Life and Landscape Photography

I've been using a Canon 10D now for about a year, maybe just over a year. It is not exactly the latest gear out there, release date was 2003 which was 5 years ago, that might just make it ancient gear in the digital world.

The whole time I have had this camera I have been shooting with only one lens on it, that is a Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II. Quite a good lens if you use it within its contraints, it does have issues with veiling glare and flare. Mike Johnston has a great article on using lenses without stressing them here, worth a read.

I enjoy using the 50mm on this camera because I can keep both eyes open while shooting without feeling dizzy due to differing fields of view. That is, the image within the viewfinder is the same size as seen with my unconstrained eye. This makes seeing things outside the field of the viewfinder quite easy. That is quite important to me and why I like shooting with a rangefinder camera as well, more on that later.

When you can see outside the frame of what will be captured by the film or sensor you can still see new compositions in front of you without moving your camera about everywhere. I find this especially useful when my children are running about and I can see a picture forming and can have the camera pointed that way when the picture has come together.

This is quite possibly not so important when you are doing tripod style photography, that is, landscape or still life.

After using the one lens for 12 months or so on this camera I am quite certain that the field of view of the 50mm on a Canon 10D is to tight for me. The 10D has a field of view equivalent to a 80mm on a 35mm film camera. Quite often while shooting I seem to be taking steps back to get more of what I see within the frame. Details tend to become what I shoot with this lens attached.

It might be time to sell the 50mm and see if I can pick up the 30mm f1.4 Sigma which is reported to be quite good. The other option is to purchase a Canon 5D or the new Nikon D3, actually, not a financially viable option at all.

So where will I scrounge up the cash, another selling spree on ebay no doubt. Anyone want to buy a print?