However, while I do think I am gradually improving, I have recently been debating on which direction I will take in my equipment purchases.  The reason is, my next purchase will have a significant impact on which types of photographs I take in the future.  The question has become less, “what lens should I buy” and more “what types of pictures do I want to take in the nearer future”.

I would appreciate any opinions on the possible choices before me.

Option 1 – My original plan was to buy the Canon 180mm 3.5L to increase my range in macro photography.  I have often longed to photograph bees and dragonflies, but the truth is they are just too difficult to get with the MP-E 65.  A longer lens such as the 180L would make this much easier.  I currently have more than the savings necessary to do this, so it’s the easiest choice to act on now.  After the 180L though, I have several choices and I am currently undecided.

a) Go the strobists route and purchase some flashes and remote triggers.  Most likely I would go the pocket wizards route as I have seen the ST-E2 in use and was not very impressed by its reliability.  To be honest I am not very big into the type of portrait photography that this approach helps most with.  Still, as Nelya gets more real estate listings this will probably help out greatly.  Currently I use a tripod and hold the shutter for my real estate photos – but I am not very impressed of the results when there are lights I cannot dim or windows.  However, I do have a feeling I would use the approach with Eitan and Nathan.

b) Strengthen my lens “collection” more.  The main lens, other than the 180L, that I have my eyes on now is the TS-E 90.  I would use this chiefly for macro shots and it would fully complete my macro arsenal.  Other lenses I have an interest in are the 85mm 1.2 and the 14mm 2.8 (for real estate).

c) Improve my filters and accessories.  The chief filters I would look at are the Singh-Ray neutral density and blue/gold polarizers.  I may also look at a RRS panorama bracket kit.

Option 2 – Take the plunge into bird photography and buy the 600mm F4L.  I have long been interested in birds, just like I am interested in insects, but I was quite disappointed in the performance of my Sigma 80-400 OS here.  There were multiple issues with this lens – I found the sharpness lacking, autofocus was extremely slow, and 400mm was often not enough.  The Canon 600mm F4L, combined with a 1.4x extender would surely answer these questions.  I have already spent a great deal of time comparing this lens with the Canon 500mm F4L and the Sigma 300-800 and have chosen the 600mm F4L as the best choice.

The obvious disadvantage with this route is the fact that this lens is extremely expensive.  I will need to save my microstock funds for the entire year to be able to afford it.  Another disadvantage is the fact that I cannot really use this lens from the house.  I need to drive somewhere where I can find birds for it to be effective.  Actually, this isn’t exactly the truth.  I’m sure that I can put some bird feeders up and bird friendly bushes and then photograph from an opening in a window.

The main advantage of this lens is the new types of photographs and knowledge that it would open up.  The main difficulty with insect photography is it is extremely difficult to find someone with intimate knowledge of insects who is willing to walk around with me in the forest and teach me things.  This is not the case with bird photography – where there are numerous Audobon groups who would be more than happy to help me learn the basics.  It also helps that I have a cousin who pretty much knows everything there is to know about them.

Currently this is a gut wrenching decision for me.  Do I save for the entire year and enter the world of bird photography, or do I strengthen my equipment in macro and landscape photography?  One choice that I have already eliminated is upgrading my Canon 5D.  Almost assuredly Canon will release an update for it this year, but given the frequency with which Canon replaces cameras and new technologies come out, it is a far better choice right now to invest in lenses, which have much longer life times.

Each path enables new types of photography for me.  My immediate path lies in improving my skills with the equipment I already have, but I can’t resist looking towards the future and what types of photography I would like to add.

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