Canon lenses.. If you could do it all again what would you do different?

If I could start over again right now I would have a Sony A77 and be enjoying some really lovely high ISO low DR photographs, and not be stuck on Canon's current dead end sensor run. I'm actually considering selling all my Canon stuff right now and just using a PnS for about the next 2 years while I save up about $5000 and start over fresh again. By then maybe Canon will be able to play ball.

I switched around a lot of gear... Got the 7D with a crappy kit lens. Then I upgraded the lens to a 17-55mm, and was "wow'd" by the quality improvement... I then got a 10-22 as well (I already had the 70-300).

Then I went really nuts, sold it all and bought a 5D III and my current L glass. I could have saved a lot by getting the good glass in the beginning, but really I didn't know what I was missing...

Now I probably have more than I need. But, no intent on selling any of and simplifying... yet.

Ryan0751 wrote in post #16386984
I(I already had the 70-300).

I had this lens at the beginning, worst lens I have EVER encountered, Luckily I managed to get my money back after almost 1 year

Nick_Reading.UK wrote in post #16387001
I had this lens at the beginning, worst lens I have EVER encountered, Luckily I managed to get my money back after almost 1 year

70-300? or 75-300? The 70-300 non-L isn't all bad, it just has some interesting quirks. The 75-300 is a completely different affair.

EDIT: I see from your posts earlier that it was the 70-300, perhaps it just needed adjusted on your crop body, but alas the 60D doesn't have that capability. Usually that lens is well received.

jcammn wrote in post #16386846
There is nothing particularly wrong with the lenses that I purchased but rather a matter of figuring out what was right for me.
....
In short, I have never had a lens that fell below my skill level but way too many of them just weren't right for me.

+1 for me!

Titi

TeamSpeed wrote in post #16387155
70-300? or 75-300? The 70-300 non-L isn't all bad, it just has some interesting quirks. The 75-300 is a completely different affair.

EDIT: I see from your posts earlier that it was the 70-300, perhaps it just needed adjusted on your crop body, but alas the 60D doesn't have that capability. Usually that lens is well received.

I changed it and had exactly the same results.. It was a complete waste of time and money...

Tapeman wrote in post #16385033
I'd probably have the same gear as I do now. Most of the changes I have made were because better gear became available.

I'm guessing that my next big purchase will be a high MP body (36-42 MP?)

I'm in the exact same situation. I think we will be waiting a very long time though...longer than I waited for the 200-400 (which was about 2 years).

really interesting thread.
I have to say that I have had an interesting and enjoyable process of choosing my camera and lenses.

each lens I got was for a very specific reason
and I have enjoyed each one
actually NOW when I am considering if I should upgrade any of my lenses, I have deeper dilemmas...
100 macro to 100L
70-200 f4IS to 70-200 II
24-105f4IS vs potential 24-70 f2OS - worth it - not - i am still deciding

anyway - photography is my hobby and I still enjoy it - so I must be doing something right for myself...

for me I would've kept my 24-70L and my 135L. Only lens I regret buying is the crappy 70-300 cheap lens.

I regret buying 24 70 mk 1....not happy with it....

I go back and forth. Every now and then I wish I would have picked up a 70-200 flavor instead of the 100-400. Other days only the 100-400 has the range I need.

I bought my 10-20 because I needed it at the time. Now it spends a lot of time in my bag. When I need it, it's the only thing that will do the job, I just don't need it all that often.

That being said, every now and then I consider selling the whole thing and going to a nice mirrorless design. The new Sony offering is pushing me in that direction even more than the Fuji X100S did.

Raylon wrote in post #16386899
If I could start over again right now I would have a Sony A77 and be enjoying some really lovely high ISO low DR photographs, and not be stuck on Canon's current dead end sensor run. I'm actually considering selling all my Canon stuff right now and just using a PnS for about the next 2 years while I save up about $5000 and start over fresh again. By then maybe Canon will be able to play ball.

1. try a 6D and you can use your current lenses

2. with 5000.- you can buy some things, but not much..

I'd start with a 50/1.8 for a year or so and then start looking at other lens. When I started shooting back in the day, I shot everything on 35mm with a Nikon 85/1.8. Worked for me but I obviously didn't learn much from that experience. Now I have lens that I never use and probably never will. I still have the fifty but I mainly use a 28-135 on a 40D and a 24-105 on a 5DC and if I need more I also have a 70-300 and a 70-200.

I wish I could go back 2 years and NOT have sold all my L lenses, but needs must and I had to. I really miss the 17-40, 24-105 & 100-400 L's

I'd go back to that set up in a flash if I had the money.