The Canon Arsenal: Unveiling the Tools of a Pro Photographer (Updated Edition)
Greetings, fellow photography enthusiasts! As requested, I've removed any references to price in this latest update of my gear bag, reflecting the value and performance-driven nature of these tools. Remember, the right equipment empowers your creative vision, and this diverse set allows me to tackle various projects with confidence and achieve exceptional results.
The Workhorses:
Canon EOS R5: This mirrorless marvel remains my go-to for demanding shoots. Its high-resolution sensor captures stunning detail, while the autofocus system locks onto subjects like a heat-seeking missile. From weddings to wildlife, the R5 handles it all with aplomb.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV: This trusty DSLR might not be the newest, but its legendary status remains undisputed. The full-frame sensor delivers gorgeous images, and its weather-sealed body laughs in the face of the elements. It's my perfect companion for outdoor adventures and portrait sessions.
Canon EOS R: This mirrorless trailblazer has earned a spot among my workhorses. Its compact size, intuitive controls, and excellent image quality make it a joy to use for travel, street photography, and everyday moments. The versatility of the RF lens mount opens up exciting possibilities with new lens designs.
The Prime Suspects:
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM: Go wide and bold with this exceptional wide-angle prime. Its exceptional sharpness and fast aperture empower you to capture the vastness of breathtaking landscapes, the grandeur of impressive interiors, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky in stunning astrophotography. The wide field of view allows you to fit more into the frame, making it ideal for architectural photography where you're working with tight spaces or capturing expansive scenes that demand a wider perspective. The fast aperture excels in low-light situations and adds a touch of artistic blur to your landscape compositions, infusing them with an ethereal quality.
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM: Immerse yourself in the heart of the action with this wide-angle prime. Its exceptional low-light performance and beautiful bokeh create stunning images for immersive street photography, where you want to capture not just your subject, but the entire story unfolding around them. It's equally fantastic for environmental portraits, allowing you to showcase your subject within the context of their surroundings. For astrophotography enthusiasts, this lens's wide field of view lets you capture expansive starry skies, bursting with celestial wonders.
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM: This classic focal length and fast aperture combination offers the ultimate low-light versatility. Capture stunning results in dimly lit environments, like dimly lit restaurants or concerts, while achieving creamy bokeh and shallow depth of field that adds a touch of artistic intrigue to your images. It's also versatile for everyday photography, capturing candid moments, street scenes, and atmospheric shots with a unique aesthetic.
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM: This legendary portrait prime is a true artist's tool. Its razor-sharp focus and dreamy bokeh render exquisite portraits that elevate your subjects to fine art. The fast aperture grants you precise control over depth of field, allowing you to isolate your subject and create a beautiful, blurred background that accentuates their features and expressions. While not an everyday lens, it shines in studio portraits, fashion shoots, and capturing those intimate, emotionally charged moments that tell a deeper story.
Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L USM: This telephoto prime lens flatters with its compressed perspective, making it ideal for flattering portraits and compelling candid moments. The fast aperture creates a beautiful background blur, drawing all attention to your subject and isolating details like fleeting expressions and emotions. Use it for portrait sessions, where you want to create a classic and timeless look, or candid street photography, where you want to capture genuine moments without being intrusive. Its reach also makes it suitable for isolating details in sports or wildlife photography, allowing you to focus on the action or capture intimate animal behaviour.
The Zoom Troopers:
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM: This heavyweight champion boasts exceptional low-light performance and beautiful bokeh throughout its range. This professional-grade zoom lens delivers outstanding versatility for various projects, excelling in portraiture, travel, event coverage, everyday photography, and even videography thanks to its smooth, silent operation. While hefty compared to some mirrorless lenses, it’s unmatched image quality and constant f/2 aperture throughout the zoom range make it a true workhorse in my RF lens collection.
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM: This ultra-wide zoom powerhouse remains ideal for landscapes, architecture, and capturing expansive scenes. Its constant f/2.8 aperture ensures consistent performance, while the built-in image stabilization smooths out handheld shots.
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM: This telephoto zoom is a true chameleon, adapting to various scenarios. Its versatility shines in portraiture, event coverage, sports photography, and wildlife exploration. The constant f/2.8 aperture allows for beautiful background blur and excellent low-light performance, while the image stabilization keeps shots sharp even at longer focal lengths.
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4x Teleconverter: This dynamic duo reigns supreme for action-packed sports photography. While the 70-200mm f/2.8L excels for closer sideline shots, the 100-400mm with the 1.4x teleconverter extends my reach significantly, capturing the drama of the game from afar. When using the teleconverter this effectively creates a 140-560mm f/5.6 lens which is similar to the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 I have tested, but the Canon has much-improved sharpness and less chromatic aberration compared to the Sigma while maintaining a constant f/5.6 aperture. The image stabilization on both the lens and camera body is crucial for maintaining sharpness at these longer focal lengths, ensuring I freeze every crucial moment. While it adds some weight to my kit, the ability to capture distant plays and athletes in detail makes it an indispensable combo.
The Specialist Squad:
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM: Unveiling the unseen world is this macro lens's speciality. From delicate flower petals to intricate insect details, it reveals a hidden universe of beauty with exceptional sharpness and close-up capabilities.
Creative Control:
Canon Tilt-Shift Lens: While I don't carry a specific tilt-shift lens all the time, depending on the project, I might rent or use specialized options like the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II or TS-E 90mm f/2.8L. These lenses offer unique control over perspective and focus, allowing me to create miniature effects, correct converging lines in architecture, or achieve creative blurs for an artistic touch.
Remember: These are just starting points! Experiment and find what works best for your creative vision. Explore, capture, and create – the possibilities are endless with this versatile and powerful set of tools.
I hope this update provides a quick overview of each lens and its potential!
All the best,
- Kieran