Lens Sample Archive: One thread per lens version or a single thread for all?

[PinholeR5]

The question below came up in the EF 400mm f/2.8L III IS USM thread. I thought I'd ask it here to see if there is a guideline or if we want to create one or deal with it on a case-by-case basis.

"Maybe we should open this thread up to the users of the mkII version as well?"
(https://focus-on-photography-forum.net/threads/canon-ef-400mm-f-2-8l-is-iii-usm.467/post-4627)

We could do it, but is that a good idea? How does the viewer know which lens it is without the automatic EXIF? Even with the automatic EXIF, the image won't have the information depending on the processing.

I thought part of the value of these Lens Sample Archive threads was providing samples of the lens used by forum members. On the other hand, I'm not sure we will get enough traffic to justify having the different threads.

Thoughts?

 

[milo]

multiple version threads seems like begging for mistakes, honestly. separating out f/4 vs f/2.8 makes a lot of sense, but I'm not so sure about mark I, Mark II, Mark III, etc

just an opinion, of course

 

[gmcphotographics]

I think with this lens, it is wisest to have a single thread for all variants of this large, heavy and expensive White super tele prime.
This is not a common lens type. The slight differences between each version are mostly to do with weight and not optics and I seriously doubt anyone could tell any difference in the final images. The EF mkIII and the RF mkI are in fact the same lens.
However, you might prefer a thread for each variant of this particular fine optic.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

A Mark I is not a Mark II is not a Mark III. Each should have their own thread.

 

[Dennis]

Based on how I approach lens investigations and possible purchases, my preference would be to have one thread for one lens model and version.

• One thread for the 400mm F2.8L IS USM Mk I,
• another thread for the 400mm F2.8L IS USM Mk II and,
• another thread for the 400mm F2.8L IS USM Mk III.

If I were going to purchase say, a 400mm F2.8L IS USM Mk III, it would be more convenient to just browse photos taken with that lens and read the owner’s/users experience without having to filter out different variants.

Dennis

 

[PinholeR5]

A Mark I is not a Mark II is not a Mark III. Each should have their own thread.

Based on how I approach lens investigations and possible purchases, my preference would be to have one thread for one lens model and version.

• One thread for the 400mm F2.8L IS USM Mk I,
• another thread for the 400mm F2.8L IS USM Mk II and,
• another thread for the 400mm F2.8L IS USM Mk III.

If I were going to purchase say, a 400mm F2.8L IS USM Mk III, it would be more convenient to just browse photos taken with that lens and read the owner’s/users experience without having to filter out different variants.

Dennis

That was my first instinct, but I wanted to check what others thought.