Da lensa which keptcha on da Edga

JNunn wrote in post #2005996
The 100-400L. I was at least moderately happy until I tried one! I've just got to unload some of my medium format gear on Ebay and I'll have it....its tough letting go...

Yeah. I hear you, I regret having to suggest to you that the 100-400 is one of those lenses that really grows on you once you start using it regularly.
It is mostly people who have not used it often (or at all) who bellyache about its push-pull zoom, poor IQ at 400 mm and god knows what else.

I really want the 70-200 F/2.8 IS. I was long-lens low-light shooting on Sunday, and was really hating the F/5.6 maximum aperture. I would gladly trade the 100mm in length of my longest lens for the superior IQ and faster aperture.

Allow me to share with you my experience with yet another lens which held me "on the edge" for a long time.......the EF 50mm f/1.0L USM.
Particularly when a man offered to me an advance option to buy his at possibly a rather reasonable price, as those lenses go.

I trusted the seller and I believed he had as good a copy as those lenses got, both IQ and condition......ouch, that was tough to resist.

I have read about many flaws of that lens and seen many published photos taken with it, but the fact remains...that's the only EF f/1.0 game in town, such as it is.

What I think "saved" me was Canon's announcement of the EF 50 f/1.2. Not the same thing, but close enought to remove me from that precarious and uncomfortable edge.

Sigma 150 f/2.8 macro -- so my wife will have something to buy me for my birthday.

600/4L.

The problem is that I already own a 500/4 and it gets heavy use - absolutely not for sale. The 600 would be more of a specialized lens which wouldnt get used as much. But that incremental reach would really be nice to have. Plus I switch to full frame next year (or whenever the 3D) arrives.

*sigh*

Wonder if the Bill Gates Foundation will help?

Vandit

runninmann wrote in post #2006961
Sigma 150 f/2.8 macro -- so my wife will have something to buy me for my birthday.

You into wife-swapping by any chance ?
For my B-days my wife gets me typically a pack of underwear and/or socks. Yeah, she also bakes me a cake.

vkalia wrote in post #2007122
600/4L.

The problem is that I already own a 500/4 and it gets heavy use - absolutely not for sale. The 600 would be more of a specialized lens which wouldnt get used as much. But that incremental reach would really be nice to have. Plus I switch to full frame next year (or whenever the 3D) arrives.

*sigh*

Wonder if the Bill Gates Foundation will help?

Vandit

That would bring most folks to the edge, or even better, tip them over into the incolvency abyss.
What about 2XTC when you need that incremental reach ? I know, that 1000mm f/8 combo would leave some performance to be desired.

lensview wrote in post #2007214
That would bring most folks to the edge, or even better, tip them over into the incolvency abyss.

Dont I know it! The 500/4 was easy to justify economically - this is more of a "personal satisfaction" kind of lens, and that is hard to justify when I could use this money to perhaps explore and add a new itinerary to our list of photo tours.

The only good thing is that pretty much all my travel expenses - as well as camera gear expenses - are tax deductible, so that helps a bit.

What about 2XTC when you need that incremental reach ? I know, that 1000mm f/8 combo would leave some performance to be desired.

Actually, I am very happy with the 500+2x TC - the photos with this sell and publish pretty well, my agency accepts them without complaints and look nice on my wall as well (the photo below - braced on a car window, 2x TC, 1.3 crop body - has been blown up to poster size and is hanging on my wall).

However, I find that my 500 is almost permanently paired with either a 1.4x TC or 2x TC. So I could always use the additional reach.

Vandit

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lensview wrote in post #2007178
You into wife-swapping by any chance ?....

Even if I were, I'd still want the birthday gifts

vkalia wrote in post #2007516
Actually, I am very happy with the 500+2x TC - the photos with this sell and publish pretty well, my agency accepts them without complaints and look nice on my wall as well (the photo below - braced on a car window, 2x TC, 1.3 crop body - has been blown up to poster size and is hanging on my wall).
Vandit

Very nice, some sort of a kite I presume, at 1000mm and no tripod.

Yeah, good id - it is a black shouldered kite. Had to drive like mad to get the Rover into a position where the full moon was behind the bird. Managed to get the lens pointed and took a few shots, then it flew off. I had wanted a shot like this forever, so this is my favorite from the entire trip.

Vandit

wow that is a great shot......

For me right now, there's two lenses that I desire much:

- EF 35mm f/1.4L
- EF 400mm f/2.8L IS

Problem is, they're mucho dinero! Well, the second one at least. Ouch. Then there's the 1.4x TC but that's not technically a lens...

Well, I have to admit. I give in to my urges. I dont make myself suffer! does that make me a bad person? HELL NO! It makes me a HAPPY one!

Dante King wrote in post #2008479
Well, I have to admit. I give in to my urges. I dont make myself suffer! does that make me a bad person? HELL NO! It makes me a HAPPY one!

I guess you haven't had an urge to get the 600 yet ?