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      03-22-2012, 01:26 PM   #2863
The1
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Drives: white 135
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: KW ontario/vancouver temporarily

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Quote:
Originally Posted by M_Six View Post
You're right in that it's all about comfort level. My preferred mode of walking around with my rig is to have the camera in some sort of bag and only pull it out when I need it. That obviously wouldn't work for you because you need to be ready to grab a shot of a bird at a second's notice. But my targets are different and I don't feel right having the camera around my neck, especially in a city environment. In fact, neither of my bodies has a neck strap. They both have wrist straps. So for me, ease of movement in and out of a bag is important. And again, as stated above, I tend to shoot at closer range, but not always "indoor" close. When I shoot street shots, I like to be at "standoff range" so the subjects of my shots don't notice me. There again, a less inconspicuous lens helps.

That said, I've been questioning the need for my current collection of smaller primes and have started thinking about downsizing my collection. I've been reading David duChemin lately and he suggests working with one lens exclusively for a week or so to really get to know the characteristics of the lens. I'm thinking this would also be a good way to determine the utility of the lens. Do I really need a 35mm f2 when my default lens (24-105) will do 35mm at f4? I do like my 85mm f1.8 and I tend to choose that over the 50mm f1.4 unless I really need the shorter FL. Note that speed is not a consideration there. So the 50mm f1.4 could go as well. If I also sell the T1i with the kit lens and the 55-250, plus some extra stuff that only works with the T1i, I could easily afford a 135mm F2L and have funds left over to put towards a FF down the road. That would give me 10-22, 24-105, 135, and if I really want to travel light, the 85. Add a 1.4x TC and I'd have some long range if/when I need it.

Starting this weekend I'm going to use one prime per week exclusively (unless something out of the ordinary requires otherwise). It'll be interesting to see if I can come up with images from a given prime that I could not have produced with the 24-105.
by the sounds of things, you money would be better spend on a different lens then a 70-200mm F4. It is a fantastic lens, one of the best I've owned. But in day to day uses, there really isn't a need for that kind of reach on a crop body unless you're out looking for wildlife (or maybe throwing an extension tube on)

My concern for you with the 135 on the other hand is that you need to be 6-8' away from any subject before the lens can start autofocusing, this can be inconvenient, but it does solve your long range problem. It is quite light, and it's all black, so it definitely flys under the radar a lot more then the other light coloured telephotos. The only thing I find odd about it is the massive hood it has. It makes a nicely sized lens huge. I'll often use my hand to sheild light as a result if I'm finding the hood imposing.

Good luck with the choice. But it sounds like most of your work will be done in the "normal" range of use. Telephotos are fun, but they stay at home a lot when you're not expecting to run into wildlife on a regular basis. But when you're off somewhere that you know you'll need it, it becomes your best friend.
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