Hi guys,
Right, I've just reserved, and am ordering a Canon 24-70L 2.8 from Kerso on Thursday.
Now this is my next lens as its a lens I NEED. It's a true workhorse, fantastic for weddings are portraits (which is what I mainly shoot).
Now I can't decide what to get after that, I'm going to start saving straight away afterwards and hope to have my 'next' purchase (or to be ordering it) before christmas.
Here is my current shortlists for potential next purchases and why:
135L - The lens is a superb piece of work, the images it delivers are fantastic, is plenty fast at f/2.0, I love it and would love to own it. Also as its just £700 now it makes it even more tempting.
70-200L f/2.8 IS - The lens is a beast, I use one constantly when assisting and think it'd be a great addition. It delivers great images, has an awesome useable focal length, VERY quick at 2.8 which is invaluable, the IS is brilliant, eventually I WILL own this lens, there is no doubt about that, but do I get it next or not? - Second hand the MkI is coming in at around £900 for a mint one, making it affordable.
50mm f/1.4 - I have the 1.8....it doesn't get much use but when I do use it it DOES deliver well...I've used the 1.4 several times now and the build quality and image quality it delivers over it is worth the outlay in my opinion. Its around £250 now, by the time I've sold the 1.8 for say £70 it makes it roughly £180 - very cheap for the images it delivers, just like the 1.8. It also delivers a much nicer bokeh in comparison to the 1.8 which is a bit harsh to be honest. Although nice if your starting out in photography (hence why I got it)
OR
5D Classic - I currently use a 40D which is brilliant...it's quick, delivers great images, I'm very used to it and it suits me brilliantly. However, when I did a wedding with Nick a couple of weeks ago he used his 5D Classic and going through the images it's almost a direct comparison between the 40D and 5D and I have to say I am preferring the 5D's images overall. The full frame that gives the softer DoF is to die for (yes I realise that sounds a tad gay
), the better ISO performance are the main 'wants' and reasons why I want the thing. Things pushing me away from it are the LCD screen on the back, I'm used to having a great screen on the 40D and the 5D's screen in comparison sucks balls, also I'm just so used to the 40D now, I pick up a 5D and it feels slightly alien to me. Now ideally I wouldn't want to sell the 40D, I'd like to have it as a second body/backup, I could probably pick up a well looked after 5D for around £700.
580ex II - I have a 430ex II right now and use it all the time, but I've been doing a fair bit of off camera flash work recently and been finding having a flash with a bit more umph would be nicer. Also the ability to control other flashes as well (something the 580 offers over the 430 which is another big plus), plus it's weather sealed. These are around the £250 - £280 mark now I think? Haven't checked properly if I'm honest, also it would be nice to have 2 flashes.
Pocket wizards or similar - I VERY nearly bought an elinchrom kit the other week, and pretty sure I'm going to get it anyway. It's £135 and is basically pocketwizards but without the brand. Just sold my ST-E2 so the outlay is only about £40.
Some people are probably thinking "Jeez Jake, your clearly able to throw a fair chunk of money into photography at the minute, why not go for that 5D II you've been craving since it was released?" - Well obviously this is a thought that has crossed my mind several times, as it affectively brings what I like of the 40D and the 5D into one package and is better overall and has amazing ISO capabilities and as we've seen from Raymonds thread...is no lacky when it comes to performing for weddings. I really want this camera....like I REALLY want one. New can be had for about £1500 and second hand £1200.
I could afford it before christmas but I don't know. Gut instinct is telling me to buy more glass first, for £1500 I could have the 70-200, 50mm 1.4 and 580ex, allowing me to do a lot more. It's why I'm not massively considering it right now, but my want for one hasn't gone at all.
So as you can see I haven't got a clue or made any real decision as to what to save for next.
I wondered, after you have read all of that gibberish, what you think and what you would go for. Don't say "I'd go for the 70-200 because I do a lot of motorsport" because I don't do motorsport - I shoot portraits, weddings and people. I want something that will benefit me for those 
Many thanks for reading, I appreciate the time taken
Jake
Right, I've just reserved, and am ordering a Canon 24-70L 2.8 from Kerso on Thursday.
Now this is my next lens as its a lens I NEED. It's a true workhorse, fantastic for weddings are portraits (which is what I mainly shoot).
Now I can't decide what to get after that, I'm going to start saving straight away afterwards and hope to have my 'next' purchase (or to be ordering it) before christmas.
Here is my current shortlists for potential next purchases and why:
135L - The lens is a superb piece of work, the images it delivers are fantastic, is plenty fast at f/2.0, I love it and would love to own it. Also as its just £700 now it makes it even more tempting.
70-200L f/2.8 IS - The lens is a beast, I use one constantly when assisting and think it'd be a great addition. It delivers great images, has an awesome useable focal length, VERY quick at 2.8 which is invaluable, the IS is brilliant, eventually I WILL own this lens, there is no doubt about that, but do I get it next or not? - Second hand the MkI is coming in at around £900 for a mint one, making it affordable.
50mm f/1.4 - I have the 1.8....it doesn't get much use but when I do use it it DOES deliver well...I've used the 1.4 several times now and the build quality and image quality it delivers over it is worth the outlay in my opinion. Its around £250 now, by the time I've sold the 1.8 for say £70 it makes it roughly £180 - very cheap for the images it delivers, just like the 1.8. It also delivers a much nicer bokeh in comparison to the 1.8 which is a bit harsh to be honest. Although nice if your starting out in photography (hence why I got it)
OR
5D Classic - I currently use a 40D which is brilliant...it's quick, delivers great images, I'm very used to it and it suits me brilliantly. However, when I did a wedding with Nick a couple of weeks ago he used his 5D Classic and going through the images it's almost a direct comparison between the 40D and 5D and I have to say I am preferring the 5D's images overall. The full frame that gives the softer DoF is to die for (yes I realise that sounds a tad gay
), the better ISO performance are the main 'wants' and reasons why I want the thing. Things pushing me away from it are the LCD screen on the back, I'm used to having a great screen on the 40D and the 5D's screen in comparison sucks balls, also I'm just so used to the 40D now, I pick up a 5D and it feels slightly alien to me. Now ideally I wouldn't want to sell the 40D, I'd like to have it as a second body/backup, I could probably pick up a well looked after 5D for around £700. 580ex II - I have a 430ex II right now and use it all the time, but I've been doing a fair bit of off camera flash work recently and been finding having a flash with a bit more umph would be nicer. Also the ability to control other flashes as well (something the 580 offers over the 430 which is another big plus), plus it's weather sealed. These are around the £250 - £280 mark now I think? Haven't checked properly if I'm honest, also it would be nice to have 2 flashes.
Pocket wizards or similar - I VERY nearly bought an elinchrom kit the other week, and pretty sure I'm going to get it anyway. It's £135 and is basically pocketwizards but without the brand. Just sold my ST-E2 so the outlay is only about £40.
Some people are probably thinking "Jeez Jake, your clearly able to throw a fair chunk of money into photography at the minute, why not go for that 5D II you've been craving since it was released?" - Well obviously this is a thought that has crossed my mind several times, as it affectively brings what I like of the 40D and the 5D into one package and is better overall and has amazing ISO capabilities and as we've seen from Raymonds thread...is no lacky when it comes to performing for weddings. I really want this camera....like I REALLY want one. New can be had for about £1500 and second hand £1200.
I could afford it before christmas but I don't know. Gut instinct is telling me to buy more glass first, for £1500 I could have the 70-200, 50mm 1.4 and 580ex, allowing me to do a lot more. It's why I'm not massively considering it right now, but my want for one hasn't gone at all.
So as you can see I haven't got a clue or made any real decision as to what to save for next.
I wondered, after you have read all of that gibberish, what you think and what you would go for. Don't say "I'd go for the 70-200 because I do a lot of motorsport" because I don't do motorsport
- I shoot portraits, weddings and people. I want something that will benefit me for those Many thanks for reading, I appreciate the time taken
Jake