Getting old and fat so...

JohnN

JohnN

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Well I love my Sigma 50-500 OS - truly a stunning lens, very sharp though the range, especially considering the range it has - anyway enough of sales pitch, alot of you know how good it is, but heres my problem - I'm getting old and while not that long ago the weight of it wasn't a problem it is now as I end up with backache at the end of the day.

So my question is were I to sell what should I get instead?

Edit: should have mentioned, I have Canon kit.
 
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What sort of stuff do you tend to photograph?
 
Oh, all sort, but I do have a few lenses covering in the closer ranges - 24-105, 70-200, after that its the 50-500.

I used to go a fair few birds in flight and used to have the 400L but found the fixed length restrictive.

Usually I would say its just family stuff or days out, but I like to get close-ups too - ie not just a meerkat on a rock, but the merekat's face in profile
 
John...

In theory you shouldn't get backache if you counterbalance the weight.

You could try always having a backpack with enough weight to keep you upright?

...you'd be looking at about a 6-8kg pack though...
 
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Hmn, usually I have it slung on the black rapid, with the backpack on too - but once the camera and lens is out there really is no weight left too it.
 
Its not the handholding thats the issue, but the carrying it round all day, I think Phils right though, its perhaps not the weight but the balance.
 
Funnily enough I'm discussing this on a Canon forum and someoene said the same thing, sadly despite my best intentions I know I wouldn't stick at any exercise for more than a week, plus with no-one to look after the kids and being on perm-a-call for any and all work issues it would be a bit of a mare (straight up I know someone I work with who was very close to a warning for not answering their phone because it was in a locker while they were at the gym!!)
 
So you still want a long zoom lens to get those close ups but you want something significantly lighter?

Personally I use the Canon 70-300L, which obviously isn't as long as the Sigma but it is a good zoo lens (you mentioned meerkats) and it weighs 1050g compared to your Sigma at 1970g, so almost half the weight.

Even the Canon 100-400L (which I sold to get the 70-300L) is 1380g which is still significantly lighter than your Sigma.
 
Those are great ideas and much lighter.

How do you find the 70-300 vs the 100-400?
 
Put it this way I have absolutely no regrets replacing the 100-400L with the 70-300L, not even the loss of focal length. IMHO the 70-300 is a far better lens (IQ, focusing speed, weight, compact design, not push pull, etc, etc).

I should point out that I am using the 70-300 on a 7D so due to the crop sensor it is effectively almost as long as the 50-500 is on your full frame 5D3
 
Oh, no not going CSC, I've no interest in loosing all those lovely buttons, thanks for the suggestion though.

Thanks Neil, sounds very promised.
 
JohnN said:
Oh, no not going CSC, I've no interest in loosing all those lovely buttons, thanks for the suggestion though.
Click to expand...

Eh? :thinking:

With my current CSC it's just the same as my 5D and the only reason I go into the menu is to format the card. Everything else is done via a button or a dial. In fact some CSC's are festooned with more manual controls than your Canon. Anyway, it was just a thought as it's a way to use a slightly smaller camera and significantly smaller lenses.
 
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Whats your current model - the G1?

I've the LX7 - not quite the same I know, but it too has many buttons, but not the two quick dials I've become used to of the amazing AF of the 5D3 - I know I'm just being picky though!
 
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I think you'll miss the length if you go for the 70-300L, 200mm is a lot to lose.

I understand the weight issue, probably more than most and would have said go for it had you a crop body but with your 5D3 you cant benefit from the crop as the other poster can with his 7D.

Maybe its worth looking again at the 400L prime, its pretty light at 1250 grams, sharp as a tack and has fast autofocus.
I know it takes a bit of getting used to not having the zoom, but I think the benefits of the prime outweigh the disadvantages.

It might also be worth seeing if you can manage without the rucksack or downsizing to a smaller one.
With a lens coat on the lens and a plastic bag in your pocket in case of rain it should be ok.
You could leave your larger gear with the car and travel light.. thats what I found I had to do. Spare batteries, filters, cleaning cloth spare lens etc all went in my pockets
 
JohnN said:
Whats your current model - the G1?

I've the LX7 - not quite the same I know, but it too has many buttons, but not the two quick dials I've become used to of the amazing AF of the 5D3 - I know I'm just being picky though!
Click to expand...

No, the LX7 is a compact, a nice one but still a fixed lens compact with a small sensor. I have the similar LX5. No, I meant the likes of MFT, Nex, Samsung, Fuji and anyone else who makes them. Some of these things do indeed have lots of manual controls and even good focus too if only for static subjects and when shooting those some CSC's will doubtiless leave your 5D and mine in the dust for AF speed - and probably accuracy too. You could also think about moving to a smaller APS-C DSLR but I think that the major saving to be made in both bulk and weight is in lenses and I don't think an APS-C DSLR will help you much there.

I really don't know how else you are going to save significant bulk/weight but I suppose a smaller and lighter shorter lens plus a teleconverter for your current system could be an option?
 
Funny old world isn't it?

My problem has always been keeping weight on. If I don't pretty much force feed myself my weight drops.
 
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