28 Again

The RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM lens arrived late last week and I've been out with it a couple of times. Looking back at past blog articles about my former copy of this lens I noticed that all (almost) of the images I chose to include were at the 28mm focal length. 

It's generally accepted by reviewers that the wide end of this lens is its weakest performance. A comparison with Canon's 28mm pancake lens from The Digital Picture appears to bear this out. 

Having traded in my 24mm and 45mm lenses when I picked up the new zoom lens, I was without a small option as the new zoom is as large as the 85mm f/2 lens. The logical conclusion is that I need another copy of the 28mm pancake lens. I have a place for it in the Case Logic Kontrast DSLR bag I'm using for the rest of the gear and I have a small Lowepro bag which just fits the R6 Mark II with the pancake lens. 

Here are some photos from the new zoom lens.

Old Champlain Canal
RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 37mm, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

Old Champlain Canal
RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 61mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

Oakwood Cemetery
RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/6.7, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 39mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

General George Thomas Grave
RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 50mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

While I Wait [Again]

My 2026 gear plan collapse means that until the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 STM lens arrives, hopefully later this week, I have only the RF 85mm f/2 lens. I know that the 85mm lens will see far less use than the zoom once it arrives, but something longer than 70mm is necessary and the close focusing and f/2 aperture of the 85mm lens elevates it over other options. Plus, I already have it.

A day trip to the southern Adirondacks yesterday resulted in some images from Beecher Creek in Edinburg, Saratoga County, and Northampton Beach State Park on Great Sacandaga Lake in Fulton County. 

This state park, and the "lake" in general, is a MAGA boater magnet in summer but it's a nice place off season. There are both B&W and color galleries on the website in the NY State Parks folders.

RF 85mm f/2, f/16, 1/4 sec., ISO 50

RF 85mm f/2, f/16, 1/8 sec., ISO 100

RF 85mm f/2, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 85mm f/2, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 85mm f/2, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

My Plan Has Failed

My plan for using prime lenses has failed. There is way too much to deal with when changing lenses and filters while working out of a sling bag or backpack. I tried forcing lens changes this morning and it drove me crazy. And I wasn't rushed and conditions were nice. 

It was a nice hike along the tour road at the battlefield. By the time I was done I had pretty much decided what to do and did set up a transaction with MPB to trade in the 45mm and 24mm lenses and some cash for a 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM lens. I really like this lens, having owned one from when it came out in the fall of 2024 until March of 2025, and will pair it with the 85mm f/2. They are almost identical in dimensions and weight and both use 67mm filters.

You can see blog entries with photos made with the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 lens here.

My preference would have been to keep the 45mm lens but it had a high trade in value compared to its cost new and I couldn't justify holding on to it. Here are some shots from yesterday and this morning.

Whipple Bridge, Clifton Park, NY
RF 45mm f/1.2, f/4, 1/60 sec., ISO 400

Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve
RF 45mm f/1.2, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

Saratoga NHP
RF 85mm f/2, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

RF 85mm f/2, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 85mm f/2, f/8, 1/60 sec., ISO 200