Sun With Some Clouds - Perfect

I was out and about with the EOS RP and RF 35mm f/1.8 macro IS USM lens around noontime today. The main purpose was to walk and exercise but the camera gear always comes along.

I stopped briefly at Cohoes Falls and then drove up for a stroll around the Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve in Clifton Park. I hadn't used the RF 35mm lens much lately so that's the only lens I brought along.

As usual, all these scenics are five file HDR composites. This first image is also an HDR composite but severely cropped to show a beaver enjoying their not frozen little pool. It's hard to get wildlife shots with a 35mm lens. That's why I need two bodies, one with a long lens on it.

Still Testing the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS Lens.

I'm still deciding whether my 2011 copy of this lens will be a long term member of my kit or if I should upgrade to the newer version of the lens or get the 70-300mm f/4-5.6L lens.

The 70-300mm lens is shorter when not in use and will fit better in bags and backpacks. But it is significantly slower (lets less light in) at 200mm. The newer version of this lens has a bit better image quality and significantly better image stabilization. But, I own this lens and keeping it won't cost me a cent.

So, for now, I think my first priority should getting a second full frame EOS R series body and use the lenses I have. Canon is set to announce at least one new R body in the next month or so. The decision then will be whether I should just get another EOS RP or whatever the new body turns out to be. [edit 01/28: A new rumored body sounds fantastic but will be expensive. You can read the rumors here and here.]

Here are some shots from late this morning at Cohoes Falls and Peebles Island.

144mm

70mm

81mm

200mm and cropped

Winter Locks

The entire length of the Waterford Flight of Locks is drained at the current time. I visited a couple of the locks this afternoon with the EOS RP and the EF 24-70mm f/4L lens.

The sky was hazy and partially overcast and the monochrome presets in the HDR software worked batter for most of the scenes. Here are some results.

Peebles Island Snow on MLK Day

I'm still evaluating the 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens which I have to return on Friday if I don't decide to buy it. The purchase price from Lens Rentals is just a bit above what used copies are going for on eBay these days. Knowing exactly what I'm getting, and the fact that this is a late 2016 copy of the lens which was introduced in 2012, means I'm almost sure to buy the lens.

Here are some scenics from Peebles Island this afternoon. All are five file HDR composites made with the EOS RP.

70mm

70mm

42mm

38mm

24mm

EOS RP and EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Lens

I picked up the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS lens I rented from Lens Rentals at a local FedEx distribution center this morning. I love that I can have rental lenses shipped there as I pick them up first thing in the morning and have a whole extra day of use. This lens, however, I'm almost positive I will buy rather than return it.

I also rented the EF-RF control ring adapter but, after using it a bit, it's not something I need. The plain adapter that came with the EOS RP is sufficient. The control ring adapter will be going back to Lens Rentals. I have the control rings on RF lenses (or the control ring adapter) set to adjust ISO. I reprogrammed the * button on the RP to enable ISO to be adjusted by pressing that button and turning the main control dial. The * button normally controls exposure lock but I set the shutter button half press to include that function.

Here are some shots from today with the 24-70mm lens. As usual, all are 5 file HDR composites.

Cohoes Falls from Oakwood Cemetery in Troy - 70mm

Cohoes Falls from Cohoes - 70mm

Oakwood Cemetery - 24mm

39mm (cropped a bit)

70mm

70mm

EOS RP and EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens

The evaluation of lenses for use with the EOS RP continues. Today, I used my EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens for a hike around Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve. I purchased this lens back in early October, used on eBay.

This copy of the lens is over eight years old and shows some wear. I've used it for college soccer games back in the fall with my 7D Mark II and for school musical photos with my 5D Mark III.

Today I wanted to test it's usefulness as a landscape lens with the RP and I think it did well. It will certainly suffice until I upgrade to either the newer version of that lens or the EF 70-300mm L lens.

My next step in gear migration will be to rent an EF 24-70mm f/4L IS lens and test that out with the RP. I may or may not purchase the lens at the end of the rental period.

Here some shots from this morning:

Continuing Lens Evaluations with the EOS RP

As I wait for Canon to fill in the RF lens lineup with lenses that cost less than $2,300 I'm considering using EF lenses with adapters. For instance, the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS lens is currently $850 while the RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS lens is $2,300. There is no f/4 RF version available, and I wasn't excited about the RF 24-105mm f.4L IS lens I rented over the holidays.

Likewise, the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II lens is $1,200 while the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens is $2,700. Even the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III lens is only $1,800. And, I currently own the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS version I although it's an older copy with some issues.

An option that I'm considering down the road is the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS lens which would be great for daytime outdoor usage and is a shorter lens than the 70-200mm lenses. Using EF lenses on the RP requires the addition of the adapter which adds about an inch to the lens length. This lens is currently $1,350.

Another factor is that while I'm selling my 5D Mark III and plan on having a pair of EOS RP bodies, I will keep my crop sensor 7D Mark II. The EF lenses, particularly the 70-300mm lens, will be useful with that body for daytime sports and wildlife. RF lenses can not be used with any EOS DSLR.

For now, lenses I own can give me an idea of using EF lenses with the adapter. Today, with morning temperatures in the 60's, I walked around Waterford with the EF 17-40mm f/4L and EF 70-200mm f/4L IS lenses. Here are four shots showing the extremes of these two lenses.

17mm

40mm

70mm

200mm

Here are some shots, all with the EF 17-40mm f/4L lens and the EOS RP.

23mm

36mm

17mm

24mm cropped to 4:3

Peebles Island Afternoon Trail Scenics

Having returned the RF 24-105mm lens after my week long rental, and having sold my EF 24-105mm lens which I could have used on the EO RP with the adapter, I decided to use my EF 17-40mm f/4L lens on the RP with the adapter for a walk around Peebles Island late this afternoon.

The lens and camera combination seemed to work well. I'm still trying to figure out the best options for the EOS RP body. Canon is supposedly set to announce a new R series camera and some non L lenses in the next month or so. Perhaps the best thing is to wait a bit and see what comes out in the immediate future.

These are all five file HDR composites with the beta 7 version of PhotomatixPro 6.2. I've been providing them some feedback which they apparently appreciated as they've given me a free upgrade code for Version 7 when it comes out.

Here some samples from this afternoon.

30mm

29mm

22mm

17mm

17mm

Cohoes Falls Again

I sent the RF 24-105mm lens back to Lens Rentals rather than purchase it. I still plan on selling the EOS 5D Mark III, having already sold the EF 24-105mm lens that was my main lens for that body.

For now, the RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM lens will be the lens that stays on the full frame EOS RP and the crop sensor 7D Mark II will see use with the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lenses. I also still have the EF-S 60mm macro lens to use with the 7D Mark II.

These Cohoes Falls shots are all five file HDR composites made with the RP and RF 35mm lens at f/8 and ISO 125.