One week after I bought my 200 f2 VR II I sold my one year old 70-200 f/2.8 VR II. Never regretted it for one moment. I have the Zeiss 100/2 MP and it's a beautiful lens for portraiture but the 200 f/2 is better again. You need to use it wide open or maybe stopped down a little (sometimes) otherwise it's magic is wasted.
So many great views on this one. As much as I don't normally allow myself to be swayed by other people's opinions on such things this is a little trickier as there are some solid arguments being posted.
I thought I was 95/5 in favour of the 200f2 last night but now I'm back to 60/40....
Interesting discussion. I have been "curious" as to certain lenses, seeing the results on various forums and wondering what I could do with them. I indulged myself and purchased a few of them over the years and I found that they more or less fit my style and that I more or less actually used them regularly. There seems to be a "useful range" of focal lengths which depend upon a photographers style and willingness to handle/carry a lens. Skipping focal lengths, moving up or back a little seems to be an interesting tactic and you may find it useful and amusing or you may find that you don't have an important focal length that you need for what you shoot. I never got into very expensive exotic lenses, thankfully, like some of you. I have found that I need to own a lens to know it. You could probably rent an exotic and expensive lens to just try it or for the times that you actually do need it. I have found that some lenses will "mimic" another lens. I have respect for certain Nikon primes and I don't use zooms, so I don't have that zoom problem interference. There are certainly enough factors to consider with just a prime kit; focal lengths, gaps, speed, flare issues, size and weight, filter size, price and usefulness.
I recently sold two of my most favorite lenses (16-35 and 85 1.4G) and I'm going all in for chub. It's the only lens I keep dreaming about and I WILL get it. I don't make a single cent from photography but I don't really care... I want it and I'll get it. Live life to the fullest, my friend.
DontShoot wrote:
I recently sold two of my most favorite lenses (16-35 and 85 1.4G) and I'm going all in for chub. It's the only lens I keep dreaming about and I WILL get it. I don't make a single cent from photography but I don't really care... I want it and I'll get it. Live life to the fullest, my friend.
The 200/2 is an amazing lens. It's by far my favorite, even though it's heavy and has terrible ergonomics. You really owe it to yourself to at least rent it for a week. I think you'd be surprised how often you use it once you see the images that it renders.
Buy whatever you need to take the pictures you want, no more and no less. I don't understand this obsession with 'gaps', I have a 50mm, 85mm and 70-200mm and I only really own the latter because nikon's 135mm is poor.
Next39 wrote:
The 200/2 is an amazing lens. It's by far my favorite, even though it's heavy and has terrible ergonomics. You really owe it to yourself to at least rent it for a week. I think you'd be surprised how often you use it once you see the images that it renders.
I'd take the money and just disappear to someplace exotic
Like a roadtrip in Namibia (damn that prev thread)
Or waterfalls in Iceland (this one's on you, Kent)
Okay maybe the Noct and then disappear to someplace exotic
Hmm Whatever you choose, we must have pics!
Zichar wrote:
I'd take the money and just disappear to someplace exotic
Like a roadtrip in Namibia (damn that prev thread)
Or waterfalls in Iceland (this one's on you, Kent)
My favorite advice has been, "I'd rather have a $100 point & shoot and a ticket to Iceland than a $3,000 camera and a ticket to nowhere." On gear oriented boards we tend to obsess over gear, not images.
Heart wins until head see's results. Try to figure out what gives you your best results. Shiny without substance doesn't last long. (now, of course sometimes heart and head align... don't know about your situation)
Dec 07, 2012 at 01:39 PM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Two23 wrote:
My favorite advice has been, "I'd rather have a $100 point & shoot and a ticket to Iceland than a $3,000 camera and a ticket to nowhere." On gear oriented boards we tend to obsess over gear, not images.
Kent in SD
Good point Kent ... then again, it sure is nice to have the gear to take the shots you want. My issue is with 5 kids and sports, I need the gear and have no time to travel much anyway.
Dec 07, 2012 at 01:45 PM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
moonpeep wrote:
Heart wins until head see's results. Try to figure out what gives you your best results. Shiny without substance doesn't last long. (now, of course sometimes heart and head align... don't know about your situation)
In this instance I believe you will be completely right. Head will see results and be blown away.
If I analyse my current kit and its usage the 14-24 gets used almost never, to the point where I might consider moving it on in place of the 35f1.4. Then heart and head both win.
Whatever you choose, we must have pics!
Did you go for the 200 f/2 or the 300 f/2.8 ?