Which chase is this, I hear you ask? The unending search for the perfect portrait or landscape?
Well no, actually. I’m referring here to the perverse joy that you can get in the process of finding that ideal bit of photographic equipment. In my case it’s recently been a body (D700) and the full frame lenses to go with it. Is it wrong that after getting the D700 and 24-70 AF-S f/2.8 lens I feel delighted, but slightly empty?
What am I going to look out for in the classifieds at the back of Photo magazines? And which reviews to check on camera forums, continually searching until I find the review which matches my opinion? What if Nikon bring out a new lens which is slightly quicker, or lighter? I think this quote from Roger Hicks in Amatuer Photographer magazine is appropriate;
Yearning after what you do not have can squander time and effort that could be better employed in taking pictures. Likewise, it is fruitless to worry about exactly which lens has the highest resolution, the least vignetting and so on. Most good modern lenses (and many old ones, too) are likely to be at least acceptable, and probably excellent. Small differences in resolution or distortion are likely to be secondary to the ‘look’ of the lens, its ergonomics, its size, weight and price, and the other factors that govern whether you will use it and whether, as a result, you are likely to pictures that you like from it.
He’s right of course. The more time I sit here in my dark corner the less time I can enjoy my camera and capturing moments. And I don’t really need a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens…
