Mark's New Toy Thread

[MarkBarbieri]

My first new toy of the spring toy buying season has arrived. I got a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 IS USM lens.

I really wanted a lens longer than my 70-200mm and struggled with the decision of what to buy. I rented a 100-400mm for my Colorado vacation last summer. I liked it, but I wasn't thrilled with it. I wasn't a fan of the push-pull zoom design (although I can see how it would be great for BIF shooters). I also didn't like the relatively narrow aperture.

I also considered the 300mm f/4, the 400mm f/5.6, the 400 f/2.8, and the 400mm f/4. For me, the 300mm f/2.8 seemed to be the best fit.

I think it will be a great focal length for kid's soccer. For wildlife shooting, I can slap on a 1.4x or 2.0x teleconverter. It's got a great reputation and, until the new 200mm f/2 came along, was considered to be Canon's sharpest lens.

It's a big beast. It comes in it's own hard shelled case. Personally, I'd rather have them shave some money off the price and skip the case. I'm not sure what I'll use it for. I guess it's good for storage, but a bit of cardboard and Styrofoam would have worked just as well.

It doesn't have a lens cap. It's got this pouch like thing that slips over then end. It seems kind of dodgy. I might spring for a lens cap for it, but $45 seems kind of pricey.

The hood is also a bit awkward. You have to unscrew a part, take it off, flip it around, put it back on, and then tighten the screw. The nice thing is that, once you have it on, it stays on pretty tightly.

It's the first lens I've ever had with 6 buttons. Like my 70-200mm, it has buttons for AF on/off, IS on/off, IS mode, and focus range limiter. It also has a switch for saving an AF position and a button for recalling that position. I think the theory is that I might set the focus button for something like 2nd base. Then, when a runner is heading for second, I can push the button to recall the focus and get the shot without having track the runner. Maybe it'll seem really useful to me someday, but I'm not seeing it right now.

It's the first lens I've had that has strap mounts. I don't think this thing is going on my Black Rapid. I just don't trust it with that much weight. I'll use on of my old neoprene straps for it.

I also ordered something to set it on. I should get that later this week.

 

[saturndb]

Nice lens Can not wait to see some pics with it.
It looks like u are having fun spending your bonus!

 

[KramBerries]

I think a 7D would work well with it.

 

[ukcatfan]

My first new toy of the spring toy buying season has arrived. I got a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 IS USM lens.

I really wanted a lens longer than my 70-200mm and struggled with the decision of what to buy. I rented a 100-400mm for my Colorado vacation last summer. I liked it, but I wasn't thrilled with it. I wasn't a fan of the push-pull zoom design (although I can see how it would be great for BIF shooters). I also didn't like the relatively narrow aperture.

I also considered the 300mm f/4, the 400mm f/5.6, the 400 f/2.8, and the 400mm f/4. For me, the 300mm f/2.8 seemed to be the best fit.

I think it will be a great focal length for kid's soccer. For wildlife shooting, I can slap on a 1.4x or 2.0x teleconverter. It's got a great reputation and, until the new 200mm f/2 came along, was considered to be Canon's sharpest lens.

It's a big beast. It comes in it's own hard shelled case. Personally, I'd rather have them shave some money off the price and skip the case. I'm not sure what I'll use it for. I guess it's good for storage, but a bit of cardboard and Styrofoam would have worked just as well.

It doesn't have a lens cap. It's got this pouch like thing that slips over then end. It seems kind of dodgy. I might spring for a lens cap for it, but $45 seems kind of pricey.

The hood is also a bit awkward. You have to unscrew a part, take it off, flip it around, put it back on, and then tighten the screw. The nice thing is that, once you have it on, it stays on pretty tightly.

It's the first lens I've ever had with 6 buttons. Like my 70-200mm, it has buttons for AF on/off, IS on/off, IS mode, and focus range limiter. It also has a switch for saving an AF position and a button for recalling that position. I think the theory is that I might set the focus button for something like 2nd base. Then, when a runner is heading for second, I can push the button to recall the focus and get the shot without having track the runner. Maybe it'll seem really useful to me someday, but I'm not seeing it right now.

It's the first lens I've had that has strap mounts. I don't think this thing is going on my Black Rapid. I just don't trust it with that much weight. I'll use on of my old neoprene straps for it.

I also ordered something to set it on. I should get that later this week.

My plan is to go out Friday morning and shoot some birds along the nearby lake. I might head over to the school later and shoot some kids.

HAHA!!! We now have proof that the elusive KramBerries is actually Mark!!! (Like there was really any doubt to begin with )

Congrats on the new toy Mark. I look forward to seeing what that monster can do.

 

[jfinke]

Very nice..

However, $45 lens cap does not seem too expensive for a $5300 lens...

 

[KramBerries]

HAHA!!! We now have proof that the elusive KramBerries is actually Mark!!! (Like there was really any doubt to begin with )

Congrats on the new toy Mark. I look forward to seeing what that monster can do.

I have no idea what you are talking about. I posted my reply to Mark's comment. I edited it correct a simple typo. Then you quote me 20 minutes later but change my quote to something about birds and lakes.

I still think a 7D would work well with it.

 

[Bstanley]

it will be a great focal length for kid's soccer.

Yeah, similar to how a BMW M5 has a great trunk size for bringing home the groceries.

Wow, 5 + pounds of the purest, most precise glass that have ever existed, how cool is that...

SImply owning it is an awesome responsibility though - Canon probably monitors each picture taken to make sure the owner is taking shots worthy of the effort that went into crafting it...

 

[ukcatfan]

I have no idea what you are talking about. I posted my reply to Mark's comment. I edited it correct a simple typo. Then you quote me 20 minutes later but change my quote to something about birds and lakes.

I still think a 7D would work well with it.

 

[RBennett]

I'm with you on this one, buddy. I saw the original post also and was like.... .

 

[WVDisGeek]

Mark,

Thanks for stimulating the economy! We can now live/photograph through your lens! I can only aspire to owning a lens that needs its own strap!!!

You might want to watch out for that KramBerries guy, he sounds just a touch "off"!

 

[handicap18]

Be careful at the kids soccer games with that lens. I'm sure you'll have some "officials" and parents questioning you on your intentions with the set up. After all, this is the same lens you see on the sidelines of NFL and MLB games.

Maybe if your kids start playing baseball you can set yourself up next to the dug out and pretend your at Minute Maid Park. You'll certainly look the part.

Congrats on the new beast,,,, I mean lens. Looking forward to seeing your images taken with it.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Very nice..

However, $45 lens cap does not seem too expensive for a $5300 lens...

$45 is still $45 bucks. Maybe I'll just get a UV filter for it.

I have no idea what you are talking about. I posted my reply to Mark's comment. I edited it correct a simple typo. Then you quote me 20 minutes later but change my quote to something about birds and lakes.

I still think a 7D would work well with it.

Dude, I don't think anyone is buying your nonsense.

Yeah, similar to how a BMW M5 has a great trunk size for bringing home the groceries.

Wow, 5 + pounds of the purest, most precise glass that have ever existed, how cool is that...

SImply owning it is an awesome responsibility though - Canon probably monitors each picture taken to make sure the owner is taking shots worthy of the effort that went into crafting it...

Canon's going to have to be disappointed. I'm the poster child for trying to compensate for a lack of artistry with a surfeit of gear. Surely this lens will be expensive enough to do the trick, though.

Mark,

Thanks for stimulating the economy! We can now live/photograph through your lens! I can only aspire to owning a lens that needs its own strap!!!

You might want to watch out for that KramBerries guy, he sounds just a touch "off"!

I stock my Smugmug strap on it, mounted the camera to it, and took it out today to shoot my kids as they came out of school. My wife was worried about what the other parents would think.

Be careful at the kids soccer games with that lens. I'm sure you'll have some "officials" and parents questioning you on your intentions with the set up. After all, this is the same lens you see on the sidelines of NFL and MLB games.

Maybe if your kids start playing baseball you can set yourself up next to the dug out and pretend your at Minute Maid Park. You'll certainly look the part.

Congrats on the new beast,,,, I mean lens. Looking forward to seeing your images taken with it.

I turned down a chance to shoot the Dynamo (local pro soccer team) in a scrimmage against a local university team. I don't have monopod yet. The guy who invited me is the guy who I usually borrow a monopod from. There is no way I'm handholding that thing for a soccer game.

Most of the NFL guys (and probably the MLB guys) use this lens's big brother - the 400mm f/2.8. That's my dream lens. As much as I'd love that lens, I'm too much of a pragmatist so I settled for the somewhat less ridiculous 300mm version.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

When I ordered the lens, I also ordered some tripod gear from RRS. I bought a tripod (TVC-33), ball head (BH-55), quick release clamp (B2 AS II), two lens plates (L84 and B61), and a carrying bag (TQB-80).

I hadn't heard anything from RRS, so I called them today. They got my order OK, but the tripod is on back order. Really right customer service would have been to send me an order confirmation and an explanation of when I'd get it. Oh well, it is what it is.

Now my issue is that they are guessing that the lens will arrive in about 6 weeks. That's right when I'll be in Monterey and would like to have it for shooting those rat things that float around in the ocean. I may have to make do with my smaller tripod. It's going to be undersized for the 300mm with a 2x in the usually windy coastal conditions, but I'll make do. The alternative is to have them hold it and just drive down to San Luis Obispo to pick it up during my trip.

My credit card has cooled off a little since my initial binge, so I picked up some more tripod gear. Yes, after spending $1,400 on a tripod, a head, and a plate (I canceled the plate for the 300mm), I still needed more. When working with a long, heavy lens like the 300mm with a 2x on it, it is much better to use a gimbal style head rather than a ball head. The gimbal head hangs the camera/lens combination from it's center of mass, so it is really easy to control.

A full gimbal head is a fairly bulky and heavy beast, so I opted to go with a hybrid solution. Wimberly makes a product called the Sidekick. It attaches to a ball head and turns it into a workable gimbal head. It's not as nice as using the normal Wimberly, but it's cheaper and packs much smaller. So I ordered the sidekick, an adapter plate so that it will work with my ball head, and a plate for attaching to my lens. I went with the Wimberly plate rather than the RRS one because it is longer and will help me get better balance with the lens.

 

[ukcatfan]

When I ordered the lens, I also ordered some tripod gear from RRS. I bought a tripod (TVC-33), ball head (BH-55), quick release clamp (B2 AS II), two lens plates (L84 and B61), and a carrying bag (TQB-80).

I hadn't heard anything from RRS, so I called them today. They got my order OK, but the tripod is on back order. Really right customer service would have been to send me an order confirmation and an explanation of when I'd get it. Oh well, it is what it is.

Now my issue is that they are guessing that the lens will arrive in about 6 weeks. That's right when I'll be in Monterey and would like to have it for shooting those rat things that float around in the ocean. I may have to make do with my smaller tripod. It's going to be undersized for the 300mm with a 2x in the usually windy coastal conditions, but I'll make do. The alternative is to have them hold it and just drive down to San Luis Obispo to pick it up during my trip.

My credit card has cooled off a little since my initial binge, so I picked up some more tripod gear. Yes, after spending $1,400 on a tripod, a head, and a plate (I canceled the plate for the 300mm), I still needed more. When working with a long, heavy lens like the 300mm with a 2x on it, it is much better to use a gimbal style head rather than a ball head. The gimbal head hangs the camera/lens combination from it's center of mass, so it is really easy to control.

A full gimbal head is a fairly bulky and heavy beast, so I opted to go with a hybrid solution. Wimberly makes a product called the Sidekick. It attaches to a ball head and turns it into a workable gimbal head. It's not as nice as using the normal Wimberly, but it's cheaper and packs much smaller. So I ordered the sidekick, an adapter plate so that it will work with my ball head, and a plate for attaching to my lens. I went with the Wimberly plate rather than the RRS one because it is longer and will help me get better balance with the lens.

Mark, I believe you have more invested in your tripod gear than I have in my entire system!

 

[Gdad]

What? No pictures yet? You've had that thing for four days now.

 

[KramBerries]

What? No pictures yet? You've had that thing for four days now.

Dude, he's talking about stuff not pictures. Besides, he posted a picture of lens. What more do you want?

 

[KramBerries]

Mark, I believe you have more invested in your tripod gear than I have in my entire system!

I'm thinking that people with stability problems need to invest a lot in tripods.

 

[Gdad]

Dude, he's talking about stuff not pictures. Besides, he posted a picture of lens. What more do you want?

That looks like a picture he downloaded off the internet. I'm starting to wonder if Mark even bought one of these. This could be one of his 'elaborate hoaxes' you know.

 

[WVDisGeek]

Most of the NFL guys (and probably the MLB guys) use this lens's big brother - the 400mm f/2.8. That's my dream lens. As much as I'd love that lens, I'm too much of a pragmatist so I settled for the somewhat less ridiculous 300mm version.

Well I guess some things are relative!!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

OK, to satisfy Jeff's odd desire for pictures rather than just talking about gear, I took a few shots today. I still don't have a tripod shoe for it, so these were hand held or shot with the lens sort of resting on the tripod head. All shots were taken at f/2.8 with the lens at 300mm. BTW, my wife was rather disappointed to hear that we spent all that money on the lens and it doesn't zoom. I think she'd prefer a 200-400 f/4, but alas, Nikon doesn't make one in an EF mount for some stupid reason.

This isn't a much of a shot. I included it to show how quickly the DOF falls off.

Here are a couple of portraits. The light is terrible. It's really cold here (got down into the 40s last night!), so we went to the park around 2:30 so it would be warm. Midday sunlight is not my favorite.

This is a decent bokeh acid test shot.

Here are a few from the tennis court.

On another subject, Canon announced a new video codec yesterday. It's a 4:2:2 format geared towards prosumer cameras. It looks a lot like HDV except for the 4:2:2 color sampling, double the bit rate (to 50Mbps), and it is file rather than tape based. It uses MXF files. I'm assuming (or at least hoping) that they'll announce the successor to the XH-A1s. That may pop onto my spring toy binge list if it looks good. We'd like another video camera. I was looking at their Vixia line, but I'd rather have something better.