And the Changes Keep Coming

Just when I think I have my gear plans figured out Canon introduces a surprise lens that both messes up, and fits in perfectly, with those plans. I don't even have the results of my latest transaction yet as I await the RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM lens for which I traded three cheaper lenses, the 16mm, 28mm and 50mm STM lenses.

The new lens, which wasn't even rumored before Canon announced it yesterday, is an RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM lens that is compact, lightweight and affordable. It is not an L lens but is weather sealed in the manner of an L lens. I will not be able to resist this lens at some point.

It messes up my current plans in that I will need a different bag solution from what I have planned for the two bodies and three prime lenses. It fits in perfectly with my current plans in that with the zoom lens on one body and either the 24mm or 85mm lens on another I will have a great setup for all kinds of situations.

What do I gain over my previous combination of RF 14-35mm and 24-105mm f/4 L zooms? Size, weight and light gathering ability. With no loss, and maybe a gain, in image quality.

I will have the 24mm lens in hand shortly and until then I have the 35mm and 85mm versions, each attached to one of my camera bodies. Here are some shots from this morning.

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 1600

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/22, 1/180 sec., ISO 1600

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 200

Grafton Lakes Woods

There is a trail loop between Long Pond and Second Pond [I looked it up and this is called the Beaver Lodge Trail] at Grafton Lakes State Park with interpretive signs for kids and this year many of the signs had a photo attached with a clue for finding a woodland house "hidden away" nearby. I walked this trail yesterday and discovered a number of the little houses. Here are some photos.

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/45 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/5.6, 1/45 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/10 sec., ISO 1600

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/45 sec., ISO 1600

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 1600

Tugboat Roundup Day 3

My previous visits to Waterford Harbor for the tugboats this year were early evening on Friday and midday on Saturday. Morning is a different lighting situation, obviously. 

I used only the 85mm lens as I was trying to get something different from the previous two days along the wharf. The gallery at https://www.trulandphotography.com/TBR2024 ended up with 65 images. I now lack longer lenses to get closeup photos of the boats as they come into the harbor as in previous years. Here are some photos from the final morning of this year's event.

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/4, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/4, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

Tugboat Roundup Day 2

Here some photos from day 2 of this year's Tugboat Roundup along with a photo of the two camera/lens pairings with the sensor planes lined up. Since I picked up the 35mm lens I haven't used the 16mm, 28mm or 50mm lenses. The 35mm is a level better than those bare bones lenses although something a bit wider is sometimes needed. A potential plan going forward would be to trade in those three lenses for the RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM lens which is identical to the 35mm version except for the focal length and being a bit lighter. 

EOS R8, RF 35mm STM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 200

EOS R8, RF 35mm STM, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200

EOS R8, RF 35mm STM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200

EOS R8, RF 35mm STM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200

EOS R8, RF 35mm STM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400

Tugboat Roundup 2024

An event I look forward to every September is the parade of tugboats at the start of Waterford's Tugboat Roundup. The galleries from past years are no longer online since I switched hosting sites. I used a wide variety of gear over the years including longer telephoto zoom lenses. This year it was the 35mm and 85mm lenses only.

The organizers could make photos better by scheduling the arrival of the boats an hour earlier as by the time 6PM rolls around, the entrance to the harbor is mostly shadow and the patchy sun limits the variety of shots possible.

I have a gallery at https://www.trulandphotography.com/TBR2024 and here are some samples with both lenses.

EOS R8, RF 35mm STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm STM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 200

EOS R8, RF 35mm STM, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200

EOS R8, RF 35mm STM, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 200

Westfield River

Here are some scenes from this morning's walk at Robinson State Park along the Westfield River in Agawam, Massachusetts. It's nice to get 11, 000 steps in before breakfast.

There are photos with both camera/lens combinations I've been using lately. 

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/22, 1/125 sec., ISO 1600

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 800

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

Both Halves

Now that the horses have left Saratoga and schools are getting back in session, weekday mornings at Saratoga Spa State Park are less crowded. I visited there this morning for a change from my battlefield hikes. 

I'm liking this two camera/lens combination and used both this morning. Here are the two setups.

And here are some of the photos.

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/8, 1/30 sec., ISO 400

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/8, 1/60 sec., ISO 400

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 400

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/11, 1/125 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 200

The Other Half

Yesterday I posted shots with one half of my current "in use" setup, the EOS R8 and RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM lens. Today, I'm posting some shots with the other half of the setup, the EOS R6 and 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM lens. 

I'm carrying both cameras and lenses all set to go in a Think Tank Speed Freak shoulder bag and did get some nice shots with the wider lens as well. To help with the strain of the shoulder strap, I put both sets of spare batteries in a pocket when I'm hiking to reduces the weight of the bag. 

These are all from along the trails at the Saratoga Battlefield.

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/11, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/45 sec., ISO 800

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/11, 1/125 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 STM, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400