I am willing to sacrifice convenience of a zoom to get unparalleled results that these L primes produce.
my feet work (for now).

Yeah, I think that's a great way to put it... which is why I'm considering the same approach.

This thread was an excellent read. It really helps to hear from others who have walked the same road.

I've recently gone through some of my recent fav travel destinations and I don't think I can replace my 24-105 completely with primes since there are some great photos I'll happen upon by chance that may need the flexibility of a zoom, but there are certainly some planned or carefully considered shots that will benefit from using a prime.