This is part of a series of blog entries written by Jason about the more technical side of Jason Scott Photography.
I have shot about 50,000 photos on my Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens. It was my first L-series professional lens purchase, so it has some sentimental value. From 2004 until 2013, this lens was the workhorse of our photography business, but now, I don’t use it at all.
The 24-70 died a slow death. First, I purchased the EF 35m f/1.4L; the 35mm quickly replaced the 24-70 for wide indoor shots. In my opinion, the 35mm produces MUCH nicer photos. At f/1.4 the 35mm lets in four times more light than the 24-70; it works much better in low light (such as churches and wedding receptions). The 35mm also has better background blur, and I like the color and contrast better.
Another major blow to the 24-70 came when we purchased the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L. It turns out 16-35mm is a much more interesting focal length than 24-70mm, and the 16-35 is also much lighter. We began using the 16-35 to create dramatic wide angle photos at weddings. My experience with the 16-35 has been so outstanding, it is typically the only lens that Allyson and I bring on vacation. As my use of the 16-35 increased, I found myself reaching for the 24-70 less and less.
The final blow to the 24-70 came when I started using the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM for family beach portraits in late 2013. Even though the 24-70 was my default beach portrait lens for over a decade, I longed for photos with more dramatic lighting and softer backgrounds. The 70-200mm, in my opinion, creates a sharper image, give the subjects more “pop,” and gives a softer background. This, combined with off camera flash, creates much, much better photos than the 24-70 ever did.
Here are some comparison photos of some repeat beach portrait customers. The photos on the left were taken on the 24-70 between 2012 and 2013 and the photos on the right were taken on the 70-200 in 2014. (Granted, we've changed more than just the lens, but the difference in the quality of the photos is quite clear!)
At this point, the 24-70 has been out of service for over a year. I'm not sure if I'll ever use it again, but I can't bring myself to sell it just yet.
To find out more about the professional gear we use when we photograph Sarasota Weddings and Siesta Key Beach Portraits, click here.
PS - Don't forget, you can also follow this blog on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, or through your favorite feed reader
I have shot about 50,000 photos on my Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens. It was my first L-series professional lens purchase, so it has some sentimental value. From 2004 until 2013, this lens was the workhorse of our photography business, but now, I don’t use it at all.
The 24-70 died a slow death. First, I purchased the EF 35m f/1.4L; the 35mm quickly replaced the 24-70 for wide indoor shots. In my opinion, the 35mm produces MUCH nicer photos. At f/1.4 the 35mm lets in four times more light than the 24-70; it works much better in low light (such as churches and wedding receptions). The 35mm also has better background blur, and I like the color and contrast better.
Another major blow to the 24-70 came when we purchased the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L. It turns out 16-35mm is a much more interesting focal length than 24-70mm, and the 16-35 is also much lighter. We began using the 16-35 to create dramatic wide angle photos at weddings. My experience with the 16-35 has been so outstanding, it is typically the only lens that Allyson and I bring on vacation. As my use of the 16-35 increased, I found myself reaching for the 24-70 less and less.
The final blow to the 24-70 came when I started using the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM for family beach portraits in late 2013. Even though the 24-70 was my default beach portrait lens for over a decade, I longed for photos with more dramatic lighting and softer backgrounds. The 70-200mm, in my opinion, creates a sharper image, give the subjects more “pop,” and gives a softer background. This, combined with off camera flash, creates much, much better photos than the 24-70 ever did.
Here are some comparison photos of some repeat beach portrait customers. The photos on the left were taken on the 24-70 between 2012 and 2013 and the photos on the right were taken on the 70-200 in 2014. (Granted, we've changed more than just the lens, but the difference in the quality of the photos is quite clear!)
To find out more about the professional gear we use when we photograph Sarasota Weddings and Siesta Key Beach Portraits, click here.
PS - Don't forget, you can also follow this blog on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, or through your favorite feed reader
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