Do you have a or any lenses that you don't hardly ever use but hate to get rid of?
I have a new 300 f/2.8IS that I've only used once but can't come to terms with selling it. Mostly I use the 500 and 800....At times I've considered selling it and getting 300 f/4 IS and a 400 f/5.6. My first ramble of the new year.
rprouty wrote:
Do you have any lenses that you don't hardly ever use but hate to get rid of?
Rod
Oh, I've got more than my fair share of loved-but-relatively-unused lenses!
1) An amazingly sharp, contrasty 55mm Vivitar f/2.8 macro (true 1:1)
2) Canon 50mm f/1.4
3) Canon 28-300L IS (used on occasion, but nowhere as much as I thought I'd use it)
4) Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS (same as above; used occasionally, but sits on the shelf or in my bag most of the time)
5) Contax 35-70 f/3.4 (exceptional!)
6) Nikon MF 25-50 f/3.5 (extraordinary classic)
7) Pentax SMC 28mm f/3.5 (M42 mount)
The lenses I use all the time are:
A) 16-35 f/2.8
B) 24-70 f/2.8
C) 100mm f/2.8
D) 35mm f/2
The lenses I've bought in the past, sold and will not replace:
A) Canon 300mm f/4L IS
B) Canon 200mm f/2.8L
C) Canon 70-300 IS
D) Canon 100-300 f/5.6L
E) Canon 28-70 f/2.8L
F) Sigma 12-24
G) Tamron 28-75
H) Contax 50mm f/1.4
I) Contax 28-70 f/3.5-4.5
J) Sigma 30mm f/1.4
K) Zeiss 135mm f/3.5
Edit:
To answer your question about the 50 f1.4 - It's a nice lens, but not noticeably better than the Tamron 28-75 or 17-50, so I'd rather have the flexibility. Those Tamrons are SHARP.
rowan57 wrote:
Out of curiosity, why all the 50 1.4's?
1) It becomes an 80mm lens on a 1.6 crop camera
2) Most prefer the flexibility (I guess) of a good zoom like the 24-70, 24-105 or Tamron 28-75
3) Not wide enough in so many situations
4) Not long enough in so many situations
5) Used primarily for low-light shooting
6) The days of 50mm being a "normal" focal length may have come to an end; we've tended to get a bit more creative with our point-of-view photography and are gravitating toward wider and longer
It's a great lens, though. One of the best of its kind. So while we may not use it as often as we used to, it's impossible to part with. It comes in handy once in a while. I'm using mine today, in fact.
veroman wrote:
It's a great lens, though. One of the best of its kind. So while we may not use it as often as we used to, it's impossible to part with.
- Steve
Right, I almost never use it, but would never sell it!
1. 100 f/2.8 macro - don't do any macro
2. 135 f/2.0 L - the sharpest lens I have, but too impractical( weight, size and focal length wise) for my shooting, prefer 85 f1.8.
3. 50. f1.4 - too long fo street, too wide for portrait
50/1.4 - a great lens for the price, but too long for me and with a mediocre build. I got rid of it just before this Christmas - after hesitating for a few years .
Not quite gathering dust as I use all them the odd occasion but these ones rarely when compared with others.
EF Lenses
Prime: 24L,35L, 50 (f1.4, f1.8), 200L f2.8
usually grab the Zeiss 25 and 35 instead of Canons. The 200 f2.8 I usually use the f1.8. The 50's I usually grab 1.0 or 1.2, for IR the 1.4 has hots spots so it stayed on the shelf.
Macro: 50,180L
The MP 65E is king in my kit, followed by 100.
Zoom: 16-35L, 17-40L 70-200L (f2.8, f4 both non IS), 100-400L
I mainly shoot primes now.
Tilt+Shift: 45, 90 -
The 45 had IR hotspots, The 90 just havent used it much but once I start shooting closeups this year will be handy to have.
Special: 15 fisheye
Uses are limited
Extenders: TC EXT II 1.4X ,TC EXT II 2X
Tend not to use extenders.
Nikon:
Prime E Series: 50mm
Zoom E Series: 75-150, 70-210
Series E lens used for IR and UV work, have better choices.
Angenieux:
Prime: 180mm F2.3
Superceeded my 180L but just got a Leica 180 so this lens takes a back seat. But great at F2.3 so it will still get some use especially on the D700
Canon FD:
Prime: 50L f1.2, 800L
Macro: 100, 28 macrophoto, 35 macrophoto
Zoom: 20-35L, 35-105, 80-200L
Extenders: 1.4x, 2.0 Ax
Very rarely shoot film now, but my Dad still has FD so he gets to use.
