Black Mail

[Greg]

I'm very interested in low light candid photography often with action. A typical photshoot could be a stage scene of dancers or singers. Lighting is often very varied and inconsistent during a performance. The ideal lens is a very fast short telephoto. Thats the action I like to capture.

I am very interested in the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM. My wife said she will buy it for me, but there is a condition.

I can only have the new lens if I get rid of all my old gear. I hear you say, do it get to get the new lens. My old gear is a Canon AE1 and FTb, Tamron 38 80, Tamron 80 210, Sunpack 6000 Flash. I've had all from new for almost 50 years. Both bodies have perish rubber seals. Both lenses have fungus. The flash, I have been told, is too dangerous to use with modern cameras. Even so, there is a lot of sentimental attachment, especially for the AE1.

What would you do? Get rid of my beloved gear that will never be used, and get a super lens i will wear out, or keep my memories?

 

[Copterdoc]

I'm very interested in low light candid photography often with action. A typical photshoot could be a stage scene of dancers or singers. Lighting is often very varied and inconsistent during a performance. The ideal lens is a very fast short telephoto. Thats the action I like to capture.

I am very interested in the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM. My wife said she will buy it for me, but there is a condition.

I can only have the new lens if I get rid of all my old gear. I hear you say, do it get to get the new lens. My old gear is a Canon AE1 and FTb, Tamron 38 80, Tamron 80 240, Sunpack 6000 Flash. I've had all from new for almost 50 years. Both bodies have perish rubber seals. Both lenses have fungus. The flash, I have been told, is too dangerous to use with modern cameras. Even so, there is a lot of sentimental attachment, especially for the AE1.

What would you do? Get rid of my beloved gear that will never be used, and get a super lens i will wear out, or keep my memories?

I think you are convincing yourself. I view my equipment as tools only. I like some tools better than others, some for very specific jobs. My pleasure comes from using good tools that help me create the images I seek. When a tool can no longer be used to capture what I see or is less effective or efficient in that purpose, I consider upgrading, bank account permitting. If the tools are still in working order and of use to others, sell them to those who find pleasure in learning the craft or those who enjoy using the legacy tools for their own artistic purposes. I'm attached emotionally to my child, not my tools, to me tools are a means to an end. If the choice is your wife will buy you the new RF 85mm F1.2 or you can fondly hold the old equipment in your hands and have fond memories, I would go with the new lens. But hey, that's me. (;->

 

[Greg]

I think you are convincing yourself. I view my equipment as tools only. I like some tools better than others, some for very specific jobs. My pleasure comes from using good tools that help me create the images I seek. When a tool can no longer be used to capture what I see or is less effective or efficient in that purpose, I consider upgrading, bank account permitting. If the tools are still in working order and of use to others, sell them to those who find pleasure in learning the craft or those who enjoy using the legacy tools for their own artistic purposes. I'm attached emotionally to my child, not my tools, to me tools are a means to an end. If the choice is your wife will buy you the new RF 85mm F1.2 or you can fondly hold the old equipment in your hands and have fond memories, I would go with the new lens. But hey, that's me. (;->

I appreciate your point of view. I'm sentimentally attached, about some things, which is rare for me as I think I'm on an autistic level where sentimentality comes very low.

I'm attached to my wife, my cat, my phone. I suppose my gear is less of an attachment.

 

[Normware]

I think you are convincing yourself. I view my equipment as tools only. I like some tools better than others, some for very specific jobs. My pleasure comes from using good tools that help me create the images I seek. When a tool can no longer be used to capture what I see or is less effective or efficient in that purpose, I consider upgrading, bank account permitting. If the tools are still in working order and of use to others, sell them to those who find pleasure in learning the craft or those who enjoy using the legacy tools for their own artistic purposes. I'm attached emotionally to my child, not my tools, to me tools are a means to an end. If the choice is your wife will buy you the new RF 85mm F1.2 or you can fondly hold the old equipment in your hands and have fond memories, I would go with the new lens. But hey, that's me. (;->

As much as I like my old film cameras and have great attachment to them , I have always traded in the old kit to get the new kit. If your old equipment cannot be used, it is a dust collector. get the new lens.

 

[TMac99]

Greg, Check out this image by forum member Mara Lee - that might help you make up your mind up to trade in all your old stuff for that lens

157A3056f.jpg

rfshooters.com

@MaraLee - hope you don't mind me referencing your photo, but I figure once Greg sees that image, he'll be sold on the RF85 1.2

 

[Greg]

Greg, Check out this image by forum member Mara Lee - that might help you make up your mind up to trade in all your old stuff for that lens

157A3056f.jpg

rfshooters.com

@MaraLee - hope you don't mind me referencing your photo, but I figure once Greg sees that image, he'll be sold on the RF85 1.2

I had seen that earlier. It is beautiful how the subject almost looks like it was stuck on as a photoshop stunt.
For me the lens is fast and has a bit of telephoto, its ideal for candid. Extra telephoto reach is not necessary when the image is so big it can cope very well with heavy cropping and enlarging. I have been pushing the limits of my G1X. I cannot use the zoom as it makes the f number too big and the shutter speed far too long. I think I do well handholding for half a second with no IS.

 

[dmiller68]

@Greg I get you, I'm very bad about getting rid of old stuff. I still have a Panasonic Mirrorless and the Canon M6 that I have yet to sell even though I told her that I would sell them to help pay for the R Body I just bought to go with my RP. Also bought the Canon RF 15-35 f2.8... Hopefully she will forget I made this agreement.

 

[Greg]

What the eye does not see the heart will nor give over

 

[MaraLee]

Greg, Check out this image by forum member Mara Lee - that might help you make up your mind up to trade in all your old stuff for that lens

157A3056f.jpg

rfshooters.com

@MaraLee - hope you don't mind me referencing your photo, but I figure once Greg sees that image, he'll be sold on the RF85 1.2

I don't mind at all. It's here to share. I just printed that out on a canvas for my husband's birthday, and it looks fantastic. I love the 85 and would trade any unused old gear for it. It gets a lot of use.

 

[50/1.4]

I'm very interested in low light candid photography often with action. A typical photshoot could be a stage scene of dancers or singers. Lighting is often very varied and inconsistent during a performance. The ideal lens is a very fast short telephoto. Thats the action I like to capture.

I am very interested in the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM. My wife said she will buy it for me, but there is a condition.

I can only have the new lens if I get rid of all my old gear. I hear you say, do it get to get the new lens. My old gear is a Canon AE1 and FTb, Tamron 38 80, Tamron 80 210, Sunpack 6000 Flash. I've had all from new for almost 50 years. Both bodies have perish rubber seals. Both lenses have fungus. The flash, I have been told, is too dangerous to use with modern cameras. Even so, there is a lot of sentimental attachment, especially for the AE1.

What would you do? Get rid of my beloved gear that will never be used, and get a super lens i will wear out, or keep my memories?

I would take option 3 and have a serious sitdown with your wife. There seems to be a back story here not being told. You have sentimentally cherished items for 50 years that are worth a pittance, monetarily, but they must be sacrificed to get a new expensive lens? What are we missing here? Seriously.

 

[Normware]

I would take option 3 and have a serious sitdown with your wife. There seems to be a back story here not being told. You have sentimentally cherished items for 50 years that are worth a pittance, monetarily, but they must be sacrificed to get a new expensive lens? What are we missing here? Seriously.

Oooh Dr. Phil in the house!

 

[Ted M]

All photographers play with the triangular decider, but it is usually apature, speed and iso. Here you have sentimentality, practicality and financial. You perhaps need to find out how much you could get for the older stuff, then consider the financial benefit of disposing of it versus the sense of loss from seeing it go. Surely, you just HAVE to get good lenses to go with your new camera so the practicality part of the triangle is the simplest. Good luck with the balancing act and enjoy the new lens when you get it.

 

[Greg]

I have made up my mind about my old stuff, its all going. I have a look at it once in a while but none of it is usable. I have a huge man cave full of stuff I like and not much of it is useful, I think most blokes have that sort of arrangement.

I've also changed my mind about the lens. Now going for Canon's latest, RF 100mm f/2.8L 1.4:1 macro