I’ve got a really big one, cheaper than a Ferrari and less painful than surgical enhancement.
I phoned Harrison Cameras yesterday, I only wanted a Dorr LED macro ring…..Their unused 400mm f2.8 was going begging. Couldn’t leave it at the price. Daft as a brush I am. I dreamt of it, well I would have…. had I got to sleep!
… I am now the proud owner of a lens that is as big and as expensive as a small car. I can see why. It has lots of buttons on it. Lots and lots of buttons and switches as well, the odd lever thrown in to promote yet further confusion!…. I can see the next investment being a battery pack for the 5D to run it and a gimballed tripod head to support it. I could well need a shopping trolley to move it and a Sherpa to carry the camera.
After six shots with the 5d II I could see a difference. Even on the lap top screen definition is better. Colour is all over the place, pushing magenta but being colour blind it could well have been pushing orange. I have to rely on others and then try and remember RGB histograms. I love it and have decided against the Hasselblad. So I have just spent an awful lot of money on Canon toys…
I’m back to where I was with gear and back to porridge. Porridge is fine as long as one has sugar and a raisin or two….. An apricot for Sundays.
Canon are a wee bit cheapo. They only give a big leather effect bag, posh leather effect but still a plastic bag and not a lens cover. No worries, lens covers are plastic and I have a dinner plate that will fit.. I presume they think a big posh hard case makes up for their remiss. Daft buggers!….Who wants that much money in a box that cries £10K worth? Wouldn’t survive one trip through Heathrow! I reflect that they aren’t that daft…. It gets nicked and I get the insurance….brilliant but my receipt only shows a fraction of £10K. Old for new insurance has to be the way to go…They sell another lens…I’m not completely barmy… neither are Canon.
After a dreadful year I hope this lens will earn it’s keep…. I’ll be fitter and thinner than a racing snake when I get it in position…..In position? ….I’ll be fit as fit as a butchers dog after getting it out of the van!….It’s up to me now.
Anyone wot comes around and has a Canon EF fit camera are welcome to play. The only conditions I will impose are:
(1) If you get crap on the front element. You Pay a team of window cleaners.
(2) You carry it yourself.
(3) You genuflect whenever I come within your peripheral vision.
(4) You have fun.
Having fun is what life is about. I am a fool and big is not necessarily best…
Except in Texas. Who cares a Texan big black hat is black….. Only Texans belief there are degrees of black. Only idiots like me own a lens bigger than Texas.
If I don’t post again the lens has done for me.
.
Hello Adrian, I am in envy of you to be able to afford both a Canon 5D ll and a 400mm lens, now all you need is a doubler and you get 800mm. Hope you have a great time taking long range photos. I guess you will show your images on here. Have fun my friend.
ReplyDeleteHorst, I had to sell gear to feed the dogs and me. I bought different gear back. I'll not bother with the doubler. Drops speed two stops and it's rare to get sunshine here. Fast lenses are a must.
DeleteThe images will still be middling.....
I am in awe. How much did it cost you? I look forward to see it in action, that is when it stops raining.
ReplyDeleteBob, it cost a kings ransom but it is new and was half catalogue price. I gave five thousand five hundred pounds. It is a horror to work but a beauty. I'll drop south and you can rent it for a pint.
DeleteYou Southerners! No sense of decorum. It's rude to ask what stuff costs
Wowee! What larks Pip! Porridge is very, very good for you, and you will get fit lugging Texas around with you. Either way, it's a winner!
ReplyDeleteI just hope that I can do it justice.
DeleteOh congrats on acquiring your new Canon toy. Lucky us.. we'll get to see the beautiful results. I'm looking forward to that.
ReplyDeleteHand holding it is going to be a challenge. I have a bean bag, I'll rest it on things.
DeleteYou've been knocking this around for along time. I'll bet it feels good to have made the deal. So nothing but super pictures from now on!
ReplyDeleteYes a good four months....There were several around just after the Olympics but I suspect this is the last.
DeleteCongratulations on the new toy Adrian. Looks a mighty fine beast; and faster than a Ferrari too.
ReplyDeleteKeith, 0-3 mph in thirty minutes.
DeleteExciting! Looking forward to more adventures with your new and spectacular acquisition :)
ReplyDeleteGlo, I can't wait to find out how sharp it is.
DeleteWow! congratulations on the new purchase Adrian, I guess the learning curve has just ramped up a few notches, will the old brain take it?
ReplyDeleteOne plus point is you're sure to get fitter lugging it around all those hills with you, or maybe, your plan is to just to kick back in the van, take pictures from a distance, and then try to hoodwink us into thinking that you've been on a nice long walk...hmmm!
Whichever way you do it Adrian I'm sure it won't be too long before we start to see some more magnificent pictures from you!
Have fun! (at least now you'll be able to photograph the rain from further away!!!)...[;o)
Trevor, the brain will be fine. I'm pretty sure that half the controls are popped on to justify the price.
DeleteI have tried it in the big rucksack and it is fine.
This rain is getting me down. I got soaked again this morning.
It almost seems a shame to use it Adrian. I am most jealous and just want to touch it. I think you should just perhaps put it on the mantlepiece and place a candle either side for morning worship! Look forward to some pictures from it, so get out there in the wind and rain.
ReplyDeleteGary I suspect I'll have as much fun taking pictures of it as with it.
DeleteLooks like a wonderful lens. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteHave fun.. oh but I know you will.
Laura, I am half hoping that when the rain stops I'll be able to give it a whirl.
DeleteNearly 0100 and no wine tonight and I still laughed out loud. Gosh I hope that Gaz doesn't read this just yet. The boat would list if he took one of those on board. And here's me just looking at a bridge camera I can carry between lives which will shoot in RAW and has a 2/3in CMOS sensor. Easily pleased am I.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I still use an old OLy 560 bridge camera. It is very slow but fits in my pocket. I use DSLRs from choice....endless opportunity for cuckoos!
DeleteNo wine? Dangerous is that.
Adrian, here I am popping in to read your blog (from GB's), and I am rolling with laughter at your story and at myself.
ReplyDeleteI have always been in awe at all the photography advice you give to GB, and now I can see WHY you are the Master of this craft.
What a fantastic camera...I hope you have lots of fun using it.
I am excited for you.
Virginia, this is just the lens, I'll get the camera next year....only kidding.
DeleteI am no master.....I just enjoy filling Graham up...I often wonder if his eyes have turned brown yet.
This is what you need Adrian:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/Bags-and-Tripods/Tripod-Heads/Benro-GH2-Gimbal-Head_BEN-BRGH2.htm
That lens is beautiful when shot wide open, the images I shot in the shop with it had a gorgeous bokeh and were razor sharp. I hope you have lots of fun using it.
Simon (Harrison Cameras)
Simon, I know....Pop one on one side. I also need a couple of ND grads, big uns for 77mm front end and the bloody holder and the damn adapter ring. Never stops doesn't this needing.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
If you want to learn how to embed links in comments then I know. It will cost you a shilling. I am a bit daft but what I know I know.
PS. Cokin holder will do but if you could see your way to providing Lee filters then I would be well made up.
DeleteIf it would let me edit my post I would do, but I'm guessing it's HTML tags to do the job.
DeleteWe don't do Lee filters but we do stock the Cokin Z-series. I'm quite a fan of using a polariser, 10-stop plain ND and then maybe a grad on top. You can get some lovely cloud movement that way but you can't see a lot through the viewfinder once you've cut out about 12 stops!
Simon, try this..
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