Outside the Lavatory

On Peebles Island this morning with the R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L and Think Tank Digital Holster 20. 

Things to Relearn

Going backwards in terms of gear age does have a relearning curve it seems. For years now, new Canon lens designs have hoods that snap into place and you have to push a button to release them. I've become accustomed to that security when out walking around with lenses on the camera.

Older lens hoods are much easier to bump with your arm which will knock them askew. Petal shaped hoods only block what they're supposed to when they're aligned correctly. 

I had adjusted the hood after noticing it but kept knocking it. I need to get in the habit of checking the hood each time before I shoot. Here are some examples from this morning.

The Reorganized Backpack

The addition of the EOS 6D ended up requiring a little reorganizing of my main storage and transport bag. 

The BlackRapid Double Breathe strap, which is stored in the computer compartment on the outside of the bag, has metal parts and weighs quite a bit so I substituted the smaller 270EX II flash for the 430EX II flash. The smaller flash uses half the batteries so weight is saved there also. In this configuration the bag weighs 17.4 pounds.

The Complete Kit

I received the EOS 6D body today and tried it out at Oakwood Cemetery. I'm very happy with the condition of the camera. Especially at the very low price I paid. 

The camera's shutter count was 15,503 when I got it. The 6D shutter is rated for 100,000 actuations.

The 6D originally came with an LP-E6 battery. This body came with a Canon LP-E6N battery which the camera indicated is on its last legs. I retire batteries when they get down to the one red box level although they will still function. I will pick up a new LP-E6NH battery at Best Buy tomorrow.

Once I put in one of my backup batteries, updated the firmware and adjusted the settings to my liking the camera was ready to go.

Here is a photo of the two bodies and 4 lenses which now constitute my gear going forward, followed by a few scenes from Oakwood Cemetery with the 6D and EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens.

Another New/Old Piece of Kit

Gear migrations are a lot like rabbit holes. Once you start you're not sure where you'll end up. Usually with some dead ends along the way. 

I keep thinking that it'll be "one more" piece to settle matters. It doesn't seem like it. 

My most recent addition, the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS lens, my third copy, does what I wanted with respect to focal length flexibility without lugging around three fast prime lenses that are the same size and weight as the zoom. But, the image stabilization on the lens doesn't seem to work all that well with the image stabilization in the R6 body. The viewfinder image jumps around in ways it doesn't with the non-stabilized lenses. Switching the "high speed display" option on mostly cures the jumping but that setting is a battery hog. 

After a couple of days thinking about various options I decided to experiment with an older DSLR body I've never owned or used, the EOS 6D from 2012. I had a pair of 6D Mark II bodies during the second half of 2021 but never the original 6D. 

One factor in the 6D's favor is it has the same exact sensor resolution, 20MP, as the R6. I won't be tempted to use it just for resolution purposes. Also, used copies are cheap. The copy I found on eBay cost me less than one sixth the price of when they were new, which was $2,100.

On hikes, I will be able to carry the 24-70mm lens on the 6D and any of the fast prime lenses on the R6 with my Black Rapid Double Breathe strap. The camera should arrive early next week.

Here is a comparison of the two bodies from the comparison site https://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-R6-vs-Canon-EOS-6D.

And here is a youtube video comparing the two bodies. There are some errors in the video. A couple in the first few sentences. It's an R6 not a 6R and there are 8 years between the launch of the cameras not 6.

The Latest Kit Bag

The addition of the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens to the trio of L series prime lenses led to a switch back to the Airport Essentials backpack for storage and transport purposes. The larger bag also lets me include a flash and batteries in the bag which I couldn't do with the Streetwalker.

For carrying purposes, the plan now is to use the Streetwalker when I want three lenses with me or want a backpack, the Speed Freak shoulder bag when I want two lenses and the holster for just a single lens on the camera.

Two of the lenses have 77mm filter threads and two have 72mm threads. I have the usual filters in both sizes. Here is the new layout with the 24-70mm zoom on the R6.

UPDATE 8/11/23: The EOS 6D I discuss in the 8/11 blog entry will take its place where the straps and blower sit in this photo. One of the prime lenses will be attached to the R6 and the 24-70mm zoom will be stored in one of the lens spots on the right.