New 50mm Sigma ? There are other options !

[Dylan777]

While we are talking about misquotes to the handful of people who keep yacking on about the 24-70 2.8 mk2 , there was never a reference to this lens in my post you all just forgot to read it properly, The lens I replaced and compared with is the 24-70 2.8 mk1 and as already stated i am not making assumptions about the mk2 it may well be better than the 35 IS i haven't used it so cant comment.

Just completed another two weddings with the 24 35 85 combo and very happy with the results so far certainly beats the quality that I was getting from the 24-70 MK1...

OK! There's the difference. Most copies of the 24-70 f/2.8 MkI were unmitigated pieces of shirt when compared to the prime beating MkII. I'm not the only photographer around CR (and elsewhere) who ploughed through five or six 24-70 f/2.8MkI lenses over a number of years in search of one of the rare good copies.

As a signed-up, paid-up life member of the Z Team, I'd also choose your primes, the 24 35 85 combo over the old MkI zoom for an important job. My first day shooting with the MkII zoom was one of the happiest days of my life. To say I was gobsmacked by the quality across a broad variety of situations is almost an understatement.

-pw

Thats good to hear ! I am however surprised as i was under the impression from lots of reviews and talk over the years that the 24-70 2.8L was the best Canon had - I never got the performance out of it that i wanted and the day i started shooting the 35 IS was an eye opener to see how much sharper it was.

Would you say the 24-70 mk2 can seriously better the 24 35 85 primes ?

The photo below was taken with 5D III + 24-70 II, SOOC,JPEG, no flash, zero edit.

What do you think?

Honestly, Its a nice shot and well composed however it would not make me want to rush out and buy the lens. The bokeh looks odd and it does not look tack sharp anywhere.

You have any tack sharp image @ f3.2(without flash) in similar focal lenght?. Since you shoot wedding for $$$, I just want to know the definition of "tack sharp" from the pro POV. I visited your site, you have beatiful collection.

Photography is just a hobby for me & take photo of my kids around the house

 

[Andrew Davies Photography]

Photography is just a hobby for me & take photo of my kids around the house

This is hardly the kit list for someone who take pics of their kids at home
Body: 5D III(x2) -- A7r
Zoom: 16-35L II -- 24-70L II -- 70-200L f2.8 IS II
Prime: 40mm -- 50L -- 85L II -- 135L -- 400L f2.8 IS II -- Zeiss FE 55mm f1.8

If you are not using that lot to generate some income then there is something wrong !

 

[privatebydesign]

In fairness to Dylan's example image, the forum algorithm has massacred it, if you download it and then look at it at 100% it is a much more convincing point.

Personally though I find far too much emphasis on "sharpness" nowadays, I am still using the 24-70 MkI, indeed it is my most often used lens, and I have no intention of "upgrading" it for a MkII or a selection of primes. I have never, ever, had a customer consider my images too soft, indeed I often have to soften them somewhat.

Whilst I am a very vigorous proponent of "the gear doesn't matter" school of thought in many applications (with lots of caveats for BIF, ultimate IQ etc etc) and my almost rabid passion in 100 L vs 135 L threads, once you get into image creation, rather than taking pictures, it does become interesting on what you, personally, as the image maker, find compelling. For my money the bokeh of the MkII 24-70 and the 70-200 f2.8 IS are both worse than the lower resolving MkI versions, I would happily trade "up" if the sharpness difference was essential to my images, but it isn't. For me the MkII zooms are squarely aimed at sports shooters and their publications, and a resolution and numbers influenced customer base who value sharpness as the twin cousin of subject. It is so much easier to declare how much "better" a MkII lens is if it resolves more in a review test chart.

Predominantly image makers value subtle characteristics more, some of these are hardware driven, focal length, aperture etc, but the more interesting ones are more subtle, some sharpness, some bokeh, some colour and contrast etc but don't lose sight of the fact that nowadays much of those characteristics are simply created in software, or easy to emulate in software.

 

[privatebydesign]

Photography is just a hobby for me & take photo of my kids around the house

This is hardly the kit list for someone who take pics of their kids at home
Body: 5D III(x2) -- A7r
Zoom: 16-35L II -- 24-70L II -- 70-200L f2.8 IS II
Prime: 40mm -- 50L -- 85L II -- 135L -- 400L f2.8 IS II -- Zeiss FE 55mm f1.8

If you are not using that lot to generate some income then there is something wrong !

There are lots of very well equipped hobbyists here on CR, many seem to have very good disposable income, far more than I do as a professional photographer with much more modest gear. There is nothing wrong with that! Indeed they help keep the price down for me.

Wanting the best is natural, defining what is the best is more nuanced and seems to be learnt from tests and reviews that are generally too numbers driven in my opinion.

 

[Loswr]

Photography is just a hobby for me & take photo of my kids around the house

This is hardly the kit list for someone who take pics of their kids at home
If you are not using that lot to generate some income then there is something wrong !

Photography is a hobby for me, too, and I also shoot photos of my kids around the house. Here's one, with the 1D X and 600mm f/4L IS II…

 

[Dylan777]

Photography is just a hobby for me & take photo of my kids around the house

This is hardly the kit list for someone who take pics of their kids at home
Body: 5D III(x2) -- A7r
Zoom: 16-35L II -- 24-70L II -- 70-200L f2.8 IS II
Prime: 40mm -- 50L -- 85L II -- 135L -- 400L f2.8 IS II -- Zeiss FE 55mm f1.8

If you are not using that lot to generate some income then there is something wrong !

I disagree. I simply enjoy Canon fast L lenses because they offer better in IQ, contrast, color, AF and built quality over kit lenses. This is my reward by using Canon fast L lenses.

 

[Viggo]

My main subject is my kids too, I don't make money with my gear either.

 

[mackguyver]

I'm with Dylan & Viggo on this one. If you have the means and photography is your passion, there's nothing "wrong" with owning nice gear, just as there's nothing wrong with the new Sigma 50 or the 35 f/2 IS.

 

[Andrew Davies Photography]

I'm with Dylan & Viggo on this one. If you have the means and photography is your passion, there's nothing "wrong" with owning nice gear, just as there's nothing wrong with the new Sigma 50 or the 35 f/2 IS.

Its a mighty unfortunate waste of talent and kit. And a real shame that talent and kit is not being enjoyed by more people - photography is best when shared I do agree though if you have the money then why not its up to you.

By the way that photo is much nicer love the creamy bokeh.

 

[mackguyver]

Its a mighty unfortunate waste of talent and kit. And a real shame that talent and kit is not being enjoyed by more people - photography is best when shared

I agree but the unfortunate reality is that there are fewer and fewer ways to make the kind of money needed to purchase high end gear through photography alone. I shoot part-time, but live in a small market and my primary income (IT management consulting) pays 5-10 times what I would make as a full-time photographer.

Of course some people just enjoy photography as a hobby - I know that my personal work is much more enjoyable than the commercial stuff I do. I also know that sharing isn't for everyone - my experience with the "art" world has been rather disappointing and the Internet can be a cruel place for many. Just as standing in a Florida swamp is 180 degrees from shooting weddings, so are people's reasons they enjoy photography.

The great thing is that we all love photography.

 

[slclick]

This thread is still active?

 

[Grumbaki]

I'm with Dylan & Viggo on this one. If you have the means and photography is your passion, there's nothing "wrong" with owning nice gear, just as there's nothing wrong with the new Sigma 50 or the 35 f/2 IS.

Its a mighty unfortunate waste of talent and kit. And a real shame that talent and kit is not being enjoyed by more people - photography is best when shared

Well actually you could see it the other way around. Not relying on photography for income free up creativity but also the will to share. I don't have any other pretense than to share my foreigner view on "true China" (suburban/rural but not touristy cliché) so I can just "give them away" for viewing and sharing as long as it doesn't cost me anymore money than my gear did.

With no responsability comes great power

 

[pwp]

Well actually you could see it the other way around. Not relying on photography for income free up creativity but also the will to share.

With no responsibility comes great power

I've often thought along similar lines with respect to amateurs. The status can give freedom for tremendous creativity. Not just photography, but some of the most astoundingly creative and interesting food I've eaten has come from the kitchens of unrestrained and talented amateurs. Same with music. Often without commercial constraints and self imposed genre constrained considerations, some of the most magical, though not necessarily technically perfect music has come from non-professionals.

And just to add, it sounds like sour-grapes to criticize a non-professional for having the good fortune and good taste to have premium bodies and glass. Some people drop their wealth on fast cars, boats or planes...so why not top-shelf camera gear? You'd be surprised the percentage total sales of L lenses that go into the kits of well-heeled enthusiast amateurs.

-pw

 

[Loswr]

And just to add, it sounds like sour-grapes to criticize a non-professional for having the good fortune and good taste to have premium bodies and glass.

+1

As with mackguyver, my professional career offers excellent compensation, and the consulting I do on the side pays for my photography gear.

I'm fortunate to have a job that I enjoy – although it's not exactly practical to do experiments outside of the lab, I do some science teaching in my free time. I wonder how many professional photographers truly enjoy photography?

 

[agierke]

I wonder how many professional photographers truly enjoy photography?

i do.

my father (incidentally a phd chemist) always told us kids growing up to do what you love, the rest will take care of itself. so i listened...and that's exactly what is happening. i am able to fully support myself on photography alone. i do feel quite lucky though as it isnt easy and i see alot of people struggle with it and fail.

i never understood the comments some people make about not wanting to be a professional and ruin what they love doing. i always thought the best thing you could hope for is to get to do what you love everyday....AND have someone pay you to do it!

but i have absolutely no problem with amateurs buying the best gear...i say why not! at the very least it helps support the company i expect to continue to produce top notch tools for my business. the only issue i have is when an amateur thinks they can take on pro jobs simply because they have the gear and then they do the work for ridiculously low rates or free. that aint cool!

 

[Andrew Davies Photography]

I wonder how many professional photographers truly enjoy photography?

i do.

my father (incidentally a phd chemist) always told us kids growing up to do what you love, the rest will take care of itself. so i listened...and that's exactly what is happening. i am able to fully support myself on photography alone. i do feel quite lucky though as it isnt easy and i see alot of people struggle with it and fail.

i never understood the comments some people make about not wanting to be a professional and ruin what they love doing. i always thought the best thing you could hope for is to get to do what you love everyday....AND have someone pay you to do it!

but i have absolutely no problem with amateurs buying the best gear...i say why not! at the very least it helps support the company i expect to continue to produce top notch tools for my business. the only issue i have is when an amateur thinks they can take on pro jobs simply because they have the gear and then they do the work for ridiculously low rates or free. that aint cool!

Absolutely with you there. The greatest achievement i have made personally is not in technique or equipment but in the ability to turn a creative hobby into a career that allows me the free time to spend with my family. 80% running a business and 20% photography but given the usual 50 hour weeks that means i spend a lot more time and effort on my photography than most amateurs. And I enjoy it - yes there are times it is stressful and times when your standing in the freezing pouring rain waiting for uncle bob to finish on the loo ! But i would not change it.

There are no sour grapes here, in fact a lot of the 'all the gear and no idea' crew i have met pose no challenge to the professionals but simply want to own the best they can afford , some however like some of you guys here take the time to also learn techniques and enjoy creative photography with your gear and some go on to make a living from it or just to enjoy it.

Still i find it somewhat odd that you would need three pro slrs and a dozen L lenses to photography your kids running round the house , that however you look at it is a complete waste of money and kit. I wager that the person in question does some other work with it too ;

 

[pwp]

I wonder how many professional photographers truly enjoy photography?

Maybe some don't, and that will be true of most professions.

I've always felt so privileged to have cracked it in such a diversely fulfilling field...I figure it beats the hell out of having to work for a living. Life is supposed to be enjoyable!

-pw

 

[privatebydesign]

i never understood the comments some people make about not wanting to be a professional and ruin what they love doing. i always thought the best thing you could hope for is to get to do what you love everyday....AND have someone pay you to do it!

I understand the earlier sentiment exactly. There is a huge difference between doing something you love for the fun of it and doing it to feed your wife and kids, ask any fisherman.

 

[Dylan777]

And just to add, it sounds like sour-grapes to criticize a non-professional for having the good fortune and good taste to have premium bodies and glass.

+1

As with mackguyver, my professional career offers excellent compensation, and the consulting I do on the side pays for my photography gear.

+1....with Neuro.


Off topic:
@ pwp - don't forget, Costco sells steak & lobster tail at decent price You can have $75 dinner for less $15.

How to Cook a Steak in a Pan - Gordon Ramsay

 

[mackguyver]

i never understood the comments some people make about not wanting to be a professional and ruin what they love doing. i always thought the best thing you could hope for is to get to do what you love everyday....AND have someone pay you to do it!

I understand the earlier sentiment exactly. There is a huge difference between doing something you love for the fun of it and doing it to feed your wife and kids, ask any fisherman.

I think the thing to remember is that not every pro loves photography or chose the profession for that reason. I have friends who do it because it's a family business or because that's what they got their degree in and can't find work that pays as well without going back to school. I know some who are miserable because almost every creative decision is made for them and their management (aka creative director) checks the LCD after each shot. Having your livelihood dependent upon your work is rarely fun and as a part-timer, I've had shoots that were fun and creative and others that were a grind that I barely broke even on in the end. While I toy with the idea of trying to go full-time, I fear it would turn something I love into something I no longer enjoy.

I'm not sure how many of you have read this Onion (a fake news, humor website) article, but there's a lot of truth to it for many of us:
Find The Thing You're Most Passionate About, Then Do It On Nights And Weekends For The Rest Of Your Life