Oh, look. He's writing again.
I'm going to talk about cameras and lenses today. Yes, again. Nerd Alert!!!
I spent a few bucks along the way on good camera bodies. I try to NOT own the entry-level cameras because for a little more money, I can get an older, more capable one. My "Canon Body Adventure" went like this: Rebel XT, 40D, 7D, 5D, 5D MkII. I'm not sure the 5D was actually an upgrade from the 7D, but that's how I saw it then. Now, as ANY photographer will tell you, it's not about the camera so much as it is about the glass, but we're not talking a TON of money invested in these bodies. They were all old and all used and all far below book value (of you know me, you know I like a bargain.) amd they were all well-respected bodies for one reason or another...But the lenses - THAT'S where I get my ass kicked.
You see, ANY new consumer-grade body come with a couple lenses. These are usually something like an 18-55 and a 50-200 or so. Higher end cameras might not, but you can still get a kit lens. And then it starts. Primes, Upgrades, and Superzooms, oh my! We're told "When you outgrow your kit lens..." over and over and over by the same group of people who might recommend "only use one focal length for a year so you can master it" or some similar guidance. I've seen YouTube videos that show you how to take gorgeous night sky photos "with your kit lens!" It's all very confusing and helps lead to GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)
But we learn some things, right? Things like: Good lenses can cost more than the cameras we buy. All-in-one zooms (superzooms, vacation zooms, whatever you call them) are usually more affordable, but are generally a major compromise in image quality. A zoom is worth a handful of primes. Yaddah yaddah yaddah...
Here's where I'm headed with this:
I have a fair number of zoom lenses that tend to cover a lot of the same range. I've learned that a couple primes in my bag mean a lot more to me than a bunch of random overlapping zooms. For my Canons, I've got a Tokina 19-35 f3.5-4.5 & 28-70 f2.8, Canon 24-105 f4 L, 80-200 f2.8 L, and a 70-300 f4-5.6. In addition, I've got a Yongnuo 35mm f2 & 50mm f1.8, Canon 50 f1.8STM, and a Rokinon 14mm f2.8...not to mention the adapted Zeiss Jena 50mm f2.8. Any idea what typically lives on my 5dII these days? The Canon 50.
It's crazy. On my other camera bodies, I seem to have the same kind of thing going on. My Fuji X-E2? Fuji 27mm. My Pentax K3? That damned 35mm DA (although I'm trying to love the 21 mm I just got... sigh)...And my EOS-M5? The freaking little 22mm! I just got another GF-1 for work... and it's got an Olympus 14-42EZ because that is the only lens I really have for it. But don't think I didn't consider grabbing that little 20mm Panny...because I considered it SO much!
With all the glass I own, I'm falling back to something that is right around 50mm equivalent in almost every case. 50. The most BORING focal length ever (or so I'm told by the internet) But I do love it. And I'm going to keep doing it as long as I want - because it's MY art, damn it. Give me my primes, TYVM.
I might really try to post a single image a week this year. If I do, let's come back in June and see how what my most popular focal length is, shall we? It might be interesting.
For now - Happy New Year. I hope you have a better 2021.
m
This, of course, was taken with my 24-105 L lens at India Point Park in Providence, RI.
Not a Prime. ;)
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