Moderately better image and other benefits

John Crowe wrote:

Don't forget this is over a 22 year period where I not only had to transition from manual focus Canon FD, which back then did not fit on any digital, to other manual focus and auto focus lenses for digital. Nikon was the most effective route for me to get into digital and it was brilliant for all my kids' sports while they grew and went off to university. Then when Canon released the 17/4 TS-E I slowly sold the 6x6 and 4x5 and made my way to the Canon EF system. Bought the lens before I had a camera for it!

Now, that I am retired, I pretty much have solidified my system over the past two years. I am enjoying experimenting with medium format lenses, but that too is almost set. When grand kids enter the family I may have to add a lens then! Different stages of life definitely have different requirements and when you are on a tight budget buying and selling used goes a long way to solve each problem.

For me testing lenses thoroughly was born out of necessity and now it is just common sense.

For the past 10 years or so Canon has been upgrading lenses like they are going out of style. I would certainly want to know that the latest and greatest lens is that much better than my previous one, wouldn't you?

indeed, canon's EF v2 and v3 gen. lenses are better compared to v1 by leaps and bound. to a point that buying the RF lenses don't make any sense if you already have the nice gen. 2/3 "L" lenses if you move to R format cameras, and that is my situation.

i do own both tse 17/tse 24 lenses and they are wonderful, whether you use tilt/shift or just use them as plain primes. i haven't used tilt/shift features of my lenses that much but i know it is there when i need them.

problem with selling and buying is the financial hit that one has to take! the resale value of the lenses, especially cameras, are too steep. that is one reason i haven't ventured selling my gear.

the firs canon "L" lens i acquired was canon 24-105 f4,0 for my original 5D in 2005, and i was inflicted with "L" disease ever since and never looked back. i still have that lens and enjoy using it.  so, the moral of my point is: if you are very selective in your choices and buy quality lenses or your cameras, they'll hardly get dated or you'll feel like you need an upgrade, IMO! i don't feel any upgrade for any of my lenses or camera at all. i have a 1dmk4, 1Dx, and a 5DsR, and i feel like i could go on using them for a long long time to come if i wanted without an upgrade but i'll see what will transpire in the future.

i could be wrong but it it is just another idea here in this thread. just my 02 cent.

regards.