Perfect Weather

I enjoyed a hike around Saratoga Battlefield this morning not having to think about what lens I wanted to use. Time will tell whether the choice of the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 over the 24-105mm f/4L is a good one or not. But, as much as I love fast prime lenses, I think I'm done harboring any illusions that they are an option for me.

Today was one of those perfect days with coolish temperatures, blue sky with some clouds, little wind and no biting insects. Here are some scenes from this morning's hike.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 32mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 35mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

Can't Stop Changing

I got tired of carrying around the 85mm lens and not using it. I can carry a flash and batteries for about the same weight. So, I'm selling it. Life is now simpler with only the 28-70mm and 28mm pancake lenses. 

Both lenses have f/2.8 maximum apertures. I won't be able to rely on very wide, very close or very blurry to make photos interesting. It will be a healthy exercise to be limited in this way. We'll see how long it lasts.

I stopped at Falls View Park in Cohoes this morning and walked the stairway and path down to the river level - and back up. This park is only accessible from May to October.

These first two shots, from the same spot, show my current focal length limits, 28mm and 70mm.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 70mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 51mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 70mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 58mm, f/6.7, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 70mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

Only a Week Away

I'm still working out which bag and lenses combination works out best without having to constantly move everything around. It's a work in progress.

This morning I put the camera and 28-70mm and 85mm lenses in the Think Tank Speed Freak bag and walked around Waterford. We're eight days away from the scheduled opening of the canal season with the Canalfest taking place the following day. 

The flight of locks hasn't been flooded yet as work on some of the locks continues. The buoys for the Hudson River are stored on barges in the middle of the flight so all that has to happen in the next week.

Last year high water delayed the opening of the canal for weeks. There's no sign of anything like that this year.

The tugboat C. L. Churchill, shown in the foreground at Waterford Harbor, is the companion tug for the replica canal boat Seneca Chief which is also aground in the middle of the flight of locks and will be present for the Canalfest.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 70mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 70mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/4, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 39mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 47mm, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100