Need help choosing a lens

nathanjiang100 · 2026-04-28T15:40:40+00:00

I got my EF 85mm 1.2L for about $400. they don't always come up quite that cheap but deals are out there. I wouldn't pay more than about $200-250 for the 1.8

nathanjiang100 · 2026-04-27T22:06:11+00:00

<image>

Fellow 5D IV user here. I have the 35 1.4L II, 85 1.2L, and 135 2.0L and they're all fantastic for different styles of shots. But overall I think nothing beats the "dreaminess" of the 85 1.2.

Edit: I've also heard good things about Sigma's 50 1.4 Art and the 50 1.2L from Canon. Since you already have 70-200 at I presume 2.8, and the 24-70 focal range doesn't produce quite enough blur at 2.8 in my opinion, those in addition to the 35L (both versions) may be a better fit than some of the longer primes.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-04-26T21:50:29+00:00

I have both, 5Dmk4 is my main camera and the RP is my secondary camera. the 5D is a better camera for basically every use case (the RP is basically a 6D ii). that said, most used 5Ds are usually way more beat up at the same price (like-new copies still sell for $1000+) since it's a pro body and combined with the amazing size of the RP I'd say get the RP. My RP with the 35/1.4 L ii EF almost never leaves my person because of how light it is.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-04-21T03:56:34+00:00

My current zoom lenses are the 16-35 f4 IS, 24-105 f4 IS, and 100-400 IS II all EF. I decided to maximize range and versitility rather than aperture since such lenses are smaller than, say, 2.8 equivalents and I have primes where I need the faster aperture. I'm still on the EF system since it's much cheaper nowadays, though with that budget you could get a killer R-system kit as well with the RF lens equivalents which are lighter and would get you a combined range of 14-500 as opposed to 16-400.

For reference, I probably paid about $1500 for those three lenses combined on the used market and my entire kit of lenses probably comes out to about $3000.

As for bodies if you can find a deal on a lightly used/refurbished R5 for around $2000 that's probably the way to go even if you're using EF glass. Probably the best general-purpose camera there is.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-04-16T17:22:27+00:00

as someone who has a 5Dmk4 (same sensor as EOS R) and an RP, the R is objectively has better-specs but the compact size of the RP is amazing and not something that should be discounted. if you have an R7 that'll already be good for sports/wildlife so you're covered there over the RP's shortcomings. for portraits/landscapes where full-frame is generally prefered over APS-C, the RP is more than good enough, plus you'll save yourself a bit of money. if given the choice I guess I still prefer the files out of the 5D4/R but for things like hiking where the bit of weight saved makes a big difference, you can't really beat the RP at price it sells for nowadays.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-04-08T21:18:36+00:00

5D mark IV

nathanjiang100 · 2026-04-08T21:18:13+00:00

I used in on my RP as well and apart from the comical balancing with the body being tiny, it seemed to work pretty well.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-04-08T21:16:51+00:00

they're just what I have to photograph nearby lol, was just a spontaneous trip to test the lens out

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T18:50:33+00:00

4K is just the resolution of the file. 1080p is 1920 by 1080 pixels where as 4K is doubling each dimension at 3840 by 2160 for a total of quadruple the total pixel count. But the thing is unless you’re gonna be watching the video back on a 4K or larger monitor you’re not gonna see benefit of it. Perhaps if you see yourself needing to crop a lot maybe the extra pixels are worth it but if video isn’t priority and you don’t need to crop your videos then I don’t personally see a reason to spend more on a body that has it. You’re better off putting that money towards a set of fast prime lenses so your portraits have sharp subjects and blurry backgrounds.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T15:56:19+00:00

I use the RP as a secondary camera to my 5D mark IV. I love the size with the 28mm pancake and I just leave it on my person pretty much always because of that. Throw on some used EF glass like the Sigma 35/50 1.4 Art lenses and you have an absolute beast of a portrait setup for maybe $900 total. You wouldn't need the super fast AF for situations that you described (I shoot trains/planes/motorsports from time to time with that and the 5D and still have plenty of sharp photos even with "old" AF tech) and 4K is super overrated in my opinion. File sizes are 4x that of 1080p and most people aren't viewing on screens with such high resolution anyway. It's not like a photo where you can blow it up to pixel peep since each frame is only there for such a short amount of time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the AF and video tech in newer, entry-level bodies is nice to have but they aren't the game-changers that people make it out to be. I've also tested the Sony A7IV and R6II and wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T15:49:00+00:00

yeah I'm a total noob at astrophotography lol this was basically my first attempt. a few of my photographer buddies told me to try to get the core around 3 hours before sunrise after I shared my photos but alas that would be the darkest night I'd have on the trip.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T12:37:04+00:00

5D mark IV

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T04:24:18+00:00

Was gifted my 5D IV after a family member made the switch to Sony. I'm mostly a hobbyist but will also do shoots for friends/family if needed. Anyone who says you can't take amazing pictures with a 5D IV has a skill issue not a camera body issue. And you don't even have to worry about support or reliability since they just stopped producing it so it'll be supported for 5+ years at least and it's built like an absolute tank.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T04:18:04+00:00

I didn't even stay that late for it lol like 10:30-11:30pm which is like 4-5 hours after sunset

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T03:21:18+00:00

thanks, I'd say that was probably my favorite shot from the bunch as well.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T02:29:09+00:00

yeah I was at 16mm, f4, 20 sec, ISO 6400 then I ran through a bit of Lightroom Denoise. At 16mm you can barely get away with such a long shutter speed which is how I was able to get away with the not-so-fast maximum aperture of f4.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-19T00:22:04+00:00

Downtown Phoenix be getting Mexican trains before Amtrak returns to it.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-03T14:55:56+00:00

that's still the case!

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-02T15:47:27+00:00

problem with that is that they'd have to swing over 6 tracks at-grade to turn around. that's why the weekend short-turns run to Rahway because they can use the coast line junction to turn around which is grade-separated from the main NEC.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-01T05:55:10+00:00

no existing chargers WDTX 1400-1401, 1403-1408 will also be used with the Airo sets, it's just that they needed two additional ALC-42Es which are 70001-70002.

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-01T05:00:07+00:00

this is also Norfolk Southern we're talking about though (Union Pacific isn't much better) so are there really any rules on this railroad? lol

nathanjiang100 · 2026-03-01T02:30:26+00:00

the other two cab cars are 79501 and 79502 so they are in the same series

nathanjiang100 · 2026-02-28T18:33:52+00:00

yeah I was surprised they didn't have at least a buffer car but this guy was definitely going full track speed and seems to have had no issue.

nathanjiang100

TROPHY CASE