bobbyz wrote in post #17135363
^^ See it all depends. I am not saying zooms are bad. I have been mainly a zoom guy. I started with dSLR with 100-400L being my first lens. Then I got 400mm f5.6 and had both for a while. Both had their plus and minus and I liked them both. Then I moved to 500mm f4 IS and 300mm f2.8 IS combo. Both great at what they do. Always wished I had zoom for sports and picked sigma 120-300mm f2.8 non OS but it was bad bad compared to canon prime. Prime gave me fewer shots but much better. I am looking at the newer sigma 120-300mm f2.8 OS sports as it has quite good reviews and provides flexibility compared to primes as I can cover things with 1 camera/lens rather than having 300/400mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8 on another body.
But for regular stuff (kids, family) I see f1.4/f2 primes give me better image quality. It could be just the pop from wider apertures. Inside I find f2.8 gets slower even with higher ISO bodies and I rather shoot wider aperture and lower ISO to remove the clutter and focus more on the subject.
Since I picked up Fuji XT1, I may sell the zooms to pay for it and some other toys. I don't know. 70-200mm f2.8 would be handy for kids sports/events.
Been there done that. The non OS model 120-300 is not up to snuff with the newer sport model and OS model. I tested my OS model to my 300 2.8 IS v1 and the difference was neglible. In lightroom it took a bump on the canon in contrast to a +10 and blacks to a -12 and sharpness up from the standard 25 to a 35 to match the canon at 25. Then it was so close it was impossible to tell at 1:1 and at 50% no way you could see a difference.
You say the 70-200 would be good for sports/events but I say the 120-300 is better. Only difference is the weight but I carry mine and handhold it no problems through 2hrs worth of football games.
And the rest.... indoor stuff, kids stuff, my stuff... ya primes. I'm already figuring this out and adjusting my kit to meet those needs.
One thing I'm trying now is a slower F4 zoom setup for when I'm vacationing paired with one fast prime. See how I like that.
Ultimately this is my kit or will be in the near future:
5D3 ultimate body
6D vacation body
14 - my wide fun lens, astro stuff (when vacationing) car stuff
24 - indoor wide lens (or i may keep 35, will be one or the other for me)
50 - birthday party lens portrait kid indoor stuff
85 - longer birthday party portrait kit indoor stuff
135 - gymnastics, dance on stage where indoors lower light need all the shutter I can get
8-15 - ok... this is just my fun lens is all.
16-35 F4 IS - vacationing general walk around
70-200 F4 IS - vacationing general walk around
120-300 - sports, cheer, dance recitals, choir events, graduations, distance items
I really want to swap the 35/85/135 for a 24/50/135 but there is no way I can get rid of the 85. it's that awesome.
But seriously I've been in your shoes in a similiar way... I had both 24-70/70-200 tamron VC models and I used them alot when I only had a 35 and that was my only 3 lenses.
It's all your fault... you sold me the 85 and when I got it... never touched the 70-200 and then I started to use the 35 more also and now never touch the 24-70.
Same boat... different shoes.
A7rIII | A7III | 12-24 F4 | 16-35 GM | 28-75 2.8 | 100-400 GM | 12mm 2.8 Fisheye | 35mm 2.8 | 85mm 1.8 | 35A | 85A | 200mm L F2 IS | MC-11
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