As some of you may know from my previous journal entries that I recently acquired a new lens (Canon 100-400 IS). The lens has been great, BUT it has attracted allot of attention and brought allot of attention towards me while out and about shooting.
In the past month I have received more “comments” about my gear then I have in the whole time I’ve been shooting! :P
Here are some examples of the comments I’ve overheard since I got this lens:
“Look at the size of that lens”
“That must have cost a fortune”
“Thats a really big camera”
“Look mummy that man has a telescope”
“Thats a F ‘in big a** lens”
“That must be heavy to carry around all day long”
“Thats a lens only professionals use”
Lots of Wows
And lots of stares at me and my camera by other photographers, then the disappointed look at their own cameras! LOL
So if your looking for a lens for candid and street photography, it might be best you look for something a little less conspicuous!
Anyone else have any similar experiences with working with their gear??
Craig Goldsmith, about 1 year ago
Well personally I prefer to get closer for most of my candids, but I have used both my 18-200 and 80-200 at the 200 end for candids and street photography (niether as big as what I’d imagine the 100-400 is). I don’t usually let peoples comments bother me, and I’m not sure why it’s bothering you, you’ve got an unusally large lens of course there is going to be some attention so what ? Is it that your find the attention is affecting your work, inhibiting your shots ? Swap to a 135 or 85 mm lens or a 50 1.4 much more discrete and you’ll blend in a little better with the regular joes.
EOS20
,
about 1 year ago
It doesn’t bother me, I just noticed this lens attracts allot more attention then any of my other lenses I’ve owned and used in the past. I just pretend I don’t hear what they are saying and just get on with what I’m doing.
I don’t do street/candid work, My comment was a little tongue and check. Most of the time when I go out to shoot there isn’t anyone around (I mainly do landscapes) But I have been shooting in allot of public areas over the last month.
Craig Goldsmith, about 1 year ago
Fair enough, imagine the comments you’d get with a III series and a 600mm f4, go anywhere near Apec and likely you’d be arrested. :P
mwfoster, about 1 year ago
I have a 500mm and 750mm lens that I use for sports the 750 has a 3 1/2 in mirror so if I bust that out outside of work I get alot of looks. The mono pod I use works as a good billy club the one time someone try to grab the camera and run.
David Thibodeaux, about 1 year ago
I’ve had a similar experience. I bought a Canon 70-200mm f2.8L. It’s a amazing lens and it love the results. Sure, it’s a little heavy (especially when carrying a tripod) but you get used to it. However, I’ve learned that it attracts way to much attention when I use it for street photography. I like to do photography in Miami’s South Beach, and I get lot’s of interruptions. Once I was thrown off the property at Lowe’s Hotel by security guards. I find it helps to have a companion with me when I’m shooting, as that seems to provide a buffer against interferrence. Otherwise, I just use my 50mm 1.8 $50 lens that does a creditable job in low light situations.
Daniel Rayfield
,
9 months ago
well either way you are all extremely lucky to have a dslr … one day…. keep up the good work
Hien Nguyen, 7 months ago
Now try carrying two pro bodies one with a 24-70 and the other with a 70-200 around and not get comments :)
Peter Hill, 13 days ago
My 10D may be 5 or so years old, but it gets a lot of attention when I attach the 70-300mm DO IS to it. It’s not so much a long mother as a big mother, with a whopping lens hood to match. Add one tripod and suddenly “he’s a pro” ha! if only they knew!