Long time reader, first time poster. So, the first post better be a long one...
Two weeks ago my Canon 24-105L had an error 01 on my 5D3. No amount of cleaning contacts would make it work. (Disabling IS it could shoot again, but with exposure +/-3 stops on manual. Now and then with dark viewfinder and hunting focus). Of cause it happened on the first of 11 studio photoshoots that weekend...
I really liked my lens lens setup (for the price), and with the 24-105 as my most used lens it would seem logical to replace it with a new one. Searching the web shows it's not an uncommon error, making me hesitate buying a new one.
I made this topic to get your views on my lens setup, and maybe a couple of suggestions.
My primary photographic interest is to photograph children, mostly 0-4 years. I have a studiosetup with Elinchrom flashes and have always used the 24-105L for this. Outside the studio i mostly shoot with primes, but currently its in the studio with powerfull lights i make some money.
I shot a wedding recently and really enjoyed it. I borrowed a 5D2, an extra 24-105L and a 85L from a friend. So far i have two weddings planed for next year, but would like more for the future.
The rest of my uses counts family photos, especially my son at 2 years, and now and then a bit of landscapes.
For the last year i've had the following lenses, paired with my highly regarded 5D3:
24-105L F4: Used for almost halv my photos. Perfect for the studio and fine for landscape. Not a lens that gets me excited in any way.
40mm 2.8 Pancake: I like it as a light walkaround lens, and for indoor shooting, especially in low light. Would often like it a bit wider though.
50mm 1.8: Doesn't get used much. Mostly with some Kenko extension tubes for cheap makro.
85mm 1.8: Doesn't get used much. I like it indoor for children playing, but...
135L F2: I just love this lens! Use it for almost all my outdoor work and play. And for indoor headshots. Actually, I choose this lens whenever it makes the slightest sense, and then some more
In general I think the 24-135mm covers my uses nicely. Sometimes 200mm or so would be nice, but i rarely wish for wider than 24mm.
For the next years i'd like to shoot some more weddings, and shoot children in "their" homes and natural surroundings. With this in mind I bought a Tamron 24-70 2.8 when my 24-105L broke. I do find the AF quite inconsistent, dislike the zoom ring going counter of Canon, having to turn the ring that much to zoom between 50-70mm, the onionrings, and will therefore return it to the shop. It seems a bit decenteret too.
So, what are my options?? Of cause i'd like the 24-70 2.8 ii, but it's a bit above budget. I can swap the Tamron for a used Canon 24-70 2.8 i, buy a new 24-105 (but hate the risk of another error 01), buy a 24-70 F4 IS or...?
I thought of buying a Canon 70-200 F4 (IS) for studio and a lot of outdoor work, and compliment it with a 35 F2 IS, perfect for group shots and indoor events. I also thought of the 70-200 F2.8 variants, but their weights concerns me, and i might have to sell the 135L to fund it - which would be very hard. And I would still need something better for studio.
The biggest issue right now are the studio shots. The 40 and 50mm can be used for group shots, but AF are too slow for children at play. I analysed the latest 1400 studioshots of 24-105L, and i used these focal lengths:
-40mm 1.64%
40-49mm 16.39%
50-59 24.51%
60-69 17.72%
70-79 8.82%
80-89 16.63%
90-99 6.25%
100-105 8.04%
Thats 60% less than 70mm, and 40% above. Sometimes 105-150mm would be usefull, but its far easier to crop in post, than to add half a leg
Hope you nice guys will give some feedback on where to go from here
Best regards, Martin (Denmark)
Two weeks ago my Canon 24-105L had an error 01 on my 5D3. No amount of cleaning contacts would make it work. (Disabling IS it could shoot again, but with exposure +/-3 stops on manual. Now and then with dark viewfinder and hunting focus). Of cause it happened on the first of 11 studio photoshoots that weekend...
I really liked my lens lens setup (for the price), and with the 24-105 as my most used lens it would seem logical to replace it with a new one. Searching the web shows it's not an uncommon error, making me hesitate buying a new one.
I made this topic to get your views on my lens setup, and maybe a couple of suggestions.
My primary photographic interest is to photograph children, mostly 0-4 years. I have a studiosetup with Elinchrom flashes and have always used the 24-105L for this. Outside the studio i mostly shoot with primes, but currently its in the studio with powerfull lights i make some money.
I shot a wedding recently and really enjoyed it. I borrowed a 5D2, an extra 24-105L and a 85L from a friend. So far i have two weddings planed for next year, but would like more for the future.
The rest of my uses counts family photos, especially my son at 2 years, and now and then a bit of landscapes.
For the last year i've had the following lenses, paired with my highly regarded 5D3:
24-105L F4: Used for almost halv my photos. Perfect for the studio and fine for landscape. Not a lens that gets me excited in any way.
40mm 2.8 Pancake: I like it as a light walkaround lens, and for indoor shooting, especially in low light. Would often like it a bit wider though.
50mm 1.8: Doesn't get used much. Mostly with some Kenko extension tubes for cheap makro.
85mm 1.8: Doesn't get used much. I like it indoor for children playing, but...
135L F2: I just love this lens! Use it for almost all my outdoor work and play. And for indoor headshots. Actually, I choose this lens whenever it makes the slightest sense, and then some more
In general I think the 24-135mm covers my uses nicely. Sometimes 200mm or so would be nice, but i rarely wish for wider than 24mm.
For the next years i'd like to shoot some more weddings, and shoot children in "their" homes and natural surroundings. With this in mind I bought a Tamron 24-70 2.8 when my 24-105L broke. I do find the AF quite inconsistent, dislike the zoom ring going counter of Canon, having to turn the ring that much to zoom between 50-70mm, the onionrings, and will therefore return it to the shop. It seems a bit decenteret too.
So, what are my options?? Of cause i'd like the 24-70 2.8 ii, but it's a bit above budget. I can swap the Tamron for a used Canon 24-70 2.8 i, buy a new 24-105 (but hate the risk of another error 01), buy a 24-70 F4 IS or...?
I thought of buying a Canon 70-200 F4 (IS) for studio and a lot of outdoor work, and compliment it with a 35 F2 IS, perfect for group shots and indoor events. I also thought of the 70-200 F2.8 variants, but their weights concerns me, and i might have to sell the 135L to fund it - which would be very hard. And I would still need something better for studio.
The biggest issue right now are the studio shots. The 40 and 50mm can be used for group shots, but AF are too slow for children at play. I analysed the latest 1400 studioshots of 24-105L, and i used these focal lengths:
-40mm 1.64%
40-49mm 16.39%
50-59 24.51%
60-69 17.72%
70-79 8.82%
80-89 16.63%
90-99 6.25%
100-105 8.04%
Thats 60% less than 70mm, and 40% above. Sometimes 105-150mm would be usefull, but its far easier to crop in post, than to add half a leg
Hope you nice guys will give some feedback on where to go from here
Best regards, Martin (Denmark)