Can't decide which lens combination to go for

Chris L

Chris L

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Christian
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Hi all,

I recently bought a 5D and can't decide which lens combination I should go for:-

Option 1 - 17-40 f/4 L, 24-70 f/2.8 L & 135 f/2 L

Option 2 - 17-40 f/4 L, 24-70 f/2.8 L, 85 f/1.8 & 135 f/2.8

Option 3 - 17-40 f/4 L, 50 f/1.4 & 70-200 f/2.8 L IS

or the wildcard option - 20D, 16-35 f/2.8 L, 24-70 f/2.8 L & 70-200 f/2.8 L IS

I shoot mostly people and mostly in studios though I enjoy shooting in natural light and would like to do more shoots outside of the studio. I also shoot a little landscape and architecture.

My reasoning for the 135 f/2 L or the 85 f/1.8 & 135 f/2.8 over the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS is a combination of cost and that I quite often shoot in fairly small places where the 70-200 f/2.8 might prove a lot of weight to carry around for the amount of use it might get. I like having an ultra wide angle and can't stretch to the extra needed to get a 24-70 f/2.8 L for option 3 and the wildcard would leave me with all the lenses I'd like for the 5D as well as a good chunk of cash towards the upgrade when I'm ready by selling the 20D.

Help!

Many thanks for your time
 
Lenses are such a personal choice. I'll just tell you that of your choices I have the 17-40L and the 50mm 1.4. I'd buy both again tomorrow if I had to.

I'm not likely to go full frame, but if I was, I'd really look forward to using the 50mm 1.4 at it's full field of view. ;)

Not much help probably. :D
 
Chris

If i had to pic from your options I'd go - option 3

An alternative option given the 5D and full frame would be

24-70 f2.8 L 70-200 f2.8 IS L

and then add the 50 f1.4 at a later date.

I personnaly found the 17-40 f4 L very very wide on a 1Dsmk2 and I think I could live without those extra 7mm at the short end.

Mark
 
The fifty, although good is really there as a filler. I'm used to using a 10-20 on a 20D so would find the 17-40 perspective quite normal to use. Having said that, 24mm on the 5D is equivalent to 15mm on the 20D and I'm not sure how much I'd *really* miss that..especially as I'd still be able to use a 10-20 on my wife's 350D if I just have to have that perspective.

I must admit I'd love the 24-70 f/2.8 to go with the 70-200 f/2.8 IS and have done some more juggling and can stretch to those two. How about the Non-IS version? I could possibly stretch to a 17-40 as well then...just!
 
Chris what about the 70-200 f4 is L

Give Kerso an email and check his prices you could probably buy all three then.

Just checked One stop digital

17-40 f4 L - £ 426.99
24-70 f2.8 L - £ 708.99
70-200 f2.8 IS L - £ 1025.99
70-200 f2.8 L - £ 712.99
70-200 f4 IS L - £ 715.99

Includes postage and if you have to pay vat etc they refund it to you
I have had very quick and good service from them in the past
 
For what you're doing probably option 2
 
Difficult to say really, i also have a 5D and the 24-70 stays on it 99% of the time, 24mm is nice and wide, wide enough even for occasional landscapes. What i'm trying to say is that you may not even need the 17-40, on ff 24 is usually more than enough.

I have he 24-70L, 50 f/1.4, sigma 70-200 and they cover pretty much everything i need.

BTW the 24-70 + 70-200IS from Kerso would set you back 1780 + P&P, if u were planning to buy from elsewhere buying from Kerso will save you enough to get a 50 f/1.4, 85 f/1.8, 135 f/2.8 or maybe at a push the 17-40 :D
 
Thanks for the opinions guys...as far as saving money goes, I've priced things according to onestop digital who've agreed to match a slightly better price on both the 24-70 and the 135 L.

Here's the list of kit I've already got and depending on opinons I'm willing to consider selling any of it though I'm not willing to spend the same amount as it would all fetch. I estimate that I should be able to raise approx. £3500 if everything goes except the 5D (~£4400 if I kept the 20D) and out of that I'd be looking to spend about £1600-1800(max) to go with the 5D or £2800 with the 20D.

20D w/grip, 5D w/grip, 24-70 f/2.8 EX, 30 f/1.4, 50 f/1.4, 85 f/1.8, 28-105 f/3.5-4.5, 10-20 f/4-5.6 EX and a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS, Interfit EX150 light kit + £450 cash

Ideally I'd like to end up with just two or three high quality lenses tops. I'm leaning more and more towards either a 17-40L, 24-70L and 135 f/2.8 SF or 24-70L & 135L which would leave enough to upgrade my light kit to an Elinchrom D-lite 2 set plus 90x90cm Softbox
 
I was uuming and aahing about a 5D and lens combo and would have gone for your option 3.

The other option i considered was a 24-105 L and a 20mm prime. Perhaps with the 135/200m primes to added later as I see fit.
 
Ok, have decided that since I already own a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG and a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS I'm going to keep these and the 5D and just use them for a while as neither are going to depreciate much, if at all and I'll get a better idea of whether I need IS on the 70-200 since the focal length will have effectively gone down from 112-320mm.

This option would then also leave me enough money to splash out on some nice dresses and a new pair of size 11 6" inch...erm I mean a new 37" Plasma TV..honest!:embarrassed:
 
Ahem...really must get that delete button sorted!

Well, the wildcard option's gone as the 20D is up for sale elsewhere :)

Not sure I need the canon 24-70 f/2.8 L either. After lugging that great big 70-200 f/2.8 around a bit more I'm really starting to wonder if my reasons for keeping it are sound
 
Chris,I am going to Paris for the Holidays and I am taking wildcard option.I don't have the 20D and I was thinking of upgrading, but Camera and Lens are too heavy for me to Carry all day, so I will stick with my 350 as its lighter than other DSLR Canon Cameras.Good luck with Choice.:)
 
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