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Thread: 2017 - What was used

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Kayaker72's Avatar
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    2017 - What was used

    Once again it is winter, when I typically take a moment to assess my kit. Last year, I evaluated everything and ended up deciding the primary areas of improvement were in my monitor and in finding a smaller camera that I would use more often than the M1.

    For the monitor, ended up with the BenQ SW2700PT. Overall, I am very happy with the colors, higher pixel density and overall performance. It is a huge improvement and a great monitor. One thing I will say, while larger than the 24" screen it replaced, I probably would have preferred going to the 32" version.

    For the smaller cameras, I decided to compare upgrading to the M3 over the M1 (the M6 was not yet announced) and also trying the G7XII (after comparing to the Sony RX100V). While I thought I would favor one over the other, I actually enjoy using both systems. The G7XII finds use more often as a second camera to travel along with the 5D system or to just go someplace where I want a small camera that fits in many pockets (still not an iPhone). But I've used the M3 system when I decide to leave the 5D home (so, it is my only camera with me) or for my wife when we are traveling together so she as an ILC to shoot with. There are IQ differences, but the G7X II's images are actually very good, not as deep, rich or as nuanced as its larger sensor siblings, but good enough that a couple of my favorite pics from 2017 were taken with it.


    With all that said, what I used in 2017 based on an evaluation (Metadata in LR) of RAW files that I have kept.

    Cameras:
    Canon 5DIII 73%
    Canon 5DIV 8%
    M3 8%
    G7xII 11%

    I used my 5D system 81% of the time, down from 96% in 2016. The use of my M system was up 4x going from the M1 to M3. And the G7X II was new in 2017. Overall, each of these is useful and will be kept.



    EF Lenses:
    Lens 2017 2016
    Sigma 14 Art (rental)
    1% NA
    EF 16-35 f/4 IS 10% 7%
    EF 24-70 II 36% 38%
    Sigma 50 Art 4% 2%
    EF 70-200 f/2.8 II 11% 9%
    EF 70-300 L 8% 8%
    EF 100 mm L Macro 3% 1%
    Sigma 150-600 Sport 27% 31%

    Actually, pretty consistent year to year, which makes sense as I really didn't mix up my kit or my shooting style.

    Not used in 2017: Rokinon 14 mm f/2.8 (ok, used once for 0.1%...not counting that), TSE 24 II, EF 40 f/2.8. As I mentioned last year, I tend to purge what I do not use, but I am keeping all these. The Rokinon is good and is my best lens if I want to run out and shoot a star scape. I just didn't do that in 2017. The 40 pancake is very inexpensive and would fill a need if I ever wanted the smallest version of my 5DIV. I didn't give my TSE 24 II a chance. For the second year in a row, I didn't even take it out. But I want too, so I am keeping it.

    Lenses used on my M breakdown:

    Lens 2017 2016
    11-22 16% NA
    18-55 49% 55%
    22 0% 45%
    28 macro 2% NA
    55-200 15% NA
    EF 70-300 L 18% 0%

    In trying to get more out of my M system, not only did I upgrade to the M3, but I added 3 lenses to make it more useful. Not only do I like the IQ, and ergonomics of the M3 much more, the new lenses helped make it more useful by covering more focal lengths. The 11-22, while not my most used lens, is now my favorite. The 55-200 is "ok" to "pretty good" but the focal length is very useful and one of my favorite shots of 2017 was taken with it.

    That is what I used. I am not sure if it is going to drive any additional purchases. Overall, I am pretty pleased with my kit. The last "holes" I see are fast primes (135 mm, etc) and a big white lens. Size and weight aside, I really love my 150-600S. The main issue I fight with it is light as it really needs to be shot at f/7.1-f/8 at 600 mm. So I can see a big white in my future, but I do not have that kind of money laying around.

    So, we'll see, I do have some budget left, but might either save it, or use it on a photo excursion.

    Thanks....Brant

  2. #2
    Senior Member neuroanatomist's Avatar
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    Ok, I'll play.

    As with Brant, these are based on the saved RAW images (tabulated with Aperture Inspector).

    For cameras in 2017:
    Canon EOS-1D X 76%
    Canon EOS M2 16%
    Canon EOS M6 8%
    My usage 'rate' for the M series was esentially constant in 2017, since I had the M2 for the first 2/3 of the year and got the M6 (as the M18-150 kit) at the end of August. That rate was a little lower than for 2016, which was ~70% 1D X and ~30% M2.

    As for lenses...

    On the 1D X:
    Lens 2017 2016
    Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L 25% 4%
    Canon EF 16-35 f/4L IS 2% NA
    Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L
    5% 3%
    Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II 30% 35%
    Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 1% 0%
    Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro 1% 0%
    Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II 17% 45%
    Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS 10% 7%
    Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS 3% NA
    Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS 1% 3%
    Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II 5% 3%
    Not nearly as consistent y/y as Brant's usage. My usage of the 11-24L was 'artifically' high in 2017 – we bought a new house in May, then listed and sold our previous house. I did the shots for the listing myself, almost entirely with the 11-24L, and almost all the shots were HDR (brackets of 5 exposures). Omitting the real estate shots from the usage, the 11-24L drops to ~8% (which is consistent with 2016, since I got the lens half way through that year).

    Lenses not used in 2016-2017 include the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8, and the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II. As with Brant, I tend to sell lenses that I don't use at least occasionally (thus, the 35/1.4L and 135/2L are gone). I'm keeping the Roki 14/2.8 for the same reason as Brant – it's a go-to for astro photography (the extra stop buys more star trail-free exposure time than the 3mm of the wider 11-24 f/4). Likewise, I'm keeping the TS-E 24L – I continue to shoot architecture when traveling, but I've left the longer TS-E at home in favor of the 11-24L since getting that in mid-2016. Because of the ease of filtering the TS-E 24, I take that when I know I'll be shooting in the daytime (although I have the salad plate Wonderpana 145mm for the TS-E 17, it's rather cumbersome).


    On the M series:
    Lens 2017 2016
    Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS 48% 71%
    Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS 0% 1%
    Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS
    17% NA
    Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 31% 13%
    Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS 1% 1%
    Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS 3% 14%
    My M-series usage definitely shifted after getting the M6. With the M2, it was mainly a backup camera for travel and only occasionally did I take it on family outings. The more expansive controls and speedier focusing of the M6 have resulted in me taking it along instead of the 1D X on family outings, and a concomitant shift from mainly the M11-22 to more usage of the M22/2 and M18-150. After getting the M18-150, I haven't used the M18-55 or M55-250 at all. However, I will be keeping them since I plan to hand down the M2 to my daughter (who turns 10 this month), probably with the 18-55/55-250 setup, but perhaps with the 18-150 and I'd return to the 2-lens setup.

    Thanks for posting, Brant – it's a helpful exercise to review usage year to year.

  3. #3
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    Ok, I will bite too.

    As for camera bodies, this isn't surprising as I only used my cameras when I traveled. And when I traveled, I brought the better system.
    Canon 6D: 94%
    Sony A6000: 6%

    As for the lenses:

    Currently Own:
    Sigma 20 Art: 11%
    Tamron 28-75: 11%
    Tamron 70-200 (non-IS): 8%
    Sony 50 OSS: 3%
    Canon 15 Fisheye: 2%
    Canon 35 IS: 23%
    Tamron 45 VC: 14% Acquired in November
    Tamron 90 VC: 18%
    Canon 90 TS-E 5% Acquired in June

    No Longer Own:
    Canon 50 1.4: 2.5%
    Sigma 19 E Mount: 2.5%

    The numbers are really skewed because of several long time lapses, so the Tamron 45 should have been under 5% and the Canon 35 & Tamron 90 should be 5% higher. I haven't used my Tamron 70-200 since May, because I wasn't happy with the image quality during one of my trips; nearly all my photos I shot with that lens were deleted because of missed focus (I had recalibrated my kit before the trip). It will likely be the next lens to go.

    I didn't use my Canon Fisheye much, but there is no way I am selling it as I like the look of the fisheye in certain situations.

    I was down about 25% in the number of photos I took this year. Between my day job being busy this year, and the forest fire smoke this summer, I really didn't get out this summer to my regular spots.

    I am a numbers guy, I like things like this to see how I (and others) use my gear. Thanks Brant!
    ---
    Way too much gear and even more lighting equipment.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Dave Throgmartin's Avatar
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    I've gotten so far behind editing I'm still going through some 2016 images!

    Dave

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Throgmartin View Post
    I've gotten so far behind editing I'm still going through some 2016 images!
    It's a good thing that it isn't a challenge, I'd probably be in the race for first place

    Anyway, very interesting numbers guys. I don't really do numbers, but look back from time to time at my actual use as well and adapt my kit if needed. In my use I see that I take less and less photographs with my camera, however selling it is a bridge too far. I still love doing it and taking time to do it when I can. Usually holidays and suchs.

    One number I'm missing, and would be interested to know, is the amount of photos taken each year. As I said, in my usage trend I'm taking less photos every year. Do you guys also have a certain trend?

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sheiky View Post
    ---
    One number I'm missing, and would be interested to know, is the amount of photos taken each year. As I said, in my usage trend I'm taking less photos every year. Do you guys also have a certain trend?
    In my case I don’t really see any trend. I had a look at the last 5 years of my Lightroom archive and it looks like this:

    Year: DSLR / P&S
    2013: 5700 / NA
    2014: 3500 / NA
    2015: 4900 / 1200
    2016: 5000 / 2700
    2017: 4900 / 1600

    (I got myself a G7X in 2015, in 2013-14 I only used my DSLR.)

    These numbers don’t reflect the number of exposures – these are the photos that I’ve kept after deleting the worst garbage. I seem to keep around 5k DSLR shots and 2k P&S shots per year.

  7. #7
    Super Moderator Kayaker72's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sheiky View Post
    One number I'm missing, and would be interested to know, is the amount of photos taken each year. As I said, in my usage trend I'm taking less photos every year. Do you guys also have a certain trend?
    I am pretty steady at 15k to 20k shots taken per year with 7k to 10k kept. My total shots taken depend on the number of major "events" I have in a given year. On vacation I do my best to have days were I barely take a picture, but then at least good parts of days that are dedicated to photography, if there is something good around. But my number of "events" from year to year have been pretty consistent. Trips, family get togethers, etc.

    The next real change to what is really becoming an annual routine is I do want to start doing more official excursions or photography workshops. That could cause an uptick, but we'll see.

  8. #8
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    I had more time available in 2014 & 2015 to shoot, averaging about 20k shots a year with half as keepers. In 2016 I stopped shooting people (I wasn't very good), so I shot 6k and kept 60%. In 2017, I shot more time lapse, so I shot at least 6k and kept 75%. In 2017 though, I only used my cameras once every 2 weeks.
    ---
    Way too much gear and even more lighting equipment.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manofmayo66 View Post
    I had more time available in 2014 & 2015 to shoot, averaging about 20k shots a year with half as keepers. In 2016 I stopped shooting people (I wasn't very good), so I shot 6k and kept 60%. In 2017, I shot more time lapse, so I shot at least 6k and kept 75%. In 2017 though, I only used my cameras once every 2 weeks.
    Glad you stop shooting people My daughter gave me a hat with a camera logo and phrase that said "I shoot people"
    If you see me with a wrench, call 911

  10. #10
    Senior Member Dave Throgmartin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Busted Knuckles View Post
    Glad you stop shooting people My daughter gave me a hat with a camera logo and phrase that said "I shoot people"
    He did say he wasn't very good at shooting people

    Dave

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