Upgraded to a Canon 5D Mark III

This article was posted more than 1 year ago. Please keep in mind that the information on this page may be outdated, insecure, or just plain wrong today.

My photography journey has been hectic from a gear standpoint.  Here’s a bit of history and some of the equipment that I’ve used over the past few years.

Camera Bodies

2010-2012 Canon SX30 IS
The SX30 IS was my first digital camera so-to-speak.  It was a point-and-shoot that I took with me on our NYC trip in 2010.
2012-2014 Canon Rebel T3
The Canon Rebel T3 was my first DSLR camera.  I entered into the DSLR arena and bought this Christmas of 2012.  I knew nothing about DSLRs and how expensive the next 3 years were going to be (lol).
2014-2015 Canon 5D Classic
After being in the DSLR game for a few years now, I decided to take the plunge into a Full Frame sensor and see what all the fuss was about.  Would it really be *that* awesome?  This was an affordable used body I picked up for about $500 in a Facebook group.
2015-2016 Canon 6D
After toying with the 5D, I needed better features like focus and low-light capabilities.  I did a lot of indoor stuff and my studio was coming together with lighting, but not quite there yet.
2016-Present Canon 5D Mark III
The 6D AF system performance left me missing a lot of action shots.  I knew of this when I bought the camera that the 5D Mark III was superior in the AF sense, but the 6D price point pound-for-pound in comparison to the 5D Mark III at the time is what sold me.  Now, though, I need that AF system.  It was either the 7D Mark II or the 5D Mark III — I want to stay full frame, so the 5D Mark III it is!
My newest body will arrive tomorrow, 11/23, just in time for some shoots this weekend.

Lenses

Let me preface this by stating that I *wish* I would have just saved up my money, knew what I was going to end up shooting, and bought the appropriate glass.  Moving from APS-C (crop sensor) to Full Frame was costly.  All the EF-S lenses I bought when I owned my Rebel T3 had to go bye-bye.

ALL OF MY LENSES ARE GONE.  SOLD.
They were sold off, traded, bartered, etc. to ‘upgrade’ things over the years.  Some I lost money on, some I broke even.
My FAVORITE lens HANDS DOWN was my 135mm f/2 L.  I fucking LOVE that lens, but I sold it, because:  bills.

Moving Forward

Looking into the future, after I pay off the 5D Mark III, I would like to have the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L at a decent used price, or a new f/4.  I’d also love to have the 135mm f/2 L again;  I see they sell for about $700 on Facebook groups, so I can probably pick that up again in a few months.  I have gear lust problems and I still have not figured out if I’m a prime person or if I am OK with the tele lenses.  I’m a pixel peeper and I demand sharpness.  After using the 135mm f/2 L, no lens (that I’ve used) compares to that badass!
Overall, in my bag, I would like to have:

  • Canon 5D Mark III (Got it!)
  • Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM ($$)
  • Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II L ($$$$$)
  • Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II L ($$$$$)
  • Canon 135mm f/2 L ($$$)
  • Canon 16-35 f/4 IS L ($$$$)
  • Canon 35mm f/1.4 L ($$$$)