Topics

1

Lenses / 135L or 100L macro?

« on: January 11, 2012, 03:13:58 PM »

Like many on the forum, I took advantage of the great prices that were available for a new body and upgraded to the 5dmk2, this is my first foray into the Full-Frame universe, and it happened ahead of schedule.  I always planned to upgrade my glass first, then the body.  Now I find myself with only the 50 1.4 & 70-200 f4 non-IS that actually work with my body.  My EF-S lenses are on craigslist. 

I tend to use the wide range much more than tele (definitely getting the 17-40L) but recently (after renting the 135L for a week) it was so sharp it really inspired me to start shooting people i.e. portrait, and candid shots.  Never really had much of a desire to do so before, and now it's something I would like to learn and develop a much stronger skill for. 

So my question to anyone who has experience with both, which do I go with?  The 135L or the 100L macro?  I really loved the 135L its crazy sharp even at f2, loved it.  However, the 100L macro is enticing...IS and macro capability (macro is something I haven't tried yet, but I would like to at some point) are definitely pluses of course you lose a stop vs the 135L but you get 4 back with the hybrid IS.  I've seen some portraits with the 100L macro and they were quite sharp.  So I'm torn, I'm sure many are going to recommend that I rent the 100L macro and then make the decision, which is logical and I may end up doing that, but am interested to get some feedback from the forum.

Oh...and as far as price goes, it's negligible, 135L is $924 and the 100L macro is $886 which is a difference of only $38.

2

EOS Bodies / Shooting in manual

« on: September 30, 2011, 07:04:42 PM »

I've been visiting the site for quite some time now and recently joined.  Thought I'd introduce myself by asking the requisite novice question.

I've learned a lot reading the various posts here (thank you all).  And I've picked up some modest skill over the course of the past 2.5 years since purchasing my 500D, but I have yet to find a shot or a shooting situation yet, in my experience, that requires I shoot in manual mode.  I haven't done any macro or sports shooting, and I have almost no experience using flash so perhaps those are some of them..  I generally shoot landscapes, city-scapes, architecture, portraits, and birds.  I shoot with the following glass; EF 50 1.4, EF-S 17-85, EF 70-200 f4L non-IS, & a Speedlite 270EX that collects a lot of dust.

So the question is, when do you find yourselves shooting in manual, or what situations require it? 

Typically when shooting landscapes or portraits I rely on "Av" mode, since aperture is the most key adjustment for getting the right DOF for each situation.  When I'm using my tele-zoom I tend to switch over to "Tv" mode, due to the amount of camera shake at the longer Focal lengths, keeping my shutter speed high enough being the priority in those instances.  In either mode I still have the ability to adjust my exposure with the touch of a button so I've never really been "forced" to have to use manual to either get the shot or expose it properly or at least get it the way I want it exposed.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!!