Buying lenses, do you listen to your heart or your head?

[ontarian]

Really glad you are also liking your second EdMika adapted lens Harley. One minor point, the new tilt shift lenses are also only manual focus too so there really is no practical downside to using the 70's era original Canon TS lenses.

Recently I had my mind set on a TS-E 24mm 3.5LII, I knew it'd be great for landscapes and also be amazing for some creative portraits. I did all the research I usually do, found everyone agreed it was a beautiful piece of glass, some of the best optics on a canon lens, I started putting money to the side for it....then I had a play with it and I talked myself out of it. My heart told me I really wanted it, but my head so no. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful lens, I do love it and I still think I will get it one day, but the reality is that for my work (editorial/weddings/portraits/corporate events/travel) I wouldn't use it so often to justify the price. Instead, I need another wide aperture lens with AF, say a 35mm f1.4L, Sigma 85mm f1.4, or a canon 135mm f2L, all lenses I can use in many more situations. Cheaper as well which helps.

Both head and heart for me, but sometimes you can find a way to get more than you thought. I had been thinking about a TS lens for quite sometime, but also was interested in wider primes. I ended up getting both in one fell swoop for about $700.

Ed Mika (Ontarian on CR Forum) developed an adapter for the Canon FD 35mm f/2.8 TS lens. I learned about him through an article here on Canon Rumors.

His adapter doesn't have any optics, so you're not slowing down the lens. You remove the FD mount and attach the new mount which has a dandelion chip for autofocus confirmation and EXIF data. The lens retains all its rotational functionality. Plus, the older TS lenses are of a much better build than the TS-E lenses, more compact and all metal. Its an MF lens, so the only thing you really sacrifice is AF. It's a nice 35mm prime. And it's a tilt-shift!

I see you're shooting on a 5D Mark II -- The adapted FD 35mm TS has no mirror interference on FF bodies unlike the Ed Mika adapted FL 55mm f/1.2 which is essentially an EF-S lens.

I love mine so far. I'll probably end up using it more as a prime than for the tilt or shift but only time will tell. Hope this is helpful.

More info on CR Forum by going here:
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=2337.0
and that's where you'll find the link to the adapter sales.

 

[wickidwombat]

I listen to my wife.

LOL oh sooooo true!

 

[Jettatore]

I have found that living in close proximity to a lens rental shop has drastically cut down my frequency of purchases.

My heart rents; my head buys.

+1

I wouldn't want any major holes in a basic kit that lets you go have fun and also practice whatever areas of photography you are most interested in, but if it's not making you money all the time, save the super expensive stuff for rental with specific events in mind and a well thought out, specialized bag of gear planned. The only other way to have that sort of flexibility is to own at least 1 of everything if not more and that is just a waste even for those who could afford to do this.

 

[RobertG.]

I try to listen more to my head than my heard. My heard says get the best lense available and do it right now. In the end, when I finally decided to get the lense, I start looking for a used one. So I really wanted the TS-E 24L but 2000 EUR are to much and I got a used one in an excellent condition for 1640 EUR. For all other lenses it had been the same. Only camera bodies I buy new and then I wait until I really need them or the dissatisfaction with the current one grew to a point that I really don't want to use it any longer.

 

[handsomerob]

For me, my heart picks the lenses I want and my head buys the ones I need.

Being wise makes the choice...less than obvious. I find that if I always listen to my head and ignore my heart, it can suck the fun out of things and make them utilitarian and boring. But always listening to the heart leads to a very expensive pile of...glass in this case...that just collects dust. Of course actually finding that balance is way beyond my meager skills...

well said!

I have found that living in close proximity to a lens rental shop has drastically cut down my frequency of purchases.

My heart rents; my head buys.

I rather buy than rent (frequently used lenses) since L lenses keep their values pretty well. But for exotics, renting is mostly the only solution

 

[Rampado]

my heart always wins...

 

[J. McCabe]

I'm a hobbyist, so - assuming I have the money - I listen to my heart.

I buy equipment for fun, not because I can rationally justify the expense.

 

[TexPhoto]

80% heart
20% head, unless I rally really like it.

 

[willrobb]

If we're talking percentages I'd say I was :

40% heart
60% head

My heart takes me in a direction for something, but when I think about practicalities, cost and usefulness the head kicks in a makes the decision for me.

Maybe all this is because I am in my 30's, when I was in my 20's everything about my life was 100% heart, not just equipment.

 

[KacperP]

Lens selection - 100% head
Taking photo - 100% head
Deciding on photo subject - 100% heart

 

[akiskev]

I always listen to my "heart". In my opinion whoever doesn't make money from photography and invests in pricey equipment listens to his heart.

 

[scottkinfw]

I think tools.

I want the right tool for the right job. Wouldn't bring a 400mm lens to a birthday party!

Once I decide on the use, I go with the best glass I can (best L, best reviews, and most favorable opinions from sites like this one). I will have the lens a long time so want it to be right for me. Having said that:
100% head (choosing tool, and best lens)
100% choosing best pic.
sek

 

[niccyboy]

I'm the worst impulse buyer on the planet.

My signature in this is proof of this... My video signature would be just as long.

My head needs to workout and do some boxing classes because currently he is getting belted by heart.

I justify everything with 'oh it's an investment/tax writeoff... Idiot

 

[pwp]

In business you need to keep a practical eye on the bottom line. Most purchases outside of the core every day kit need to be justified to some extent. Return on investment calculations are very much a "head" issue.

But you can't always be 100% practical. I've often thought that being a photographer beats the hell out of having to work for a living....it's FUN. Life is supposed to be ENJOYABLE!

So yes, there is plenty of room for "heart" purchases as well. My 24 f/1.4II and the 300 f/2.8is spring to mind here. I didn't need either of them at the time, but as it turns out they have been far more useful than I could have anticipated. And there are all sorts of other low priced and eye wateringly expensive "toys" that have been "heart" buys. Some have been useful and fun, and others inevitably fall into the "what was I thinking" category.

What will I buy tomorrow? Yes! That 135 f/2L !

Paul Wright

 

[Edwin Herdman]

If I thought only with my heart, I'd want tons of strange lenses sitting around, like old Kilfitt lenses (250mm f/1.3...I thought they had a f/1.7 something, like 200mm; apparently not though), and oddballs like the Canon 22-55mm, the Power Zoom, just out of pity.

If I thought only with my head, I'd probably not have the number of lenses I do today. Still, none of my lenses actually overlap in purpose (the 135mm f/2L and the 120-300mm f/2.8 Sigma don't really overlap).

 

[UncleFester]

I just listen to rationale.



And the voice in my head.

 

[AprilForever]

Exclusively my heart.

I hated the 18-55, and as such, could never abide anything with a similar focal length. I will never get a 17-50 2.8, no matter how good they may be...

I love the focal length 300. I have a 300 F4, and a 300 2.8. I got the 300 F4 over the 100-400 largely because I prefer 300.

I love the 50mm focal length (which seems to contradict the above...). My 50 1.4 is bea up, but hopefully I can get a new one at some point...

 

[Cbadie]

Man...my head is currently trying to figure out why my heart can't make a decision.
Hi - new to the forum here and find it quite informative! I currently have a 30d and looking at either the 15-85 or the 24-105L. My current lineup is a Tokina 12-24 and a Canon 70-200L. Most of my photos are landscape or cityscape, don't really do any portraits.

www.photo.net/photos/clarkbadie

If I get the 15-85 then my 12-24 basically becomes obsolete. Future trade in for a 50/1.4 perhaps.
If I get the 24-105 then I have the future option of going FF, although I don't see the need for that really.
Optically I suspect both are nearly the same..the reviews and user opinions reinforce that. Both have IS which I do value.

My head 15-85 as I think in the end it would suit me just fine on both wide and narrow...and the future looksmbright for a prime....and for an upcoming trip to Italy would be a great walk around. Less lens changes although I am kind of used to that already.
My heart says 24-105 because it's a L glass...I already have one and really like it.....and I like my 12-24.

.....or is it the other way around?

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

If I buy a lens new, I have a purpose for it, if I find a deal on a used one, as long as I know I can resell it without losing money, I buy it, test it out, and, if its not what I want, resell it. I never lose money, and usually come out slightly ahead.

 

[unfocused]

Man...my head is currently trying to figure out why my heart can't make a decision.
Hi - new to the forum here and find it quite informative! I currently have a 30d and looking at either the 15-85 or the 24-105L. My current lineup is a Tokina 12-24 and a Canon 70-200L. Most of my photos are landscape or cityscape, don't really do any portraits.

www.photo.net/photos/clarkbadie

If I get the 15-85 then my 12-24 basically becomes obsolete. Future trade in for a 50/1.4 perhaps.
If I get the 24-105 then I have the future option of going FF, although I don't see the need for that really.
Optically I suspect both are nearly the same..the reviews and user opinions reinforce that. Both have IS which I do value.

My head 15-85 as I think in the end it would suit me just fine on both wide and narrow...and the future looksmbright for a prime....and for an upcoming trip to Italy would be a great walk around. Less lens changes although I am kind of used to that already.
My heart says 24-105 because it's a L glass...I already have one and really like it.....and I like my 12-24.

.....or is it the other way around?

I know you aren't asking for advice, but I'm giving it anyway. If you don't see full frame in your future (realistically, I don't see it in mine), by all means go with the 15-85 mm. It's exceptionally sharp and quite solid. It's a great walk-around lens, covering an equivalent of 24-135mm. It's on my 7D about 90% of the time. Yes, I wish it were faster, but for travel you can't beat it.