July 31st, 2024
Last week I rented a lens for the first time - I needed a telephoto for a concert I was gonna shoot, and I wanted to try the rental company Fragmáticos - a Spanish company that delivers in the Iberian Peninsula, so we can take advantage of their great prices and gear selection in our little corner that is Portugal.
The lens in question - a Sony 135mm f1.8 G Master. I have a Sony a6700, and with it's APS-C sized sensor this would give me a 200mm equivalent focal length. More than enough reach (sometimes too tight, actually) for what I needed, while still being a really bright lens, so I could shoot at lower ISO, but most importantly, get the BOKEHHHH!
The BOKEHHHH!
I could have gone with a zoom lens like the 70-200 GMII, or a APS-C specific lens - they have them available, but none this bright or sharp, and I prefer primes anyway - zooming with my feet is better for my photography I find. Also, this was cheaper than the 70-200.
The whole process with Fragmáticos was incredibly simple and easy, not to mention the incredible selection they have (all the major brands are very well covered, even in DSLR mounts!) and great prices. After paying I just had to pickup the lens from the courier's shop nearest to me (they also deliver to your door if you prefer, though) and then drop it off at the same place on the rental ending date. It came in a nice Pelican case - very well protected for the trips and it turned out to be really practical to carry the lens around.
Here is a selection from the 135mm G Master photos from the concert:
Before having to return the lens, I sneaked in a quick session of the little kittens at the shelter where my girlfriend and I volunteer, and I think I found a professional model kitten.
Being a gear nerd, it is kind of fitting that my first blog post is about a lens (at least it wasn't a review!), but I had a lot of fun with it - I'll try and make them about photography in the future!
Miguel