Lens upgrades
Since I got my 5D MkII I am mainly using this camera for my photography. I still love film, but that camera is kick-ass.
But, the sensor is just amazing, good, too good for some of the lenses I own.
Point is, when most of the normal lenses were designed, digital was in its infancy or not existent and the main medium was film. So if you out resolved film, it was good enough. Well not with these cameras anymore.
The top line full frame cameras have 20 megapixels or more, even the crop size ones have 12 or more. But while you might get away with center image from a lens on crop size cameras, full frame is different.
So until now I owned to L lenses. The 24-105/f4, just because there is no equal good long zoom one, unless you go with some EF-S, which was never a good option as I always wanted to go full frame. And the 35/f1.4L which is the price stallion in canons line up. The 35/f2, as good as it is, has still only a micro motor, and that just doesn’t bring it in my opinion.
So I still have some other non L glasses:
50/f1.4
85/f1.8
100/f2.8 Macro
So I tried to use each and all of them and see if I do need to upgrade.
First the 50/f1.4. This was the first lens I put on my 5D MkII, just because it is the lens I always wanted to use as it was constructed. I personally love 50mm in its way and in whatever it comes (75, 80, 95 for 6x6, 6x9 cameras). But, this lens just didn’t work well wide open. It was not bad, but it was not the same like on my old 30D. So I upgraded this on to the 50/f1.2L. Bigger, heavier (more expensive of course) but just amazing. This was worth the money.
The 100f/2.8 Macro I tried next. This one is just amazing, it looks better than on my 30D. Now problem to shoot wide open. Colors are great, bokeh is very nice. I doubt there is no need to upgrade to the new L version of this lens. My only problem is, that the AF really sucks with this one. If I am on infinity and I want to focus close up, my camera just doesn’t want to. I have manually focus to close and then AF works. Same the other way around. Somehow AF is really wonky with it. Probably need to check with the Canon guys and see if that can be fixed. Besides that upgrade not needed
Third is the 85/f1.8. Last week was the first time I used it and I am very pleasantly surprised by this lens. It looks stunning wide open. Of course the fact that it is f1.8 makes it not the killer night lens, even at ISO 3200 you might get some too slow shutter speeds. So I am a bit torn, there is no real need to upgrade, but on the other hand f1.2 is just very tempting. I will see, at the moment no need, but if I find a cheap good f1.2L II version I might buy it.
Other stuff, 10-22, no need to even think about getting anything L wise. I haven’t touched that lens in almost 2 years. I think my need for ultra wide are over. 24mm on the 24-105 is more than enough in my opinion. I do not shoot anything that needs this wide anymore. I personally prefer to shoot either 35mm or 50mm.
And other things I might want to get? The 135/f2 now becomes interesting again. I always wanted to get it for my 30D, but as the 85 was already like a 135 there was no real need. Nowadays I am thinking again of getting one. Second hand prices are not too shocking either. Might become a spontaneous buy.
Sometimes I am thinking about the 24L version. But I haven’t had much need for a more wider version than the 35mm.
Also I am thinking about getting a manual focus lens. Zeiss, or preferable a Leica R if I can find one that is not too expensive. But I want to try one of my Olympus lenses first, if it is worth to get a manual lens for some more interesting photos. Manual is slower focus, more thinking, better photos. But you would still have the digital quick develop aspect and the good internal metering.
Never thought I would be so much back into the digital came, not since my Epson R-D1s …
