stealth [70-200mm L f/2.8 IS mk II]

Strobist Sundays - camera equipment

 

When I'm out shooting, I don't want to be advertising my gear. I use my equipment to get the job done, not to prove to anyone I'm a cool guy. (the latter is an impossibility, anyway) I want to minimize being seen with a camera -- any camera -- as much as possible, and certainly minimize anything that looks "professional." I found with my favorite carry lens -- 70-200mm L f/4 IS -- neoprene sleeves did a good job hiding the white L glass, while offering good bump protection. Same with the rubber hood -- more discrete than the big plastic one and a nice bumper.

 

Recently the stars aligned and I was fortunate enough to be able to get the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS II USM you see (or don't see) above...yes, the new top-flight mk II. It's big, and heavy (3.3 pounds), and it's white, of course. As you can see above, I was able to minimize its visual impact considerably by making two neoprene sleeves. The zoom ring is exposed. I blacked out the name on the front of the body with Gorilla duct tape. And I use a Richard Franiec hotshoe cover. I use a handstrap, not a neck strap.

 

I've got a concert shoot coming up this Sunday and I'm looking forward to using the fast, sharp f/2.8 lens with amazing IS.

 

 

lighting info: I wanted a bit of a stealthy feel to this. Small softbox is above and behind, slightly camera left. Light is flagged from the black background. 8x5 bounce card near front of lens barrel camera right. I had a big bounce card right in front but it didn't help to fill the inside of the hood. For that I needed direct application of a 120 lumen LED flashlight (you can see the highlight lower right in the hood)

 

I used a 60mm lens to give a nice "normal" perspective -- not too tele compressed, not too WA distorted.

Done