Weighing My Lens Options

A lot of people think that you really need to have fast lens to shoot nice pictures or video, but I have been learning that that isn’t necessarily the case. I am weighing my lens options. Specifically I am considering a full frame 70-200mm F2.8 zoom lens for my Panasonic S1 camera. The other thing that I learned is that they are really expensive. If money isn’t a problem for you, let’s say you are making good money from your videography or photography go ahead they are really nice lens.

Is One Stop of Light Worth it

The difference between F2.8 and F4 is only one stop of light and that is significant, but is it really 1000 US dollars significant. For me it isn’t worth an extra one thousand USD. For example the Panasonic 70-200 F2.8 is 2300 USD on Amazon but the Panasonic 70-200 F4 is 1500. That’s an 800 dollar difference. I know not quite 1000 dollars, but the used price is 779. That’s about a 1500 dollar difference. Here in Hong Kong the used price is a little less than that.

Whether or not you need the 70-200 F2.8 aside from your financial means, I think really comes down to your equipment requirements. Do you require the best? About a year ago, I went a to a good friend’s wedding banquet. I talked with the photographer. He had a medium format camera. It was big and heavy, but he told me that he needed it. His clients wanted the best and medium format was one of the ways that he stood out from his competition. Obviously the 70-200 F2.8 could be lumped into that same category. It could help you stand out from your competition, but it might be just an unnecessary extra. Don’t allow yourself to get lured into the trap of thinking that better is always better for you.

Software is Changing Our Craft

However, as one YouTuber pointed out, now a days you can create extra background blur or reduce noise in Adobe Lightroom. This could potentially put you on the same playing field using an F4 as the guy with the F2.8 lens. The question is whether you would get the job or not and that comes down to marketing and your proficiency with your craft. Don’t think that just because you have expensive professional gear clients will come to you.

A Different Direction

In the end, I decided to go a completely different direction. I bought a Sigma Art 85mm 1.4 lens. It cost me less than the 70-200 F4 would have and I think it will offers me the ability to stand out more than the 70-200 F4 lens would have. The creative options with this lens are vast. I’m already enjoying using it. Check out – Spring Leaves Are Budding