Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Equipment

I've been asked a lot lately what kind of equipment I use so I thought I'd let y'all know!
I shoot with a Canon 5D and I have two lenses, a 16-35mm 2.8 for wide shots and an 85mm 1.2 for portraits. I also use the 580 ex11 speedlight and bounce it off of the ceiling in low light situations.
I shoot in RAW format and then bring my images into photoshop to color correct them.

So now I have a question for you! What's your favorite lens to shoot with? I want to buy a new one but not sure which!

46 comments:

Life of Cleveland Criders said...

Canon 50mm 1.4 (simple and sweet) Cost effective but not Prime lens either.

Maddie said...

thanks for the awesome info! i actually ordered the 85mm lens for my canon 5d, and literally got it 30 minutes ago in the mail! i can't wait to get home from work and try it out :) i currently own the 24-105 mm, but i feel like i don't get the crispness i was hoping for, and i don't know if it's my settings or the lens, but i do enjoy the lens for the most part. the disappointing sharpness must be user-error :( anywho, thanks again! :)

colormekatie said...

It's not you Maddie, It's the lens! I was talking to a friend yesterday and he was telling me all about how the 24-105mm isn't a sharp lens.

Jessie Keylon said...

You take such beautiful photos! I have been using a Nikon, so if you ever find yourself switching to a Nikon and needing a great lens- my favorite is the 17-55 mm f/2.8 lens. Just shot a wedding this weekend, and only used one lens- this lens. Nice zoom coverage, impeccable sharpness, fast focusing.
Never used a Canon, so I am not sure what the equivalent would be. Love the speedlight; reflecting that off the tent at the wedding made for some fantastic shots.

Thanks!

Carolina John said...

We shoot with a nikon d40 with an 85 - 200 mm zoom lens. it lets us get far enough away from the kids to shoot them without interrupting play time. the most natural shots are the best.

leni said...

I like my nikkor 18-200mm lens, mostly because it keeps me from having to switch back and forth between lenses. But I have to add, it's so much easier to grab my little point-and-shoot camera sometimes! I'm loving my new little nikon S630 digital camera. For me, it's totally worth it to have a small camera to use on a daily basis and a nicer camera/lens for more professional photos.

Christopher said...

My favorite lens is the Canon EF 70-300mm 1:4,0-5,6 IS USM. I use it mainly for portraits and landscape/night shots. In my opinion it has a very good optical quality without being too expensive and too heavy.

Adelaide said...

I bought a Nikon D50 for my journalism courses, but I graduated a year ago and haven't been at all inspired to pick up it up again... until I started reading your blog. :)

ZEPETIT said...

You will get lovely photos!

Zepequeña.

Cati said...

I'm a nikkon girl and I only have one lens because my actual camera isn't mine - I'll have to return it someday and I have the one that was in the bag with the camera - 35-70 2,8. It's not sharp at all and I'm saving for a nifty fifty - 50mm 1,4.

Though I know it's all personal, I would suggest you to try lightroom because I just tried it last week and I gotta say I love it, much better than CameraRaw. I specially love that the sharpening on lightroom works perfectly.

Just saying ;)

Kodi Baer said...

I use a 28mm 2.8, but i doubt you could use that because its a sony

Liz Fulcher, The Fragrant Muse said...

I am so grateful for this information. I am in the market for a new camera and considering the Nikon D60, but I'm open to other ideas.

Amanda Mae said...

Canon 50mm 1.4 !
I only have a couple of lenses ... thanks for your recommendations - I'm scouring for my next lens purchase!

Amanda Mae said...

Ps.. good to know about the 24-105 lens... I thought it was me too!

beth said...

I can't live without my macro lens and my 70-300 lens....they do everything for me except portraits !!

Spartan Sojourner said...

I go back and forth between the canon 50mm f1.8 (Far more cost effective than the f1.4 and gets as good of if not better reviews for significantly cheaper) and a Tamron 28-75 f2.8

http://spartansojourner.net46.net if you want to see samples

Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

I use a Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 which is really my first lens outside of kit. I also use Minolta AF 50mm 2.8 Macro and 50mm 1.7 for various other things. The Sigma isn't really the best in terms of sharpness and distortion, but it's been with me for some time and it's my walk-about lens.

Allie said...

I'm currently using the 50mm f1.8 lens with my Nikon - it's the required lens for the community photography class I'm taking. I was just researching new lenses, so these comments are really helpful!

. said...

24-70 2.8L a work horse, couldn't live without it! use center focus its a bit touchy.

gingerbee said...

I'm just using the Nikkor 50mm/1.8 -- it's the first lens I bought for my Nikon d80, so I'm kinda stuck with it. I love it, but I'm on the look out for a better one if ever...what do you think of Tamron lenses?

Anonymous said...

you already got the best one, the 85.

keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

Your blog is wonderfull!
My favourite lens is the fish eye. You should try it! it makes everything look magical and misterious. really recommend it :)

Madeline Marshall said...

This is my first comment, but I absolutely love this blog!

I shoot with a 5D as well (just got the mkii, very excited). I got a 24-70 2.8 and now its my main lens. You can still get pretty wide without too much bending like a 16, but having the 70 is great for details or close ups when I physically can't move up. I looked at the 24-105 like someone had mentioned earlier, but decided to go with the 70 instead because the 24-105 is only an f4 and isn't as sharp. This one is SHARP.
I don't own one, I bum off of my friend, by a 70-200 2.8 is one of th best lenses I've used. But if you don't want to shed the $1500 and don't need something so tight I'd stick to the 70. I only use the 200 for press conferences or times where I have to be back a good bit.

For playing around, I use a Sigma 60mm macro 1.8 and I love it. Still pretty sharp (it's Sigma) but it's affordable and can get you ridiculously close.

April said...

i shoot with a Rebel xti, the original 18-55mm and i recently picked up an FD 1.8 55mm lens to try out the "make your own bokeh" you had in an earlier blog. and got good results. although everything is manual i find it better because i can see the images and distort them by changing the focus.

i love your blog, i find myself wanting to try so many of the things you do. keeeeep posting, cause i love coming here to find new posts from you.

colormekatie said...

aww thank you so much Ril!

Michelle said...

I absolutely love your photos. I always make one my desktop background on my laptop, and I ALWAYS get compliments from any one who sees them. Thanks for decorating my computer! You are so much fun and always inspire me to add more color to my life :o)

Unknown said...

i'm a new reader here, but i've read all the pages! you are, truely, inspiring, and i'm a better person for it.
i have a question though...i've been coveting the canon 5d, but until i win the lottery, i'll have to find something in the %500-$1000 (tops...if i must) price range. i've heard good things about nikon50d, 60d, rebel xti, but i haven't used them so i have no idea...i've resisted digital for so long, i just want it to be as good as film. any thoughts? what's the next best thing you would recommend?
tia!

herecomesthesun said...

wow so happy to have found your blog. you take some amazing pics!

No Big Dill said...

what i want to know is how you took a picture of your camera. that's a great trick.

lucia said...

i really love my fisheye 4,5mm 2.5. but it's a very especific lens, you can't use it for all...

Root and Leaf said...

wow! i just discovered your blog. so refreshing and imaginative. i will visit often :)

*ruthie

ashlee said...

I just wanted to say that I absolutely love, love, love your blog! You're so adorable and lovely! I spent all of last night reading all of your posts (only to wake up a little late but it was worthwhile!) Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful adventures!

Ilgaz Erel said...

I would recommend 24-70 2.8 usm L
a bit expensive but hell goood!!
I have to buy myself one of those!

dino said...

hey..do you have one of those LOMO cameras? I think you'l make good use of it and take cool photos. consider getting on of those if you don't have.

check this out...

www.lomography.com

:)

Unknown said...

I would concur with the 50mm f/1.4. And compared to the L lenses you have, it's like free.

Anonymous said...

if you were only allowed one lens.

Canon 28mm f/1.8 USM

Dee said...

Love your beautiful pictures!

I have my Nikon D40 and the lens which I love to use always are my kit lens 18-55mm and the portrait lens 50mm f1/4. I wanted to get the another lens too and not sure wich one as well... =S

Jill said...

I love my 100mm macro but it's tied with my 135 2.0.......with the 5D? Fabulousness! I also must concur re the 50mm 1.4.....great lens also. I'm not much help am I? I have a little bit of a equipment addiction...:)

Maria Ison said...

I'm a Nikon girl at heart and I own the D90. I recently bought the SB600 speedlight and the Nikkor 50mm 1.8 and I am in love! I rarely shoot with anything else.

Btw,I am a new reader of your blog and my goodness, I can't help but smile just thinking about your blog entries. Thanks for putting a smile on my face.

Anonymous said...

If I were a Canon guy, I would seriously think about their 10-22...that is a fine lens.
But I am a Nikon guy and I live in the world of macros most of the time so my fave lens is actually the Tamron 90 f/2.5, 1980-vintage manual focus.

Jan-Paul said...

First of all, I like your blog very much! Very creative and new ideas.
About your lens: I'm a Nikon user, but I love my 105mm Macro lens.
Canon has the Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 USM Macro.
It is super to make photos of tiny details, like inside flowers.

Or what about the lensbaby!
That's a fantastic piece of equipment, that should realy fits you. www.lensbaby.com

Best regards from Berlin, Germany.

Anonymous said...

nevermind - just found my answer!

Courtney said...

I hope you don't mind my asking where you purchased your neck strap? It's so cute and fun! I've been looking for neck straps like that for a long time!
Thanks [:

Mark said...

I love my 70-200 2.8L. I just came across your blog and it is really fun and creative.

The Rigelsky Family said...

24-70mm 2.8 LOVE IT. (canon)

PeaceLoveAmy said...

My dad's old 50mm lens from the film canon he gave me. It doesn't shoot the same in digital but it's my absolute favorite in film.