Canon 5D Mk III with Sigma Art Series 24-105mm lens

Sigma Art Series 24-105 mm lens at full extension. Beautiful glass!

Before I made my tenuous return to Putin’s Moscow, I laboured over the camera kit I would take with me. Unsure of the occasions I would have for candid snapshots, panoramic views and such, I battled with my alter-ego who is far less practical than my everyday self. Between kitting out with at least 3 prime lenses and a hefty tripod or braving it with only my Sigma 24-105 zoom plus my trusty nifty-fifty prime, I worked myself into an absolute conundrum. (Read my post, “Profusion Confusion” and share my pain.)

Needless to say, I did come to a decision. In the end, practicality and common sense prevailed, as always. I settled for the said glorified lens with its supremely  modest but reliable baby brother, the prime 50mm Canon. These two beauties coupled with my Canon 5D Mk III left everyone who went out for a stroll with me feeling somewhat widowed. I think a photographer’s bereft spouse suffers no less grief than a golfer’s widow. I admit photography, like writing, is a lonely endeavour and must in most, be conducted in solitude so as not to leave others feeling unloved and unappreciated. Just as well, I mostly sought out my images while venturing into the mayhem and the unknown on my own.

Yes, this post is in praise of a top choice of one of the best quality glass – the Sigma Art Series 24-105. Where I would have benefited from my 250mm zoom which was left weeping and dejected at home, I used my legs to get me closer. My images were sharp and uncompromised despite this being a non-prime lens. Furthermore, the f4 aperture allowed more than adequate lighting when coupled with higher ISO, to allow good capture of the iconostasis in the ancient cathedrals. One of the greatest advantages of not carrying an overly imposing or obtrusive lens is that it is less likely to tread on the sensitivities of the wardens and curators of the museums and palaces. In places like the Armoury Museum at the Kremlin, professional lenses (those longer than 200mm) were not allowed, not even for a fee. I believe the same strict rule applies at the Tretyakov Museum which is a must for all lovers of art, history and philosophy.