gearnut54 Loc: Sierra Madre, CA

I used to shoot with a Rebel XSi and Canon's consumer zooms. Was happy. Then I bought the 70-200mm f2.8L (non IS). As I was walking out, the salesman asked what body I was going to stick that on. When I said my Rebel, he shook his head. "Wrong body. You need a full frame body to take advantage of what that lens can really do". Two months later, I bought a used 5D body on EBay, sold all my Rebel gear, and began acquiring great glass from Canon. I now have the 100mm f2.8 macro, 50mm f1.2L, 85mm f1.8, 135mm f2L, 24-70mm f2.8L, 100-300mm f4-5.6L, 17-40 f4L, 14mm f2.8L and sold my non IS 70-200 and bit the bullet and got the 70-200mm f2.8L II. I also got a barely used 1d Mark III body to help me shoot hummingbirds and sports. I love taking floral macros, head shots, special events, and landscapes.

joe west Loc: Taylor, Michigan

upload some photo's show us what you got

gearnut54 Loc: Sierra Madre, CA

I will when I can log in on my home Mac where I've stored my pics.

photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ

Hi.....Like to see some shots with those lenses....I shoot Canons too

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

I think a couple million 50D, 60D and 7D shooters might disagree with that statement.

gearnut54 Loc: Sierra Madre, CA

The salesman's point, which I didn't fathom at the time--that using a lens made for optimum use on a full-frame sensor body is the only way to 'see' what the lens is built to 'see'--is valid. I say that after first thinking that putting the 70-200mm on my Rebel's 1:6 cropped sensor body would actually result in my having the equivalent of a 150-400mm telephoto (psyche!). Or, as I thought back then, this gives me a more "powerful" lens for less money. To some degree, that's sort of true. But where I really began to see the validity of his statement was when I started using Primes (single focal length) lenses on my 5D body. When planning a shoot ahead of time and choosing which lenses I'd need, it started making a big difference that the 50mm or 14mm lenses would ACTUALLY capture what I knew those focal lengths would capture. Maybe that' not a big deal to some shooters, but as I've gotten used to the unique capabilities of each focal length, it's become a real factor. I also believe that what the salesman was intimating was that I would effectively be looking through a 'tube' inside my 70-200mm lens because the 1:6 cropped sensor wasn't big enough to 'see' everything coming through my 77mm lens opening.

When I put my lenses on my 1D Mark III (1:3 crop factor), the crop factor is much less AND oftentimes use that to my advantage in my lens selection. Even though I know I'm not 'seeing' everything that my lenses can see.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Valid thoughts, all. But my take on it was that the salesman was trying (unsuccessfully) to sell you a F/F body. I understand that the crop cameras have a built in limitation when it comes to FOV and all, and one must assume that Canon designs their EF lenses primarily for the F/F bodies. But saying you need a F/F to take 'full advantage' of the lens is like saying you need to drive like Niki Lauda to take full advantage of an F400. Yeah, he could probably make it do things that I couldn't. But glass doesn't make the photographer. It HELPS, no doubt. Would Perlman sound just a good on a $200 Sears violin? Probably. Would a Strativarius help me? Not one whit.

I do envy you your 5D though...and one is on my Christmas list for sure...just tryin' to figger out which 7-11 to stick up for the money. :)

gearnut54 Loc: Sierra Madre, CA

While you're stickin' up a 7-11, be sure and get enough cash for both of us to get a 5D Mark III when they come out next year. Supposed to be a Marked improvement over the Mark II.

Attached file:
(Download)

Canon EF 100-400mm f4-5.6L on 1D Mark III body.


EF 100-400mm f4-5.6L on 5D body.


Riverside Church, NYC EF 70-200 f2.8L II on 5D


EF 70-200mm IS0 3200 f4 1/125 on 5D


EF 70-200mm ISO 3200 f2.8 1/500 on 5D


EF 70-200mm ISO 1250 f/9 1/40 on 5D

gearnut54 Loc: Sierra Madre, CA

Ok, I've posted some of my shots for you. Thanks for asking!

Former mayor of Philadelphia. I like shooting events and capturing the personality and the moment.


EF 17-40mm ISO 1250 f8 1/160 on 5D


EF 50 ISO 3200 f1.8 on 5D. Focused only on his right hand.

gearnut54 Loc: Sierra Madre, CA

Ok, Joe, check out some of my work now. thanks for asking.

gearnut54 Loc: Sierra Madre, CA

Ok, here's another sample of how I shoot.

EF 70-200mm f3.5 ISO 3200 DXO processing


Cross-processed in DXO.