This is part two of my Gear Review for 2012. The first part regarding Camera Bodies can be found here. This is mostly notes for my future self. It lets me know what I need and don't need. It should also set my 2013 path, in regards to gear.
PRIMES
Canon EF 35mm f/2 - This is my favorite prime. I use it a lot for shooting video. I like the cinematic perspective. This lens and my 5D Mark II is a good match for daily use as well. It's a tad slow, in terms of AF, but I'm ok with it. I have no desire to upgrade to the f/1.4L. Unless I find a ridiculously good deal on it, of course.
Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro - This is my go-to lens for product work. I use this mostly on the 40D or the 60D. It's also a tad slow and noisy, just like my 35mm f/2. I don't like the fact that the barrel extends when focusing. I am tempted to buy the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro, except that I can't use that lens on a 5D.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM - This is the fastest lens in my arsenal. I think I pretty much only used it for video in 2012, even then, it wasn't used a whole lot.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM - My second favorite lens (behind the 35mm f/2). I use this for headshots, portraits, and most of my lookbook work. People always recommend the 85mm f/1.2L to me, but I'm not really inclined to upgrade my 1.8. I'd rather spend that money on a trip somewhere.
Promaster 100mm f/3.5 Macro - This is my go-to lens for product work on the 5D (Classic or Mark II). It is tack-sharp! It produces great images. BUT! But ... the AF is really slow and noisy. It hunts a lot, too. The build feels flimsy and cheap too. There are a lot of negatives for this lens. This one is up for an upgrade in 2013. The obvious choice is the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro. I think that one will suffice and there will be no need for the L-version, which is double the price. I will also look at similar offerings from Tamron, Sigma, or Tokina.
Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye - A lens I've hardly used in the past year. I actually forgot to include it in the photo. I might end up selling this in 2013. You can read more about this lens here.
Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft-Focus - This one I am pretty sure it never got mounted on a camera in this calendar year. This will definitely get sold in 2013. Just like the 15mm, I actually forgot to include it in the photo.
Canon EF 1.4x Extender - I didn't use it in 2013 either. I needed it on a job once only to find out that I forgot to bring it. I'll hold on to this one as there are uses for it.
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L - This one was also heavily used in 2012. Not for landscape or architecture photography but for product work. I used this mostly for T-Shirts shot flat on the ground. I'm very happy with this lens. No reason to upgrade to the Mark II in my opinion, although I am tempted to spring for the 45mm version or the 90mm. You can read more about this lens here.
ZOOMS
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM - I am not sure why I still have this. It used to be my favorite walk-around lens, but these days I only use it for video and only in handheld situations for the Image Stabilization. This may end up getting sold in 2013.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - I used this for the all of the events that I shot in 2012. I rarely used it for other jobs though. With this and the 24-105, one of them is redundant. I think I am keeping this one and selling the 24-105. I have no desire to upgrade to the Mark II as it is ridiculously expensive.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM - This used to be my favorite lens for portraits and headshots. I've gone to the 85mm f/1.8 instead lately. It is still an essential part of the arsenal. It is my longest lens. Since the uses of this lens has been limited for me lately, I do not see the need to upgrade to any of the IS versions.
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM - My widest lens aside from the fisheye. This has been fantastic for me. I'm really quite happy with it. Although for the video for Dirty Little Billy's Palm Trees and Concrete, I rented a Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L (Mark I) which was fantastic! I am on the look out for a deal on that lens. I'm not even interested in the Mark II version of the 16-35 because it uses 82mm filters, i think. But even if I don't find a 16-35mm Mk I, I'd be happy to keep the 17-40.
PRODUCT WORK LENSES
As I mentioned earlier, the Promaster 100mm is due for an upgrade. I am definitely doing that in the coming year. I'm on the fence about the 50mm, but I'm also on the fence about the potential replacement, the 60mm EF-S. If there is a third party 50mm or 60mm Macro option from either Sigma, Tamron, or Tokina, I would definitely consider that. And I do want a 45mm or 90mm TS-E lens. That is another option that I'm looking at - instead of upgrading the Promaster 100mm to the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro, I should probably just go with the Canon EF 90mm f/2.8 TS-E.
TWO FAVORITE LENSES
I am curious to find out if these two will still hold the top two spots at the end of 2013. If I could only have two lenses, it would be these two. If I had options outside what I own already, those two lenses would be the L-versions of these.
2013 GEAR ROAD MAP
In 2012, I ended up selling off a lot of lenses. I've sold my Contax Mount Zeiss lenses and all my M42 lenses. I also sold off the Nikon 14mm f/2.8 AF-D ED lens (see photo above). That was the only significant lens sale this past year. I didn't really buy any lenses either. Funds from these sales were mostly used on grip equipment.
I am pretty much set on lenses. I don't really need anything. I could survive with what I have. If there is an upgrade to be made, it is for the 100mm Macro range. As I've discovered by writing this post, the two options are the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM or the Canon TS-E 90mm. I could fund this upgrade by selling the 135mm Soft-Focus, the 24-105L, and the Promaster 100mm. Actually, I could probably buy the TS-E for the money from the 24-105L and the Promaster. That way, I can give the 135mm another chance during the year.
If I were to buy lenses in 2013 other than the 100mm Macro or the 90mm TS-E, the only two other lenses that I want are the 45mm TS-E and the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM. The latter only because it is cheap.
Thank you for reading. Happy New Year!
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