Should I sell, keep, replace?

I’m having a hard time trying to figure out what lenses to keep and which to sell. I’ve just been told that I need surgery for a rotator cuff tear (I’m a 67 year old female) and will need several months of PT. All in all, they estimate 6 months for full recovery.

I carry around way too much gear. I have tried not to but it always seems I have the wrong lens for the shot, so I usually carry two. I have a new 5DIII and a 6D (which I am going to sell locally) thinking I could mount a lens on each so as not to have to change lenses when I’m walking around. Didn’t take long to realize that is way to heavy for me, thus the reason I’m going to sell the 6D.

I mainly shoot birds and one of my first lenses was the 400mm f/5.6. Boy do I love that lens. I also bought a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 thinking I’d upgrade to the Canon a few years later (never happened; the Tamron is a great lens for me, but it’s heavy). Rather than carrying both of these lenses, I was thinking of selling them both and getting the newer Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and also the 1.4X III. I’m just not sure about giving up that wonderful 400mm f/5.6.

If I went this route, I’d end up having:

Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8
Canon 1.4X III

For those of you who are bird photographers, will I be making a mistake by selling my 400mm prime? Hope this was the proper place to post this.

Christine, you probably won't get the best advice from me, far from a pro with the camera but I know you will be wanting to go light on the gear list with the surgery you are facing.I would think the 100- 400 would cover a large range and condensing the pieces to carry will benefit you. I shoot birds with the Sigma 150- 500 on a monopod and the weight is no problem, however if I just hand it to my wife to hold she complains of the weight after having two rotator cuff surgeries. It also may make a difference on which shoulder is affected and whether you are right or left handed as to which lens you will want to be supporting.
Good luck and a speedy recovery to you.

Thank you Steve. I think you are right, too. It'll be my right shoulder (of course, I'm right-handed). If I can get around with one camera/one lens most of the time, I think it would be more comfortable. Since that 100-400 will basically take the place of my 70-200 and my 400, I figured it was a no-brainer. It's just that the 400 prime is sooo nice! I don't want to give up something that will give me better 400mm shots (the prime vs the 100-400 at 400). That's what I am most worried about.

BTW, I'm far from a pro, too. But we still have to carry around our gear! I'm actually looking into a pet stroller for putting my gear into when we walk around the park!

chrisr09 wrote in post #18051196
Thank you Steve. I think you are right, too. It'll be my right shoulder (of course, I'm right-handed). If I can get around with one camera/one lens most of the time, I think it would be more comfortable. Since that 100-400 will basically take the place of my 70-200 and my 400, I figured it was a no-brainer. It's just that the 400 prime is sooo nice! I don't want to give up something that will give me better 400mm shots (the prime vs the 100-400 at 400). That's what I am most worried about.

BTW, I'm far from a pro, too. But we still have to carry around our gear! I'm actually looking into a pet stroller for putting my gear into when we walk around the park!

I had a 400 prime... when I got the 100-400 ii, I sold it immediately. The only thing it has going for it is weight.

A suggestion in addition to the monopod. You might want to consider a Rugged Gear cart if the trails you are on are semi smooth. I use one and carry my gear, tripod and monopod with very little effort. I am therefore able to carry lenses for all occasions.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/kykk​3G

Hi, Kim. I remember you well from a few years ago when I was thinking of getting some type of jogging stroller to carry my gear. As you can see, I never did. I looked at the Rugged Gear Cart you pictured. It looks like a nice set up. A few weeks ago, I saw someone with a dog stroller and it got me thinking of this again. Glad to hear you didn't regret selling your 400mm prime for the 100-400. I'm pretty certain that is the direction I'm headed--consolidating two of my lenses lenses into one.

The cart system mentioned by Kim looks like a great idea.I could even use one of those at some ball parks I visit as the parking lot is often a long distance from the playing field.
Chris you may benefit from being right handed and having surgery on the same shoulder as you should be able to support your camera and operate the shutter with the weaker side.
Be sure to do those exercises though, gaining strength back is not easy.

I'd keep the 400 f5.6, but I'd buy a 7DII body and keep that lens on it. Keep all that mounted to your Enduro tripod. If you got the 100-400 you'd wind up shooting at 400mm 90% of the time anyway.
Keep the EF16-35 f4 in your kit mounted on one of the FF bodies. Dump the Rokinon.
Keep the EF100f2.8 macro and dump the Tamron zoom and the Canon 24-105.
If you have to have a medium zoom, get the Canon 70-200 f4 IS.
Forego the teleconverter. What do you need it for?

Now, carry that stuff plus one of your flashes and a folding reflector in an all terrain cart

"For those of you who are bird photographers, will I be making a mistake by selling my 400mm prime?"
Yes.

BTW, my answers are based on the way I do photography and my experience with most of the lenses you've mentioned. YMMV

Cheers,
Kevin

Thanks, Steve. Yes, I will definitely follow orders on exercising the shoulder post-op. I've seen what happens when people don't follow through. I hope I can press the shutter button with my left hand! Seems like it would be awkward.

Some good thoughts on this, Kevin. I'd gone back and forth between the 7DII and 6D when I was purchasing a second body but opted for the 6D. That was my first experience with full frame and I really liked the IQ. But it was not good for shooting birds, my first love! So I ended up buying the 5DIII. I rather like the idea of the 400mm f/5.6 dedicated to the 7DII. On the other hand, I can't be carrying two bodies unless I have a cart, which I can't take everywhere. In a perfect world (after winning the lottery), I'd have a 7DII and my 5DIII and use the 100-400mm II, but I'm dreaming here. I'll have to give it some thought during my recuperation. I wanted the teleconverter to get more reach. Sometimes 400mm just isn't enough. Wow, that would be close to 900mm on the 7DII! Thanks again for your suggestions.

Chris,
Using the 1.4 converter with the 400f5.6 will affect focus reliability (f8) and also affect image quality. An (effective) 900mm f8 isn't going to be too friendly to use anyway. But, to each their own.

If two bodies, and the other equipment, requires a cart that's not workable for the terrain you're in, then ditch all that other stuff and go for birds.
Leave the other stuff for another day and other subjects.

Sometimes, I keep a 6D with a 35f2 IS or a 16-35 f4L in a waist pack while I'm out with the 400 on a 7D. I also carry 8x32 binoculars from a neckstrap. This all gets rather tiring and unpleasant if the weather's warm and really is a cool day rig.