stenojj

The 6D has a 20.2 MP sensor where my T6s has a 24.2 sensor. Is that a huge difference to have a full frame?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The difference is not the number of pixels, but the size of each pixel across the geography of the sensor with the full frame sensor being larger than the crop sensor.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

There is a nice Youtube video by Mark Wallace for Adorama TV where he talks about and explains the differences in sensor sizes and the ability to perform well in low light or at higher ISOs. A search on Youtube should fined it for you... Good few minutes to view and learn...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

...which means the 6D's individual pixel bucket requires less light hitting it to capture more photons. Net: dont need as much electronic intervention at the sensor to pump the pixel to get the information needed to render the image (and in turn increasing the noise to signal ratio in the process) ...which is what cranking up the ISO does.

The smaller pixel needs more light for the same exposure (SS/aperature). This is why full frames are almost always much better low light performers. Example: my 70D shows the same amt of noise at 800ISO as my 6D has a 2400ISO ! Thats huge of you want to make prints.

Now.. full lighting in midday....your iphone will do just as good a job as the best dslr (bokeh, fps etc notwithstanding). Both can be f10, 100ISO and high shutter.....enough photons for everybody with no noise regardless of pixel size!

Ask yourself why the D5 and the 1Dxii are both 20mp cameras and not 50mp! ...continuous shooting buffers etc is one but the low light capability is a big reason. They have the best sensors for image quality in low light and the best AF in low light. Nikon 810 and Canon 5dmarkIV are just slightly behind. D500 slightly behjnd them but phenonominal given its a crop sensor not FF. D500 is a game changer in the low noise category for a sports/wildlife camera. D5 yes is better but that is 3× more expensive and full frame.

(And Sony has been making the best sensors for the past 5 yrs and now with the A9, have a decent body and great AF to wrap around it with features that will slowly upend the DSLR market over the next 5yrs....i just bought a 5DMarkIV due to glass investment etc but I do forsee potentially moving to mirrorless in 5yrs...)

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

The ones to keep are the ones that give you the most pleasure when using them and give you the best results. The ones to sell are the ones that stay in your bag. That said, you may want to consider the kind of photography you like and whether those lenses are giving you the results you seek. By "results" I don't mean photos like the ones that inspired you to buy the lens, because that level of photography takes a long time to achieve. What I am referring to are the actual capabilities of the lenses, like sharpness over most of its focal range [find the "sweet spot" and discover where it is soft], and its light gathering capabilities. It is always good to be able to shoot in low-light conditions, and for that you will want faster lenses so you don't have to raise the ISO so much to get good results.


As others have said, the 100-400mm lens makes some of the other zooms redundant. On the other hand, there is a principle that says the shorter the focal length range, the more of that focal length will be sharp. However, improved technology has increased the manufacturing capabilities for the super-long zooms and they are better than they used to be. Plus they don't cost as much as the long primes - most of us cannot afford those!

The 18-135mm is a good walk-around lens, fairly all-purpose, and you really like it, so it is one you should keep.
The 85mm f/1.8 is tagged as a portrait lens. That does not mean it does not have other uses. And you like photographing your cats - those are portraits! This is a fast lens, so you won't have to set up fancy lighting indoors, and you don't have to get so close to the cats that they feel uncomfortable. You want to catch them in their usual activities, not be an influence...
The other primes it is up to you whether you want to keep them.

In future, you should keep an eye on what focal lengths you use most often. Try not to have a GAS attack for a while, then choose your purchase carefully so you don't end up in this same predicament!

Take your camera and lenses out and have fun!

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

They all have a purpose. Keep them.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Check out CreativeLive.com for online tutorials. They sell tutorials, but also have what they call "On Air" where they broadcast them for free. You are supposed to watch them as they are broadcast, but unless they have changed their ways, once the original broadcast is over it goes into a loop. Tuning in you may find it is in the middle, but you can watch all the rest of that day and evening, and often the next morning as well. Lots of great instructors on many topics, not all of them photography, but the photography ones are generally excellent. It is also a good way to learn who is out there that teaches, since many of them have their own websites. Lynda.com is also well-recommended. I have not joined her website, but did see a short tutorial on the Adobe website. Scott Kelby has a lot of books, and a subscription website KelbyOne.com There are a lot of sources online, some you pay for, a lot for free. YouTube has plenty, but unless you have a recommendation as to who is good, you will find yourself spending a lot of time wading through the rest...

Here are a few names for photographers/instructors with their own websites: MattK, Ben Willmore, PHLEARN

Plenty of websites that are great references for photography with plenty of free stuff: Digital Photography School, Digital Photo Mentor, etc.

joelcandids

For me personally I'm always buying the next lens that I just have to have and I never get rid of a lens. From time to time, I take just one lens and go shoot it. It's much easier if I have a choice of lens for different shots but by taking just one lens out, I really get in touch with what that lens will do or won't do. Of course I would never do that if I was being paid for a shoot.

warrenrowephotography Loc: Kempner, TX

Stenojj, here's my lens setup with my T6i:

Canon 18-55 3.5-5.6 STM kit lens
Tamron 70-300 4-5.6 Di LD Tele-Macro
Canon 24 mm 2.8 STM
Canon 50 mm 1.8 STM

This lens setup actually works very well for me. Pay attention to the crop factor (1.6 for each of our cameras) and take that into consideration; you may find that you need one or two LESS lenses overall. I can see having the 85 mm 1.8 STM (I do want that one) and even the 100-400 mm "L" IS II USM. Beyond those, unless you want to eventually add a 10-18 mm lens, I think you're pretty set where you are.

Also take advantage of your in-camera settings for sharpness and contrast, among other settings. It can help overcome (to a point) any shortcomings a lens like the Tamrons we have, such as sharpness. It's worked for me.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Well said... I have a 1Dx MkII and I find it great for my needs. A 5D4 would be a close second. I don't see myself jumping to mirrorless but who knows where technology will be in 5 or 10 years. I have a 1D Mk III and it is 10 years since introduction now and while it is still a nice camera in a lot of ways I is amazing how far the 1 series has come in 10 years. The other thing people don't generally realize is how great the Speedlite systems are today as compared to 8 or 10 years ago...light years ahead now...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

stenojj

It's amazing how similar our arsenals are. I am selling my 55-250 for sure. That is one I "never" use. I really would like to hang onto my 85 mm. I will sell my Tamron 70-300 once my Canon 100-400 gets here this week. The other primes I will keep. I also like my 18-135 so will hang onto that one.

I have a video on how to use the T6s. I will have to rewatch to see how I can tweak the settings. Not familiar with that.

Thanks!

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

As I see it you have the same basic problem I have and many if not most do. We have lenses that we have not invested enough time with to know what they will do for us what no other lens will do. Which lens will give us the bokeh we want or such. Lenses have sweet spots with aperture settings and also they have some limitations. I try to pull out my camera bag queens every so often and really give them a workout. You have a great assortment of lenses and if you work with each for more than a few frames and you get to know what they can do for you, you will know if you need to thin the herd. Before I would get rid of any lens in your collection I think you should work that lens so you know what you are giving up. Each one may surprise you.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Although you can use 1 or 2 zooms for most of your shots, you'll quickly find subjects and lighting that will require a particular lens for maximum results, or as my old shop teacher used to say:" the right tool in the right condition is half the job".

warrenrowephotography Loc: Kempner, TX

Sounds like you have a good plan. Good luck!

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

We all get that problem from time to time, I would suggest getting out and using the heck out of each lens find out what you like best on each and where you would not use a certain lens, you have a nice collection which will serve you well once you find their niche. Good luck and have fun.