When you are alone on the beach, and yet you don’t feel completely alone!
I remember standing on the beach, shortly after 6am, not a soul to be seen, just me and nature.
I remember this moment, I remember kneeling down and suddenly feeling overcome by emotions.
Then I saw this photo, where the sun rays and orbs are coming right to me.
The night before, I had said something, I hadn’t ever said… ‘there are only 3 of us now’. It hit my heart, hard. Very hard actually. I am grateful for this sign, for that feeling and trusting in the knowing, that I needed to feel his presence.
Earlier this morning, shortly after 6am I was up and as I walked out of our bunkie (at the family cottage) I was hit with a beautiful stream of sunlight.
Of course I had to grab my camera and my fav wider lens and head towards the beach.
As the sun was streaming down over the trees and onto the beach and water I looked up to see orbs dancing in my view finder.
I then felt the presence, more like a knowing, my brother was with me at that moment.
In the beautiful early morning sunshine and just me on the entire beach. I took a random amount of photos, I then felt extremely happy with the shots I had gotten, various ones down the steps, onto the beach, zoomed in, wide, etc.
I said to myself, outloud, ok thats great and went to turn off my camera, when I noticed the number of photos on my card from the garden tour and this morning.
222
My brother likes to provide me confirmation through angel numbers. Something he and I both had in common.
I miss him and our time together so much 💖 I love when he communicates with me.
Since his death life feels like its changed so much and in so many ways.
Its also been a strong reminder for me, for us, for our family to fully live and love in your life.
Be someone who enjoys their time and the people you spend it with, hopefully the most important is yourself.
Its reminded my husband and I, of the strength of our marriage and the time we spend together. I am so grateful we both put in the time, it wasnt always easy, but we did it and are doing it. More in love today than ever before.
Grief opens your eyes to these clearest signs. In so many ways.
Sometimes we are led to places that initially may not make sense, until it all begins to. It falls in to place perfectly. As we were chatting we both realized the signs we were both getting, and it feels so magical!
I put my lenses to the test the past couple nights and to be totally honest, I knew the L lenses have a better build quality of the lens, including being weather sealed being an added benefit in case shooting in even light rain or snow. Im a visual person, when I can see a difference and I like it.
So… I decided to look up the differences… and there is not only a visual difference, there is obviously, a build difference.
Canon’s RF Macro lineup is split into premium L-Series (USM) lenses and more affordable STM lenses. The Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM delivers true 1.4x magnification and flagship weather-sealing. The smaller STM options (like the RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM and RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM) offer half-macro 0.5x magnification and serve as budget-friendly walk-around primes. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Differences
Magnification: The RF L Macro goes beyond standard life-size, allowing for 1.4x magnification. STM macro lenses only reach 0.5x (or half-life-size) magnification. [1]
Autofocus: The L lens utilizes rapid, silent Nano USM motors ideal for tracking moving subjects and video work. STM lenses are smooth but can be somewhat noisier and slower during continuous focus tracking. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Build & Handling: The L lens features extensive weather-sealing and a dedicated SA (Spherical Aberration) control ring for customizing bokeh. STM lenses are significantly lighter and more compact but lack professional-grade environmental sealing. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Cost: STM lenses are drastically more affordable, priced in the hundreds of dollars, while the RF L Macro sits in the premium, professional tier. [1]
STM lenses are universally praised on platforms like DPReview for their stellar image sharpness and lightweight form factor. Conversely, discussions on Reddit highlight the L-lens as the superior tool for dedicated studio macro work, clinical dentistry, or uses requiring extreme close-up detail. [1, 2, 3, 4]
{Sources Cited as found exactly online}
Here are a few of my favourites using the various lenses on the Canon R7.
These two above and below are from the same lens and I think my favs.
The lenses that I tested are: Canon RF 85mm f2.0, Canon EF 100mm f2.8L, Canon EF 180mm f3.5L, Canon RF 35mm f1.8 on the Canon R7. The R7 is a crop sensor camera, so any lens is at a X 1.6 for the actual focal length of the lenses on the R7.
My personal consensus… I love all of my macro lenses and looking at what I have I feel so grateful. My top favourite is my 180mm! On the R7 the reach is actually 288mm, this one I had my eye on for a long time hoping to find it and it came up used at Henry’s. There is no new lens like this and the glass is just fantastic!
Its honestly a toss up for the next 3, yes the 100mm being the L is definitely better quality and produces images aligned with that. It would be my next choice as its a lens that produces incredible bokeh. If I wanted a grab and go that’s light I would opt for the 85mm – what I like about the 35mm on my R6MII or RP (full frame) it creates a more wide angle, beautiful whimsy look. This lens is actually my favourite on the RP, I bought these two together a handful of years ago, as a wee step into the mirrorless world. At that time I had my 5DMIII as my primary and I wasn’t sure about the shift.
The RP + 35mm is a fantastic “point and shoot” grab and go. Event, wedding, off roading, and then even any macro I may come across – flowers are everywhere! The perfect size to throw in a purse – for me haha! My 100mm Ive had for a while and will always be a fav. The 100mm + 180mm works on mirrorless cameras with the EF to RF adapter – so in this sense, it does make for a longer lens (longer for travel/portability). My 85mm is my newest, I picked it up last year during their used inventory sale! Its a great lens, light and beautiful distance. For travel – weight is significant for me when Im carrying – I would opt for the 85 and/or 35. At home I choose whatever I feel drawn to. When we go camping or to the cottage, there have been times I bring quite a few ;)
I am so grateful for the collection I have built over the past 19 years… wow, that just set in. I bought my first DSLR when our son was 9 months old. Just before we found out I was pregnant with our daughter ;) Divine timing, I loved that camera and it taught me so very much! The Canon Rebel XTi. The majority of my EF L lenses Ive owned since around 2010-2012! Quality lasts!!!
Hope you have enjoyed my images – Please check out my album – can you see any differences?
Click the image below to view the album or Click HERE!
