My story starts with a 650D and an 18-55-lens kit. This is a good start for any modern amateur.
I also got the 55-250mm zoom to complete my collection. 
All finished! 
My only previous experience with a film camera was disposable Kodak cameras. Focal length and depth of field was never a though it my mind.
I knew the difference between a blurry and a non-blurry picture.
I moved to Japan, in April 2013.
I bought the 650D to take nice pictures with while living abroad. I
needed a hobby that would not take up a lot of space, could use with traveling, and I wanted to learn a new skill from. Taking pictures has always been fun, but the act of studying Photography was something brand new to me.
All of my novice readings told me I needed a 50mm prime. The 1.8 was the cheap option, and the 1.4 was the quality option. I bought a 50mm 1.4 and planned on keeping it forever. I tried it for a couple weeks, walking around my town.
One day I went to an old camera shop locally, and found an old EF 100mm macro non-usm, and a 50mm compact macro. I bought both and really enjoined macro photography. I preferred the 100mm and sold the 50mm macro.
After a month I felt that the 100mm macro was heavy and sold it and bought the EF-S 60mm macro. I enjoyed it for a about 2 months, but read more and more reviews about the 100mm macro USM and 100L being amazing lens. I sold the 60mm and bought the 100mm USM. It was great. Couldn't justify the cost of the 100L then. I got bored of the macro work and decided to go the opposite route.
I saved up and bought a Canon 10-22mm lens and loved it. I was amazed by the very wide FOV even over my 18-55mm kit lens. I happened to find a used 70-200mm non-IS for a great price and decided to try it. Within a week it felt like my 100mm macro weighed nothing.
I sold this lens as fast as I could on EBay.
After exploring shallow DOF, wide angle, and macro, I decided I was overlooking my kit lens. I often left it at home. I took my 10-22mm, 50mm, and 100mm always. I wanted the best “travel” lens and user reviews push me toward a 17-55mm for the constant aperture. Best decision. I loved this lens the best and still do. I took this lens and my 10-22mm on a summer trip to Kyoto. This was on my camera 80% of the time. The more I used the lens, the better I determined “my style”.
It was around the Fall that I started using my macro so much I decided to get the 100L. The lens I had always wanted in the first place. I sold the 100mm USM at a small loss and paid the difference on the upgrade. It was a great choice. The IS is fantastic for all of my handheld work. I only use a tripod 1 out of 2,000 shots. Its always in my trunk, but never carried around. This was my first L lens and I was very impressed. I used the 50mm 1.4 less and less. It was never as fun as my 10-22mm and I didn’t like how far back I needed to be from the ‘action.’
I heard great reviews about the 40mm stm so I got one. I hated it in every way one my crop camera. No solid manual focus, uncommon FOV at 65mm, not as wide as my 24mm I loved, slower than it too. It had seen a lot of time in my closet.
I liked the 1.4 aperture a lot and began researching.
Everything a read from many different users said one thing:
"I bought 'so-and-so' 24mm / 35mm lens, but ended up selling it to save up again and buy the 24L / 35L.”
I decided to employ the popular "eat ramen noodles and water 'til I own it." A month and a half later I bite the bullet and sunk all my cash into the 24L II. AND I couldn't be happier. It is exactly what I always wanted. 100x better in every way. Wider, Stronger, Faster, Shallower. And a low light monster. I stopped using my 17-55 and focused on primes. I had the 24mm 50mm and 100mm lengths covered. This became my “unholy trinity” With 38mm 80mm 160mm FOV on my crop T4i.
I had the 24L II on my camera 99% of the time and found a love of environmental portraits and street photography. My 50mm 1.4 didn’t get used nor did my 40mm stm. The colder the weather got, the less I used my macro lens. I spend a few late nights in large cities with my T4i and 24L lens. I reached the max of iso 6400 handheld quite often, and with much post processing, I was less and less satisfied with the results.
A local friend was getting more and more fed up with her P&S camera and wanted a good DSLR.
A week later I found a great deal on a 6D body and jumped on it. The timing couldn't have been better. She gave me a good offer on my T4i and the 6D was mine. This is when my FOV was all changed.
I loved my 24L as an even wider lens with a thin DOF, the 40mm stm quickly because my new best friend because it was so close to the 38mm FOV is was use to framing on my T4i and 24L. The 50mm 1.5 found new life as well but was still very close to 40mm FOV. My 100L was the only lens to suffer. It was no longer the 160mm lens I was use to seeing for my macro work.
At this point I had a great setup. My 6D had the 24L II on the wide end. The 40mm for lightweight and travel shots. The 50 1.4 for the standard and thin DOF and the 100L covering my portrait and macro work.
After using my 24L and my 100L lenses exclusively I began to notice imperfections in the 50 1.4
The colors had never really popped and the contrast was not as good as my 24L and nowhere near as sharp as my 100L. I decided to save up again and replace it with the infamous 50L.
The lens is known to be difficult, both in the thin DOF and its focal shift. After testing it extensively and owning it for a week, I concluded that most of the people on the Internet complaining about this lens either don't have a high enough shutter speed, enough light, or don’t account for tiny movement in either the camera or the subject. This results in OOF photos blamed on the AF of the camera.
I have been using my 50L for about 10 months now and I can confidently say; it is great, reliable, and my most used lens.
Through this past year and many lenses I have large what I enjoy shooting,
what I don't enjoy shooting, and what gear best fits my needs.
Almost all of these lenses were bought used, and sold for the same or a little less than paid. (shipping included)
My 'lose' in selling my used gear has been minimal to non. The photos and memories I have from using this lenses are priceless.
In conclusion I have very happy with my gear, and where I am at skill-wise.
I have my 24mm covering wide angles, my 50mm the cover standard shooting,
and my 100mm is used as a long, portrait, and macro lens.
I can see the improvements I have made in my own work in the last year, and even in the last 6 months.
This story is not about wasting money, being impatient, and indecision. Quite the opposite.
It is about my journey into discovering a new hobby, enjoying it,
and wanted to try every aspect I can find.
From UWA, to macro, and everything inbetween.
Thank you for reading my story.
I love photography and look forward to others sharing their own experiences.
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