2012 Gear Review - Lenses

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!

Social Media stuff, if you're into that:
Twitter - @geraldgonz
Facebook - Gerald Gonzales (Photographer)
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And to view my work:
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2012 Gear Review - Camera Bodies

Time to review my gear and how I used them for the past year and to try and figure out what to do with them for 2013. This week (or post), I will cover camera bodies.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - This is my workhorse and primary camera. It is my main stills and video camera.  No complaints here.  I'm quite sure it will be around for the whole of 2013 barring any unfortunate incidents. Whether it will be as my main camera or a back-up remains to be seen.  It's not a bad camera and it certainly didn't go bad overnight with the release of the Mk III.

Canon EOS 60D - I bought this primarily because I found a great deal.  I needed a second video camera anyway as I have been offering video services as of late. It is primarily a video camera for me.  I've installed Magic Lantern on it and it has unleashed the better camera that quietly resided deep inside it prior to the ML upgrade.   I have also used this body for my product work as the flip-out screen has proven handy for certain shots.  This will probably be around in my arsenal for the whole of 2013. I don't see any reason to upgrade this body.

Canon EOS 5D - The classic. I used this for volume work.  I've pretty much used this for most of my product e-commerce work where the megapixels do not matter.  I also use this for my time-lapse work for Graffiti House LA.  Other than that, this 5D Classic is pretty much just an incaseshithappens camera.  I have plans of selling it if I find the need for another camera body.

Canon EOS 40D - Another incaseshithappens camera. I like it keeping it around though as it is my only "fast" camera at 5 frames per second in burst mode. The 60D shoots at the same rate, but I don't have a grip for the 60D.  I also use this for my eBay photos. At 10 megapixels, shot in small jpg, I don't have to resize my photos.  It shows up fine on eBay and greatly reduces upload time.  I also use this for time-lapses. This will get sold to fund another camera body should I find that camera.

Fujifilm X100 -  I love this camera.  It is my favorite camera. I do not carry a Canon body as a walk-around anymore.  For daily use, this is the only camera I need.  I just love everything about this camera.  Well, almost everything.  The autofocus has a lot to be desired, but other than that, it is the perfect camera for me.  I have even used the X100 to shoot a whole lookbook for a Mens fashion line.  I also keep it on me as a second camera on the few events that I shoot. Rumors are that there is an X200 in the works, but I'll probably hold off until 2014 for that.

Hasselblad 500c - My only film camera at this point. I've sold off everything else.  I used to have a Canon EOS Elan II, Bronica ETRS, Mamiya C3, and various 35mm film bodies (Nikon, Minolta, etc).  I hardly used this in 2012.  I shot a roll of 120 film every time I did a portrait or a headshot for somebody.  It was not part of the package I offered, but I just did it for fun.  I like having the square prints and sticking them on my wall.  I rarely shoot film now, but if I do, it will be with the Hassy.  That reminds me ... I have a 4x5 camera somewhere. I haven't seen it in the last two years, I think.

My gear path in 2013 is still unclear.  I can probably just keep all the cameras mentioned above and I'll do just fine.  There is no immediate need for upgrades, however, who doesn't want new gear?  If I do find a good deal, I will probably upgrade one or two of the cameras mentioned earlier.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is actually tempting.  Ultimately, I don't really need it but I do WANT it.  The new auto-focus system alone is enough justification.  Too bad it is too expensive.  The less expensive alternative, the Canon EOS 6D does not appeal to me at all.  Yes, it is newer technology, but the sticking points to me are the old-style focusing system and the 1/180th flash sync speed.  Those two reasons make it a non-starter for me.

I am also tempted to make a jump to digital medium format.  I came really close to buying a Mamiya ZD recently.  It is the only affordable system for me in this category.  In the end, the old technology swayed me away from it.  I still want "that look" though. Who knows? A good deal on craigslist or eBay, I just might give in.

In terms of video, I am highly intrigued by the Digital Bolex.  Somehow, while everybody is excited about the Black Magic Cinema Camera, it just doesn't do it for me.  Not interested.  However, should the Digital Bolex become available, and if my finances let me, I think I'll jump in.  Maybe. Not really. But still.

Next post will be about lenses. Hopefully next week.

(I'm going to hashtag that ... #incaseshithappens )


Social Media stuff, if you're into that:
Twitter - @geraldgonz
Facebook - Gerald Gonzales (Photographer)
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And to view my work:
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Self-Portrait: The Return of The King

No, I do not refer to myself as The King, but it was a fairy tale that motivated me. Today, the Ninth of January in the year 2012, Thierry Henry played scored the match winner against Leeds United in his first match for the Arsenal since leaving in 2007. It was a Hollywood ending and it left me a bit teary-eyed. Anyhow, it was enough to inspire to make a self-portrait afterwards.

No, that was not an Instagram shot. The idea for this shot is from Jeremy Cowart's CreativeLive session a year or two ago. My version was shot with a Canon 5D Mark II through this old Kodak Duoflex II camera.

And this is how it was lit:

The key light was a White Lightning X1600 with a 36" Octa on it, located camera left. The rim light is an Alien Bees AB800 with a 10 degree grid on it. These are all Paul C. Buff products.

This is what it looked like straight out of the camera:

Since the Kodak is a Twin Lens Reflex camera, the image is reversed. There was hardly any post-processing on my final image other than reversing the photo, cropping, and I pushed up the greens a little bit.

Thank you for the taking the time to read my post. Should you be interested in more of my musings on photography and/or Arsenal, you can follow me on twitter at: @geraldgonz

THE KING IS BACK!

CHOICES - My Help-Portrait Story

When Jeremy Cowart introduced Help-Portrait in 2009, I had originally planned on getting involved. Something happened and I was unable to do it. I heard about the amazing and often heart-wrenching stories of the people involved.

Last October, I had an opportunity to be involved in a mini Help-Portrait event with Jeremy Cowart himself. Jeremy offered me the opportunity to shoot, but I declined. I thought I should give the people the opportunity to be shot by a top photographer instead of a hack like me. I was in awe of the effect of the portraits. I was not going to miss this year's.

Fast-forward to December 8, 2011 at the Union Rescue Mission in an area of Los Angeles that we call Skid Row. So while we did not have stories as compelling as the ones I've heard, there was a small series of events that I still think about, almost two weeks after the event.

I met this man named James. We got off on the wrong foot. I introduced myself had a 30 second conversation about the URM and we proceeded to our shooting station. He was wearing a black jacket and a red button down shirt underneath. He asked me if he should take off his jacket and I said yes since we were shooting against a dark background. He replies with a scowl "What a waste, I really wanted the jacket ..." So we ended up shooting with his jacket on.

We were having problems with printers at URM and James was getting impatient. It was quite a tense situation. I was not in the good graces of this man. Then I noticed he had an old Sports Illustrated magazine from 1986 with Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden on the cover. I tried to make small talk about it. He says he has another one - with Len Bias on the cover. Len Bias was a very talented basketball player who overdosed and passed away shortly after getting drafted by the Boston Celtics. I remember those events quite clearly as they were hyping him as the next great one. I thought it was a very sad story. So I said it ... "That's a sad story, the kid had everything". James empathically replied "ain't nothing sad about that, he made a choice. Every choice has a consequence. I made choices, I don't think I'm a sad story."

That statement stuck with me. So much that I spent an awkward minute or two in silence with him while we waited for an available printer.

Unfortunately for me, he declined to write his story on his printed portrait. I guess I will never know. He has, however, changed the way I look at my daily choices.

* If you would like to learn more about Help-Portrait, please visit www.help-portrait.com

Let's Go Hair

So this ...

turns into

to produce: