StephenPatterson
New member
Wow. Stunned. Amazed...
I've been a Leica guy for a very long time, but I needed another camera to address some of the M9's shortcomings which were only exaggerated since my move to China. While the IQ of the M9 is absolutely fantastic I found myself struggling in very low light, even with fast glass, because I couldn't push the ISO up beyond 1250 without causing a snowstorm. I also realized that a weather sealed camera would be a plus (it rains a lot in SE Asia), along with a faster buffer and faster fps continuous shooting. Autofocus was something I really didn't want, as the last one I used (Canon D60 ten years ago) really struggled and I didn't like fighting to achieve my focus point.
So last week I was in Hong Kong to shoot a charity squash tournament and the organizer offered me the use of his extensive Canon kit (1Dx, 5DIII, 24-105L, 70-200 2.8 IS II, 300/2.8). Well I told him that I was sure I could capture what he wanted with my M9s, but heck he offered and here was all this new and lovely gear and I had several days to get familiar with it before the event and...well, I just ran out of excuses not to try.
Color me amazed...autofocus that works like it's supposed to; fast and accurate. And the high ISO. WOW. I thought I was "king of the night" with the Noctilux at ISO1250, but using the 5DIII with a 35/1.4 or 50/1.2 is a whole other experience.
Before leaving Hong Kong I had purchased a 5DIII with 24-105L kit, the new Sigma 35/1.4 and the 85/1.2L II. The 35 and 85 are very "Leica like", and the 24-105 is a great walk around lens. At this point I am most comfortable with prime lenses, and the IQ does seem superior, but I know there are several other outstanding zoom lenses out there. I don't shoot wildlife or sports, mainly because every forest creature here in China has been eaten and the only organized sports is professional baijiu drinking, but the 70-200 IS II was one of my favorite lenses for capturing portraits, so I might have to find one for the kit. Far and away the 85/1.2L II was the lens that sold me on Canon glass being every bit the equal of Leica, at least where this lens is concerned.
I have no plans to stop using the Leica, but I cannot believe how far Canon has come.
OK, time to take more images. Here are a few of my captures that "pushed me over the edge". The first three are with the 85/1.2L and the last two are with the 70-200 2.8 IS II
I've been a Leica guy for a very long time, but I needed another camera to address some of the M9's shortcomings which were only exaggerated since my move to China. While the IQ of the M9 is absolutely fantastic I found myself struggling in very low light, even with fast glass, because I couldn't push the ISO up beyond 1250 without causing a snowstorm. I also realized that a weather sealed camera would be a plus (it rains a lot in SE Asia), along with a faster buffer and faster fps continuous shooting. Autofocus was something I really didn't want, as the last one I used (Canon D60 ten years ago) really struggled and I didn't like fighting to achieve my focus point.
So last week I was in Hong Kong to shoot a charity squash tournament and the organizer offered me the use of his extensive Canon kit (1Dx, 5DIII, 24-105L, 70-200 2.8 IS II, 300/2.8). Well I told him that I was sure I could capture what he wanted with my M9s, but heck he offered and here was all this new and lovely gear and I had several days to get familiar with it before the event and...well, I just ran out of excuses not to try.
Color me amazed...autofocus that works like it's supposed to; fast and accurate. And the high ISO. WOW. I thought I was "king of the night" with the Noctilux at ISO1250, but using the 5DIII with a 35/1.4 or 50/1.2 is a whole other experience.
Before leaving Hong Kong I had purchased a 5DIII with 24-105L kit, the new Sigma 35/1.4 and the 85/1.2L II. The 35 and 85 are very "Leica like", and the 24-105 is a great walk around lens. At this point I am most comfortable with prime lenses, and the IQ does seem superior, but I know there are several other outstanding zoom lenses out there. I don't shoot wildlife or sports, mainly because every forest creature here in China has been eaten and the only organized sports is professional baijiu drinking, but the 70-200 IS II was one of my favorite lenses for capturing portraits, so I might have to find one for the kit. Far and away the 85/1.2L II was the lens that sold me on Canon glass being every bit the equal of Leica, at least where this lens is concerned.
I have no plans to stop using the Leica, but I cannot believe how far Canon has come.
OK, time to take more images. Here are a few of my captures that "pushed me over the edge". The first three are with the 85/1.2L and the last two are with the 70-200 2.8 IS II