I am a new member here, let me give a little info about myself: Professional Photographer for the last 30 years, with international assignments, I am based in Europe.
I am very particular when selecting a lens, I am a good customer at a pro shop and they generally will lend me 4-5 lenses for me to pick the best one. I think it is no secret that there are sample variations, and they can be huge especially on zoom lenses.
I have been testing for years, and my first encounter with a special lens was the 100-400 ver 1 for my 5DsR - I got to test the demo provided by canon, and 3 other 100-400, and some prime 300 and 400. That demo 100-400 was a pure gem, and was overall a much better performer that the other glasses. I ct a deal and was allowed to purchase the 100-400 Demo.
Next time was with the 24TS II (my bread and butter lens when shooting architecture), I had a really great 24TS (very early model) but it got damaged beyond repair, so I had to get a new one. I just purchased a new sample, but it was no where as good as my old one, and I went through 4-5 other samples with same result. My pro shop called canon, and their rep let me try their Demo version of the 24TS, and voila that was a gem of a lens, and I got to purchase that sample.
Now I am in a similar situation, I changed to R5 and was looking for an 85 (my bread and butter lens for portraits), I have the Canon 85 1.8, 85 1.4 ID, 85 1.2 II, Tamron 85 1.8 VC and Sigma 85 1.4 - so I don't really need anything more, but it is also time to perhaps upgrade to RF 85 1.2
So I got a Canon demo RF 85 1.2 and had a shoot out (nerdy testing) with the other 85's to see if it's really worth it before making a purchase. All I can say is WOW that lens is just magical, never seen anything like it, better than my 90 TS II, better than anything. I was so exited and went to buy the lens. Got a brand new one, and went straight back to my studio setup and made a test, and the lens was good (great) but not like the demo version, and there was a clear difference. I went back to my pro shop and got another sample, and that was even worse.
So I wonder when I read glowing reviews on that lens, if there is such a thing like pro stock (tennis term for special racquets for top pro players) or a selected A+++ lens for demo and reviews.
It is kind of frustrating, so I would like to have your opinion on this topic (apologize if that has been discussed before or if it is a well kept secret).
Thank you very much for any feed back, as monday morning I will have to replace the lens for another sample, or perhaps get the demo.
Cheers, TES
I am very particular when selecting a lens, I am a good customer at a pro shop and they generally will lend me 4-5 lenses for me to pick the best one. I think it is no secret that there are sample variations, and they can be huge especially on zoom lenses.
I have been testing for years, and my first encounter with a special lens was the 100-400 ver 1 for my 5DsR - I got to test the demo provided by canon, and 3 other 100-400, and some prime 300 and 400. That demo 100-400 was a pure gem, and was overall a much better performer that the other glasses. I ct a deal and was allowed to purchase the 100-400 Demo.
Next time was with the 24TS II (my bread and butter lens when shooting architecture), I had a really great 24TS (very early model) but it got damaged beyond repair, so I had to get a new one. I just purchased a new sample, but it was no where as good as my old one, and I went through 4-5 other samples with same result. My pro shop called canon, and their rep let me try their Demo version of the 24TS, and voila that was a gem of a lens, and I got to purchase that sample.
Now I am in a similar situation, I changed to R5 and was looking for an 85 (my bread and butter lens for portraits), I have the Canon 85 1.8, 85 1.4 ID, 85 1.2 II, Tamron 85 1.8 VC and Sigma 85 1.4 - so I don't really need anything more, but it is also time to perhaps upgrade to RF 85 1.2
So I got a Canon demo RF 85 1.2 and had a shoot out (nerdy testing) with the other 85's to see if it's really worth it before making a purchase. All I can say is WOW that lens is just magical, never seen anything like it, better than my 90 TS II, better than anything. I was so exited and went to buy the lens. Got a brand new one, and went straight back to my studio setup and made a test, and the lens was good (great) but not like the demo version, and there was a clear difference. I went back to my pro shop and got another sample, and that was even worse.
So I wonder when I read glowing reviews on that lens, if there is such a thing like pro stock (tennis term for special racquets for top pro players) or a selected A+++ lens for demo and reviews.
It is kind of frustrating, so I would like to have your opinion on this topic (apologize if that has been discussed before or if it is a well kept secret).
Thank you very much for any feed back, as monday morning I will have to replace the lens for another sample, or perhaps get the demo.
Cheers, TES