Lightweight lens kit for full frame

I used to have several heavy weight L lenses including the great 70-200 II, but earlier this year I sold most of them. So I'm rearranging my lineup and trying to go a bit lighter weight. My new lens kit is fairly simple. I have two 6D bodies (for my wife and I) and the following lenses-

A few general purpose zooms
Canon 24-70 f/4 IS, 70-200 f/4 IS (ordered today)

A few specialized primes
Canon 35 f/2 IS and 135 f/2 L

I like the primes, and I have found these two to be real gems. I never considered the 24-70 f/4 IS before, but the $500 price drop got my attention. Seemed the like the 70-200 f/4 IS was the perfect match for travel and as a flexible option to compliment the 135 L.

Anyone trying to go lighter weight on full frame? I was caught up in trying to have the fastest lenses available, which got very expensive and heavy. My new strategy is to mix lighter weight and faster primes with the zooms for flexibility.

jrscls wrote in post #17144976
Anyone trying to go lighter weight on full frame?

...can't go any lighter and faster than a pancake lens! I previously used a pancake lens/FF combo and was very pleased with the results. I no longer use my canon for street work,(hobby) so I sold the lens but i was very happy with that combo!

This is as compact as you can get on a 6D (I just took this pic the other day of my 6D and 40mm pancake).

The added benefit is that it has unlimited zoom (if you're willing to walk a lot).

I agree the 40 is very good. I have a copy, but I still prefer the 35 f/2 IS since it is still very lightweight plus 1 stop faster with IS. I may sell the 40, still undecided.

The 135 L has turned out to be an awesome lens for portraits, and I like how much smaller / lighter it is compared to my previous 70-200 f2.8 IS II.

Heya,

Personally no.

If the full frame and a fast prime is too heavy for my task, I take a lighter setup in general, like a lighter APS-C with lighter lens, or my mirrorless with pancake for super light weight.

Unfortunately most of the great lenses you ultimately want to use are always going to be heavy, as they have telephoto lengths, and wide apertures. The F2.8 zooms are very heavy. The F4 zooms are not as heavy. But they're not feathers either at the end of the day.

To me, the 40 is a nice light lens, but it's not a super lens, I'd take the 35 F2 IS any day for any reason on any camera over the 40. It's just that much better to me.

If weight were an issue, I'd not be using full frame and fast glass. That's where the smaller mirrorless comes in, and I'd be more tolerable of slow glass for the sake of portability and weight, if that was my goal.

Very best,

seems like you've got it down. You're not going to get much lighter till you go mirrorless.

By going with the lighter weight f/4 zooms (travel, studio and general purpose), saved $2K compared to the heavier f2.8 counterpart zooms. When f/4 isn't fast enough, I will use the primes.

Here are a few from last night using the 135 L-

When we travel, I shoot mostly landscapes and wildlife, and have built my kit with slower f/4 zoom lenses that fit that purpose. On our 2 week trip to Alaska this summer, I brought along a 5D3, 7D, 24-105L, 16-35L f/4 IS, 100-400L, and 40mm pancake. Everything, along with some filters and other accessories, fit (barely) in a Lowepro 400AW backpack that I could fit under an airline seat if necessary. I never found myself needing anything faster.

If the trip will be less wildlife-focused, I can swap out the 100-400L for my 70-200 f/4 IS (and maybe throw in the 1.4x TC).

I've done the same...

although if anyone gets within 10 feet of trying to take my 120-300 imma beat them with it. nouf' said.

I have a couple will never sell lenses. it's one of em. If I need it I'll carry it for 1,000 miles.

My 24-70 f/4 IS and 70-200 f/4 IS arrived today. I was already familiar with the 70-200, although I have never used the f/4 IS version on full frame. No surprises here, it is excellent.

I was pleasantly surprised at the 24-70. Great size on the 6D, razor sharp wide open across the range, excellent IS, and the macro mode is really useful. I will try to post some pics soon.

If you don't mind manual focus, the Zuiko lenses ( 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm ) produce great images and are extremely small and light by today's standards.

Possibly you'd be interested in the about to be announced lighter, slower version of the 24-105 (now it has STM) (supposedly an EF not EF-S lens).

http://www.canonrumors​.com …24-105mm-f3-5-5-6-is-stm/