Continue to invest in EF glass?

Hi all,

 

I am a satisfied owner of the 5DIV and lots of canon glass. I still have a few lenses on my wish list however (the 85 1.4, 100-400 f4 and 11-24mm). I have been seeing some good deals lately on some of these. My question is - with Canon's emphasis on their mirrorless line, am I making a mistake to continue to invest in EF glass? Whilst I am likely to be perfectly happy with my current equipment for a number of years, but I don't want to be stuck holding 10K+ worth of EF glass which will decline steadily in value (and/or compatibility?). Or do I just trust that good converters will always be available if/when I ever switch to a mirrorless body?

 

Any insights would be appreciated.

 

Cheers, joel

If you like what you have probably isn't a bad idea to continue. I have scads of old glass and a fair amount of new. Hard to tell what things will be worth - particularly since selling is so different than buying!

Given there are adapters to use EF and EF-S lenses on the -R and -M series with full functions, it doesn't seem to be much of a risk. Granted the overall package will be a bit larger and heavier, but functional. The -R is a bit rich for my old hobbyist fantasies, but I acquired an EOS M5 and the adapter to use my EF/EF-S glass. I even acquired the adapter to use my old FD glass on the M5. Hardly ever use it, but it can be done.

. . . I don't want to be stuck holding 10K+ worth of EF glass which will decline steadily in value (and/or compatibility?). Or do I just trust that good converters will always be available if/when I ever switch to a mirrorless body? Any insights would be appreciated.

 

My insights -

 

I have never understood the concept of "investment" in lenses, unless the lenses are being used to make money: as you mention a "wish list" then I conclude Photography is a joy / hobby / pastime for you and your lenses are there to provide that enjoyment and are not tools of trade. In this case then, my view is, once having attained the money to make a purchase from your wish list, each day you wait postulating the ifs, buts, and maybes of the future, is one day less you have enjoying that lens.

 

My view on that portion of your question, is a simple as that.

 

Apropos will the good converters be always available, I reckon you're simply inventing issues to worry about.

 

Frankly, the world, in the last few months, has been thrown into chaos and many people are dead: The ESO DSLR System is well established and has a considerable number of users, worldwide. You are one and you don't indicate changing from that system: if you have the cash, then go out and make Photos with your 5DIV and have fun.

 

WW

Thanks for your feedback gents. I guess I'm just a bit concerned with Canon's messaging around the future of their DSLR product lineup. Of course lenses aren't an investment in the purest sense of the word, but I also don't want to spend hard earned money on a product line which might not be supported in the future.

I think it's wise to buy what you need when you need it. Worrying about future utility is a path to doing nothing, because nothing is currently the likely outcome.

That may be a good outcome for some with a Gear Acquisition Syndrome, of course.

 

I second William michael's comments on "investment". Professional producers in any field are concerned with the utility of their equipment and depreciate it on their taxes. There may be people (see some of the reality shows) who collect old industrial equipment, but otherwise the original buyers expected it to decline in value over time.

 

Old lenses are not an "investment" with very, very rare fan-boy exceptions. I know, I have hundreds of old lenses. Many of them are of great utility, but I use them, not keep them in a safety deposit box.

 

Not even my Flektogon or Angenieux 35mm retrofocus lenses paid anything toward my kid's college expenses:rolleyes:

. . . Of course lenses aren't an investment in the purest sense of the word, but I also don't want to spend hard earned money on a product line which might not be supported in the future.

 

Yes, understood both those points from your OP, my view was not being pedantic for the sake of semantics - it was encouraging you to enjoy what you want to do, when you can afford to do it - I reckon the EF line of lenses will have good support for at least the next 10 years, probably 15years - that's a lot of photos to make and a lot of fun to have.

 

WW

. . .Worrying about future utility is a path to doing nothing . . .

 

Sage.

I remember Canon transition to AF lenses. A moment after the MF lenses were worth next to nothing. I wouldn’t buy any „old system” eos lenses unless the price is really low. I think now is the best time to sell old lenses and buy the new system (or switch to digital medium format?).

Sage.

 

Gee, I thought it was thyme.

if/when I ever switch to a mirrorless body

Seems the wrong attitude in my eyes. Yes, I have a 5D IV too, but just a 70-200 for it, so far (and a k-mount adapter I didn't test yet). Juggling a bunch of lenses on just one body costs time and great pictures, you'll miss to take. Plan to get some 2nd body going. While wedding shooters might advocate an identical pair of cameras (+ backup...), there seem a lot of reasonable choices on the market and adding a MILC now, looks like an option.

Re-map your world into DSLR and MILC lenses and figure out what is how smart to purchase now in EF mount.

11-24 doesn't sound overly wrong on SLR; its surely slow enough, so there won't be any need for AF micro adjustments.

 

I have mixed feelings about the 85/1.4: Yes, worth buying for the IS and fast AF. & No, too heavy for shooting it stopped down far enough, to get by without eye AF.

 

Did Canon ever make and quickly discontinue an adapter? - If so: Buy EF to R and stash it away before you even start saving up for an R body.

 

Whilst I am likely to be perfectly happy with my current equipment for a number of years, but I don't want to be stuck holding 10K+ worth of EF glass which will decline steadily in value (and/or compatibility?).

 

How does "consuming stuff" work in your book?

Inside a mostly discontinued or obsolete camera system you face the challenge of either running out of bodies or lenses first. But besides that you are supposed to shoot your stuff happily, until it falls apart...

 

Depreciation is inevitable and your friend. Whenever your bag goes down another notch in value, you should become more daring to out that camera.

 

While you still have a chance to buy more stuff, it might also feel time to say "No!", when you get the feeling something won't work state of the art well for you. Example: Roots wise I am probably a Pentax guy but I never pondered getting their 70-200/2.8 for that sluggish AF! (It is even more expensive than Canon's).

I believe the EF 24-70/2.8 to be a optically great lens, but I won't buy one, since it comes without IS. And the Tamron counterpart was reported to have slow AF and like the 24-105/4 not that great optics, so I felt no rush to buy any wide zoom yet.

I haven't really mapped out a Canon dream kit for myself. - I see an additional R5, maybe with 85/1.4 IS and 35/2 IS + adapter, to gain some redundancy from my 5D. I can even see myself scooping up a studio beater SLR like 1Ds Mk. III. Or I'll do nothing and stick to a 35 (or 21) mm on my (aging) Leica, to go with the 5D as is.

 

RF glass wise I'm still sorting options. First of all: The pair of bread & butter IS macros tempts me a whole lot. Biggest drawback: I'd need a 2nd R body. - An R? 28-70/2 sounds "nice" combined with IBIS but I'd like to handle one; maybe it is too heavy? - IDK what the 85/1.2 is supposed to offer me. And yes, I am too cheap to sell my 70-200, to ugrade to the R one. The EF was a good lens too, right? But starting fresh I'd appreciate less bulk.

So I guess everything will boil down to a huge Excell sheet to fill out? With weights, prices, review results (split into optics and AF performance) and dunno what else.

 

"Is EF stuff good enough for me?" might remain the big open question. The 100-400 looks "nice price" now, compared to the not available RF 100-500 which also seems quite dim? - OTOH: Are such lenses ever long enough? - I had adding some crop Nikon with 200-500 on mind, when I mindgamed "half serious birding" & such.

 

I don't see investment endangered by Canon releasing a different product line. So far they released some EOS lenses in already 3(!) iterations, like about every 10-12 years? 70-200/2.8 IS L Mk. III is out, right? And a whole lot of glass is Mk. II by now?

What happens after such update releases? - An effort to supply spares and services for another decade gets made. - So what if your IS unit breaks after Canon put their last spare into somebody else's lens? - I neither want to bash Canon, nor do I know anything. But they do list online what CPS covers and what not, so I assume everything not covered or earning points might be already way less repairable?

 

If you have $$s to buy + time to use: Get stuff. - If you lack the time (or subjects...): Rent & procrastinate!

The days of buying camera gear that will last you for many decades are over and a lot of the currently "still going strong" stuff already depends on 3rd party repairs.

If you aren't primary after "a living history kick" while out shooting, avoid buying gear imposed inconveniences. - Disclaimer: There might be a big red dot on my last sentence. But if I watch Irene Rudnyk on YouTube, wide open people photography might drastically benefit from MILCs with eye AF

 

I don't want to tell you that you "need" latest and greatest. I am just preaching to be aware of it, while you are pondering purchases.

 

Biggest buying mistake are expensive shelf queens that you are too lazy to take out and it doesn't matter if your somewhat suitable super wide stays "home" or just "backpacked". 2nd bodies help avoiding the latter.

Go for it. Plenty of adapters for new Canons and other brand cameras to use those EF lenses.

I just purchased a 5Ds which arrives tomorrow because it was affordable at $1299 compared to the R5 which I'd love to have but can't justify. I have some nice EF glass and don't want to buy into a new camera/lens mount. Yes I could adapt my EF lenses but knowing me I'd want some of the fantastic new RF lenses if I had gotten the R5.