THE LENSES I USE NOW

UPDATE

I know I just wrote about my workhorse lens last week, but unfortunately, that all changed when my Canon 17-40mm f/4 L USM lens took a submarine dip in Zion National Park with my Canon 7D Mark II. Additionally, I sold my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM lens because I wasn't really using it. The focal length was always a little boring and uninteresting to me. So, with an insurance check coming and the money I made off my 24-70 I have a few new items on the way.

NEW PURCHASES

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM

Canon EF 14mm f/2.8 L USM

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

The first new purchase I made was the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM. This seemed a fitting replacement and upgrade for the lens I lost. The wider aperture will be excellent for low-light situations and the quality of the glass is exceptional. I was very back-and-forth between this lens and the f/4 version with image stabilization, but I ultimately went with the lighter, faster version. The only thing I need to figure out is the lens hood. My 17-40 sported a longer lens hood because I only shoot cropped sensor cameras, but I have yet to find a sensible solution for the 16-35.

The next lens I added is the Canon 14mm f/2.8 L USM. I added this lens to my lust list when they came out with the version 2 and upgraded the optics and focusing problems of the first generation lens. Shooting a lot of adventure sports and travel I find myself wanting to go wide or get in close with a telephoto, so this new setup should be a great fit for me. The final lens I'll add (probably in the next month or so) is the Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS USM. This will make a great all-around lens for when I'm paring the kit down to just one lens.

MY PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKHORSE LENS

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L

I would say most photographers have a go-to lens of choice. They may use a wide variety of lenses in their work, but the default lens they reach for, the one that's always in their camera bag, that's the workhorse. For me, that lens would be the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L.

Now I know there are lots of better lenses out there, and better wide-angle lenses as well. However, there are several reasons why I always reach for this lens first. For starters, it was the first professional quality lens ( Canon L-Series) I purchased and I was finally loving the imagery that was coming out of my camera. Next, being that it's so wide, it really forced me to get closer to my subjects and I learned to shoot wide in almost any situation. If you haven't worked with a wide angle lens before, finding an aesthetic framing can take a little practice. Lastly, it passes the adventure test: light, relatively small, and rugged.

As a side note, I shoot mostly cropped sensor cameras (only an occasional roll of film or two) so I switched out the lens hood for a longer one with better coverage. This change has made for better protection of the front element and better protection from lens flaring.

Perhaps the greatest feature of this lens is its price. At under $900, it's a great starting point for upgrading your glass.

PELICAN 1510 WITH TREKPAK INSERT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

I promised in an earlier post to follow-up once I had purchased the camera bags on my list. Well, instead of a full review, you get an overview of what I managed to fit into the Pelican 1510 case. I have been most impressed with the TrekPak system and the ease of organization it offers. No more Velcro here!

Pelican 1510 Case with Pelican 1519 Lid Organizer and TrekPak Inserts

1. Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM

2. (2) LaCie 1TB Thunderbolt Rugged Hard Drives

3. Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM

4. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

5. Canon Speedlite 430 EX

6. Battery Bag with (4) Canon LP-E6

7. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM

8. Canon EOS 7D Body

9. Canon EOS 7D Mark II Body

10. Canon Powershot G15

11. (2) Canon Battery Chargers

12. (2) Canon Battery Chargers, (2) CF/SD Card Readers

13. Plastic Bags, Rocket Blower, Extra TrekPak Pins

14. ThinkTank Pixel Pocket Rocket Card Holder, Business Cards, Canon Remote Switch RS-80N3

15. (2) USB 3.0 Cord, (2) Thunderbolt Cord, (2) USB Card Reader Cord

16. Lowepro Filter Sleeve (usually on top of #1)

17. TrekPak insert for Pelican 1510

18. Pelican 1510 Case

19. Pelican 1519 Lid Organizer

In the next couple of weeks I'll put up some pictures and a brief write-up of the Deuter Men's Freerider Pro 30 with TrekPak insert. This is the camera bag I'm currently using to get into more remote locations with camera gear in tow. In fact, we (the bag and I)  just returned from a trip to San Diego last weekend and we're  off to Zion National Park  this weekend.

OVERBOARD WATERPROOF DSLR PHOTOGRAPHY BAG - A REVIEW

CANYONEERING WATER PROBLEM

Hauling the dry bag with a camera bag Inside

After the previous three posts on camera bags, I was hoping to avoid another camera bag this week. However, a few weeks ago I was invited on another canyoneering adventure and I went in search of a small waterproof option for carrying my Canon 7D Mark II with a lens or two.

I currently own a full-size dry bag for storing items during overnight rafting trips and the like, but this bag proved rather cumbersome on past canyoneering trips (see photo). I hauled a small Lowepro waste bag inside the dry bag to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back and it was a major pain, didn’t carry very well, and the time needed to remove my camera was a huge obstacle to making pictures.

DRY BAG SOLUTION

Overboard Waterproof SLR Bag

I found the Overboard Waterproof SLR camera bag ($34.95) and I’m thinking this little item will be a lifesaver.

Several of the reviews mentioned it being strong enough for serious adventuring and I’m hoping to put that to the test. Its small size is another attractive feature. When you’re on rappel, being top heavy (think backpack) is a liability in that you can get inverted. This bag should safely carry what I need to document the fun without ruining anything in the process. I've got one on order and I'll post my thoughts and some pictures sometime in the future after the trip.