Lens rendering with overcast sky or rain - what's good?

I have grown to like photos that come out of almost-rain weather, but they only work with the really cool lenses.

An example with the 85L is here:

It looks to me like you need just a 400mm or longer lens.

Get the lens you need to make the shot. A 400 5.6 would have gotten a much better shot of the bird. CA is too easy to fix to worry about it as a lens characteristic. A shot like this would never have apparent CA in it, anyway.

i don't think the flying eagle is what he's trying to show by using the pic above...it's the contrast in the image...i think he's got longer lenses than an 85L

Yes, the bird isn't the point

Maybe I am missing something I am not seeing anything special about color/contrast.

I'm more concerned about that luscious landscape, kinda like a Waterhouse painting!

Feelin inadequate... I don't know what microcontrast means, how to look for it... or how to read an MTF chart

Nathan wrote in post #16363271
Feelin inadequate... I don't know what microcontrast means, how to look for it... or how to read an MTF chart

I think its something people argue about on the Internet while photographers are out making great photos.

Hey at least I don't care about "sharpness".

Actually, I find this an interesting thread as it's not about "What's the sharpest... ?"
Kind of a refreshing change of focus - no pun intended.