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Struggling between RF USM and STM lineup as an amateur

Started 3 weeks ago | Questions thread
Rock and Rollei Senior Member • Posts: 2,902
Re: Struggling between RF USM and STM lineup as an amateur
5

I am a pro. For my pro work, I mainly use my collection of EF L lenses, but in anticipation of retiring, I've started to collect the much lighter RF STM etc lenses. And to be honest, I've been so impressed with some of them (35, 85) that I use them for pro work too, where the ultimate speed or bokeh aren't critical.
I've got the following RF lenses: 16, 35, 50, 85, 600, 800, 24-105 and 100-400, and the 24-105 f4 L as well.  Before I retire, I want a superwide zoom - 14-35 L or 15-30 - and may well add the 24. I have 3 RF bodies - RP, R and R6. So I have a surprisingly lightweight travel kit with the 16, 24-105 STM (AF is very fast on this one by STM standards) and 100-400 on the RP, or all sorts of alternatives. Optical quality of all the lenses is decent - certainly good enough for almost all my needs, and that includes printing fairly large from time to time, albeit for viewing at normal distances rather than close up. I'm not a huge fan of the 50mm focal length, so for my (amateur) use, the STM lens is more than good enough. (Incidentally, for pro use, my EF 50mm f1.2 L does get a lot of use, but given most of my subjects are, shall we tactfully say, slightly past the first flush of youth, the EF lens is much more useful than the exceptionally sharp - and thus unforgiving - RF lens would be. And yes, I could soften in post, but time is money. As is the RF lens....)
The 600 and 800 tickle my wildlife itch. They're affordable, portable, handholdable and sharp enough, albeit pretty dark. But I've had more luck and fun shooting with them (and the 100-400) in a year than I've had over the last 30 with any other EOS kit I could afford. The 600 is quite fun for landscapes, too - to be fair, the 800 probably would be, but I've not tried it.
The 35 has proved to be much better than I expected, and the half life size ability is great. Ditto the 85, but the focus limiter is important to improve AF speed.

Would I prefer to have the L versions? Yes - and no. Mostly no, to be honest, I prefer portability over ultimate IQ.

 Rock and Rollei's gear list:Rock and Rollei's gear list
Canon EOS 5DS R Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EOS R Canon EOS M6 II Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM +29 more
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