Once a year I like to treat myself to a guilt-free combined birthday+christmas gift.

This year the choices are:
iPhone 8 Plus or Snowblower or 135mm f/2 lens.

Re: phone
I currently have a second-hand iPhone 5s. I find it a bit slow. Selfie cam is broken.
Screen size is a bit small. Everyday usage.

Re: snow
I live in NY so we get 2-3 big snowstorms a year.
I currently shovel 100' of driveway and 50' of sidewalk with a shovel.
3 times a year usage.

Re: lens
I have wide angle prime and a mid-range zoom. No telephoto yet.
Daughter just started taking soccer.
Once a week usage (weekends).

What Would You Get (WWYG)?

I might get the snowthrower. That's a lotta work.

If not, I'd vote iP8 (or 8+). It might be easier to get pix of daughter w that.

Global warming = skip the snowblower.

Get the iPhone and a nice attachable lens for it, or use your old camera...two birds with 1.5 stones.

Snow blower should not have a guilt factor with a 100' driveway. Buy the blower, then choose between the other two.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2017 02:58PM by Acer.

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Acer
Snow blower should not have a guilt factor with a 100' driveway. Buy the blower, then choose between the other two.

I like how you think!

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Acer
Snow blower should not have a guilt factor with a 100' driveway. Buy the blower, then choose between the other two.

I'd be thinking about a 4 wheeler and a plow.

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C(-)ris
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For soccer, if you are mostly shooting daytime, a 70-300mm would probably be less costly and provide more range. If you are looking for something speedier, there are always 70-200mm 2.8 on the used market that would provide a bit more versatility.

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I have a 200+ foot driveway I used to do by hand.
(not every time it snowed an insignificant amount as I had 4WD truck )
But, snow thrower for sure.

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I would have your daughter shovel the drive for you, and so then the question is do you want to take a selfie of her shoveling behind you or a telephoto pic from inside where it is warm?

Plow service, $140.
iPhone 8 Plus, $800
Sharing photos from inside your house of the snowfall while drinking hot chocolate in your pajamas... priceless.

Snowblower - If you don't you'll curse your choice every time it snows.

Then get a 6S or SE to take care of the phone issues.

The 135 is a useless, overpriced lens. To short to be long, too long to be useful in low light. Get a 70-200 2.8 if you need longer, fast glass.

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pRICE cUBE
For soccer, if you are mostly shooting daytime, a 70-300mm would probably be less costly and provide more range. If you are looking for something speedier, there are always 70-200mm 2.8 on the used market that would provide a bit more versatility.

I shoot Fuji X (APS-C). The lens selection is less plentiful. The lens is actually a 90mm (135mm on Full Frame). In selecting this lens I was hoping for it to serve double duty as a portrait lens as well.

There is a 55-200mm (80-300mm FF equivalent) f/3.5-4.8 that is in my "guilt-free" price range.
Good point about it being an outdoor daytime lens. But dyaaammm it's long.

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3d

Quote
pRICE cUBE
For soccer, if you are mostly shooting daytime, a 70-300mm would probably be less costly and provide more range. If you are looking for something speedier, there are always 70-200mm 2.8 on the used market that would provide a bit more versatility.

I shoot Fuji X (APS-C). The lens selection is less plentiful. The lens is actually a 90mm (135mm on Full Frame). In selecting this lens I was hoping for it to serve double duty as a portrait lens as well.

There is a 55-200mm (80-300mm FF equivalent) f/3.5-4.8 that is in my "guilt-free" price range.
Good point about it being an outdoor daytime lens. But dyaaammm it's long.

Oh, I see. I still favor a lens over anything else but everyone know my bias.

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Ombligo
Snowblower - If you don't you'll curse your choice every time it snows.

Then get a 6S or SE to take care of the phone issues.

The 135 is a useless, overpriced lens. To short to be long, too long to be useful in low light. Get a 70-200 2.8 if you need longer, fast glass.

Yeah, I might be underwhelmed with the 135mm f/2 prime on the sidelines... Maybe a weekend rental is in order before I plunk down the dough.

No contest: Snowblower.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

Another vote for the snow blower.

Do you have a vehicle with a hitch? If so, I would look at a hitch mounted snow plow before a snow blower. Price of a good snow blower (2 stage) would only be a little less than the plow.

Needing a snowblower only 3 times a year means that you should be able to get along fine with a cheaper brand...ie Home Depot or Sears variety instead of the Honda or Ariens I would normally recommend. With a 100' driveway you will definitely want a two stage thrower.

Developing a back pack problem from too much shoveling will certainly hamper your enjoyment of a long lens or iPhone 8.

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“Live your life, love your life, don’t regret…live, learn and move forward positively.” – CR Johnson
Loving life in Lake Tahoe, CA

I don't understand why the snowblower is on the list. It should be 5years old now, already in your garage/shed.

You will find that you will be using it much more often in the coming winters, so buy it now. Climate change will hit all of us.

Live with the phone. The 8+ will be cheaper next year.

Roam the sidelines so you won't need the lens as much.

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Mr. Curmudgeon, on several OSes and an ego trip.

I already have a 135mm f2.8 but an extra stop is always nice.

Already have a snow blower.

Like you I have an iPhone 5s that could use an upgrade so I'm going to have to go with the iPhone.

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Athens, OH

Dude,

Model is right. You should already have the snowblower. But, since you don't, you shouldn't even be asking the question. You should be reading reviews and choosing one. Don't even think twice. Visit Mineola Cycle on Jericho Tpke. That's where we picked up our first snowblower back in the '70s. A big honkin' Toro. Picked up an electric Toro from them about a decade ago for lightweight tasks. When the old Toro from the 70s went belly up a couple of years ago, we picked up another big honkin' Toro from them. Great machine. Runs like a champ and tears through snow like a flamethrower. Worth every penny.

Get the snowblower 'cause you should already have it and then buy the iPhone 8 Plus as your gift to yourself.

Robert

Can you get your significant other a nice snow shovel? Or refurb the one you have for your SO!

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

I concur with the others on the snowblower. Unless you like the exercise, it should not be a treat. Just buy one.

As far as lenses, as you suggested, rent one first. I've got a 80-200 and can't imagine having a fixed 135mm. I recently shot a bunch with a 50mm fixed. That was tough, but I wanted the 1.8.

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This one blows, then get a $150 iPhone SE. Will be a great upgrade.

Quote
C(-)ris

Quote
Acer
Snow blower should not have a guilt factor with a 100' driveway. Buy the blower, then choose between the other two.

I'd be thinking about a 4 wheeler and a plow.

I heard that if you hook up a garden hose to the water heater....

My order would be:

lens (but a tele zoom as has been suggested) (you will want good keepsake photos of your daughter!)

iPhone 8+ (bigger screen is nice for older eyes, plus a very nice camera) (best camera is the one you always have with you) (plus you can shoot videos of the soccer matches)

snowblower (an appliance, not gift material) (plus, for that sized driveway you could get by with a relatively inexpensive snowblower)

The phone. You will love it. I have the 7 and it is wonderful.
But then I don't have snow, so perhaps a snowblower is not as high on my list as it should be. Doesn't seem like a treat, though, versus something you would use and enjoy every day.

I'm not a phone upgrade guy (getting by with a 5s myself), but my first thought was that the phone splurge would give you the most satisfaction on a daily basis. The 8s would be a giant leap for you, and I don't think you'd regret it. BUT...I would lean towards the other two choices. Both if possible.

I still shovel my driveway too, but it's more because I don't want to store and maintain a snowblower. I agree that you should probably just bite the bullet on that like you would a major car repair. It might not be a fun splurge, but maybe that's just something you need to purchase anyway.

This leads me to the lens. I don't know how old your daughter is, but unless you buy a useless lens that sits in a drawer, you will never regret getting those pictures. For soccer you will definitely need at least 200-300mm on the long end. I use a 70-200 2.8, but I'm willing to crop fairly generously when I can't get close enough to the action.