Unlimited budget. Spend my money. :)

[sageone]

I am in the fortunate position to have a paying job that supports my photography habit. While photography is a sliver of my responsibilities, I do have a budget that allows me to buy stuff. ;)

You can see the stuff I have in my bag in my signature. Out of everything in there, I probably use the 20D, Sigma 18-125; Canon 70-200 and the Bigma the most. I use the 300D when I am shooting sports and have the 20D on the monopod. (That way, I can shoot vertical and horizontal without having to rotate the camera on the stick.

What do you think would be a nice addition to my bag in terms of lenses? I shoot mostly portraits, some weddings, lots of sports, and lots of events. I would like to get into macro.

In terms of another box...I'm about 1-2 months away from getting either the 30D or the 5d. So I'll be ditching my 300D, as sad as it is because that's the camera that started this whole mess! I'll probably end up ditching the 70-300 Sigma too as over the past few months, I'm not that impressed with it anymore. The results from other lenses I have are much better. Plus, the 70-300 is redundant.

So..what would YOU add to my bag that would compliment my existing equipment? Lets hear it.

[cdifoto]

L upgrades on the wide end. :) Maybe even some primes for DOF/lowlight play.

[sageone]

L upgrades on the wide end. :) Maybe even some primes for DOF/lowlight play.

Some examples???

[Big WIll]

24-70L F2.8 or a 24-105L F4 IS

[sageone]

24-70L F2.8 or a 24-105L F4 IS

Talk to me about the benefits of these lenses? What would they be best suited for in terms of shooting situations?

[spencer87]

maybe a nice prime for portraits? 50mm 1.4 or 85mm 1.8 go for around $300 or if your budget is really 'unlimited' the 85mm 1.2L goes for about $2,000.

[cdifoto]

Talk to me about the benefits of these lenses? What would they be best suited for in terms of shooting situations?

Better build, fast constant apertures (if you go with the 24-70) so you can have more DOF control than with that Sigma, faster quieter autofocus....

I don't care much for the 24-105 myself (on paper anyway...never actually shot with it) so I'd say get the 24-70. If you seriously have an unlimited budget, pair that up with the 16-35mm f/2.8L or for the same reasons.

Also your wide end will be shot on the 5D if you don't get something other than the Sigma. It's only functional on crop sensor bodies, and the 5D is a full frame.

[steved110]

You need a 10-22 or a 16-35 L depending on how serious you are about a 5D, a 24-70 f/2.8 then you're pretty much covered.
Have a read of this for recommendations:-
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/

I'd lose the 18- 125 and the 70-300 - they are basic lenses superceded by focal lengths you pretty much already have.

[sageone]

Yea, the 5D is somewhat realistic. Basically, it's a matter of waiting two weeks versus two months. Two weeks for the 30D because I have money left in my budget for it. Not for the 5D however. So, I'd have to wait until the fiscal year starts in July to get the 5D. I'm betting most would say hold out for the 5D, right?

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Yeah, if you do portraits, you'd adore the 5D. Definitely get a 16-35L and a 50 1.4 for that sucker. 16-35L gives you an excellent wide angle, and the 50 1.4 will give you great portraits, as well as a dandy walkaround prime. If that budget really is "unlimited", I would say get a 24-70 range lens as well. Preferrably one with an L on the end of it. ;-) Ultimate walkaround lens. You might prefer the 24-105L IS if you don't mind f/4. I like speed, though.

[MDJAK]

Add me to your camera bag. I've been eating a bit too much lately and so am a bit on the wide end, but I'm still quite fast.

I come cheap. I'll be your L-caddy. I'll switch your lenses for ya.

Unlimited budget, huh? 5k per week will cover my expenses.:lol:

[sageone]

Add me to your camera bag. I've been eating a bit too much lately and so am a bit on the wide end, but I'm still quite fast.

I come cheap. I'll be your L-caddy. I'll switch your lenses for ya.

Unlimited budget, huh? 5k per week will cover my expenses.:lol:

Realisitically, the budget is about 20-25k per year...but that's for a number of things - advertisements, marketing materials, etc. However, I'm always about 10-12k under budget...thus, the ability to buy new equipment.

So, if you can do it for 2K, hop on in!

[calicokat]

Unlimited budget, wow.

1DMIIN
5D
16-35L
24-70L
24-105L
70-200L IS
35L
85L
135L
300 F/2.8L
500 F/4L

[Ronald S. Jr.]

So how much do you have to spend on lenses, and how much are you saving for a body? I'm talking right now, for this lens.

[sageone]

I have about 3 grand left for equipment for this fiscal year, which ends at the end of June. Then I start fresh in July. So, I could get the lenses now and wait for the 5D or 30D in July.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Why not sell your 20D and 300D and get a 30D, and if you want a second body, get a 5D in July? Then you've got two new bodies, and some nice new glass to boot. How is that a bad thing? :-)

[sageone]

Why not sell your 20D and 300D and get a 30D, and if you want a second body, get a 5D in July? Then you've got two new bodies, and some nice new glass to boot. How is that a bad thing? :-)

That's interesting and something to really think about. Now you've got me thinking...

[Ronald S. Jr.]

You can get a new body without spending a dime, I bet. Sell that 18-125 and 70-300 (since you'll be getting new lenses) and you could probably afford some other goodies as well. Could put it toward a 16-35L or something. I just figure if you're getting new lenses, don't keep the ones you won't be using, unless you think you may need them (with two bodies, and all).

All in all, I would say get the 16-35L and 24-105L. Get the 30D like we said, and you'd have a hell of a lineup. With the 5D in July-ish, you'd be stocked up.

5D
30D
16-35L
24-105L IS
Bigma

maybe even a nice fast prime since you'll have the money. 35 1.4L, anyone? ;-) Maybe a 135L if that's your style.

[liza]

Weddings
5D
24-70L
70-200 f/2.8L IS
50mm f/1.4
580EX
2- 420EX slaves
Stroboframe Pro T bracket
At least 8GB of memory

Sports
1D Mk IIN
85mm f/1.8 (gym sports)
50mm f/1.4 (gym sports)
70-200 f/2.8L IS (For field sports. See list above.)
1.4x teleconverter
Sigma 120-300 (For field sports)
Carbon fiber monopod (For the Sigma. It's heavy!)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Aha! I didn't even notice about weddings. In that case:

5D
30D
24-70L
70-200L IS (sell those two lenses I mentioned and upgrade your 2.8 to the IS)
50 1.4

A bracket is nice if you do weddings. You have to decide whether you want a flash rotating or camera rotating bracket. I found that the camera rotating helped me a lot more. I went with a "fancy" Custom Brackets QRS-35-EV ($3-350)

True, you'll need more memory, probably, but you can fit that in somewhere.

I don't use any slave flashes these days. Tried it with 3 580's, but it was just a hassle. I don't need it anyway. (you might)

[sageone]

Because I don't want the controller to have a heart attack and afford me some flexibility in the future in terms of buying power, I'll probably end up with the 30D and the 24-70L & 50mm f/1.4. I'll end up selling the 300D w/ kit lense and the 70-300. I think the 20D/30D combo with the above lenses, the sigma 18-125 (as a backup) and the sigma 50-500 would suit me just well.

The 5D would be SWEET though!!! Thanks for the advice folks. Just thinking about the 50mm f/1.4 is making me drool. The only thing that prevents me from firing up the purchase order is packing them all on one bill. When I do it piece by piece, it's less "noticeable" to the accounting department. Patience is a virtue when you have a budget like this.

They are also thinking about starting a photography club at the school I work for...meaning I'll get to buy more stuff!!!

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Excellent. 24-70L and 50 1.4 are fantastic lenses to have. The 30D is just plain fun, too. Gives you some fun flexibility and conveniences over the 20D.

[sageone]

Excellent. 24-70L and 50 1.4 are fantastic lenses to have. The 30D is just plain fun, too. Gives you some fun flexibility and conveniences over the 20D.
oh yea?? like?? I just have to put in the PO on Tuesday!!! then get the glass in July.

[sageone]

advantages??? please elaborate. sending this from my treo...not sure about formatting and even if it'll get through...I just might have to put in the purchase order on tuesday!!!

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Of the 30D over the 20D? Bigger viewfinder, ISO in the viewfinder, 2.5" LCD, spot metering, 1/3 step ISO increments, option of 3fps over 5, bigger buffer, slightly faster startup time, more accurate AF (in my experience), 100k click shutter life (reportedly better than 20D), shutter isn't as loud, Picture Styles, improved battery life. Hmm...I guess nothing really, if that's all I could come up with. ;-)

[Doom1701e]

I wouldnt use the term "Unlimited Budget" around some of these folks! :-P

[Jon]

I'd add either another 580EX or a 430EX or two to the bag. Multi-flash comes in very useful quite often.

[Lani Kai]

If I had an unlimited budget I'd try to find a 1200mm f/5.6L
More realistically speaking, the ideas mentioned on here are excellent advice.

[mbze430]

With an unlimited budget... why WOULD YOU BUY CANON?!!?!??!?!?!

[grego]

What do you think would be a nice addition to my bag in terms of lenses? I shoot mostly portraits, some weddings, lots of sports, and lots of events. I would like to get into macro.

Well to get off the bat.
50mm f/1.4 would be a good shorter portrait.
85 1.8 for longer portrait.
100mm f/2.8 Macro would be good as a portrait and macro lens. And as an alternative, you could buy kenko's extension tubes and turn the 50 or 85 into macros, if you really want to keep the lens count down. But for macro, usually the greater working distance, the better.

For weddings:
16-35mm f/2.8L
24-70 f/2.8L or Sigma 24-70 f/2.8
Better choices than your 18-125mm something.


Sports, you have the 70-200 f/2.8L which is a good start.
Sigma 120-300 f/2.8
Sigma 100-300 f/4
Both would be better choices than your current set of long lens for the 300 range.

Sell your 300D and 20D. Buy the 5D and 30D with that.

[billmob]

fun thread, i would agree with Ronald, sell 300d sell a couple of lens sell 20d, and get 30d, then for first body get the 5D which is just spectacular, than get 16-35(my dream lens if i had a fullframe cam) and get 70-200 L IS and 24-105 L IS as well, you would be loving it, that is my tuppence:)

[KevC]

With an unlimited budget... why WOULD YOU BUY CANON?!!?!??!?!?!

Honestly. I'd look at Hasselblad H2D-39 with HC 3.5/35, HC 3.5/50, HC 2.8/80, HC 2.2/100, HC 4/120, HC 3.2/150, HC 4/210, HC 4.5/300 :shock:

But the posters here are right, never use the word "unlimited" around us :D

To stick to a more realistic "unlimited" I'd go with this...

5D, 30D
35/1.4L
50/1.4
85/1.2L Mk2

24-70/2.8L
70-200/2.8L IS

Sigma 120-300/2.8

[pjsun]

mmmmm........ keep buying those stock Ls like 24-70, 85L, 400L for three to four years buy as many as you can then sell them all in one go and get a 1200L

i got 24-70 and 100-400 i'm getting 85L next and mayby 10-22 that way i got it all covered i think

[Anders Östberg]

Unlimited?!? Just buy one or two of each from the catalogue and be done with it. :)

[hooookup]

If you are into shooting sports, i'd go with a 1Dmk2 over the 30D. The 1 series af will put the 30D to shame, plus at 8.5fps it's more than enough speed. Couple that with a 300 2.8 or a 400 2.8 and you are set.

[grego]

If you are into shooting sports, i'd go with a 1Dmk2 over the 30D. The 1 series af will put the 30D to shame, plus at 8.5fps it's more than enough speed. Couple that with a 300 2.8 or a 400 2.8 and you are set.

Well if its a choice between 30D with better glass, go with the 30D. The 1 series camera is only as good as the glass you can put in front of it.

[KevC]

mmmmm........ keep buying those stock Ls like 24-70, 85L, 400L for three to four years buy as many as you can then sell them all in one go and get a 1200L

i got 24-70 and 100-400 i'm getting 85L next and mayby 10-22 that way i got it all covered i think


That 10-22 wont work on your 5D. Look into the 16-35L which is quite sexy as been said here.

[StealthLude]

He says unlimmited but the first post shows gear that is OK....

Get a Mark II 1Ds and a few high end canon lenses like a 16-58, 70-200 IS L, 300 2.8 , 580ex and then some.

Id say ur budget isnt 30-40k on camera gear. And if it is, then more power to you, i hope your using the gear, not collecting it.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

wth is a 16-58? I think you mean 16-35L. In that case, they'd still lack a standard zoom, like the 24-70L.

[sageone]

Great stuff folks. My budget really isn't unlimited, but it is about 30k per year on all marketing related expenses. And as things work out, most of the "work" I do is taken out of others budgets - admissions, alumni, etc. So, since I have the money sitting there, they will move it elsewhere if I don't use it. With that said and because photography is a big part of what I do, I've been spending it mostly on equipment.

With all the advice here, I think what will help in what I need to capture is either the 5D (if I can swing it) or the 30D AND the 50/1.4 & 24-70/2.8L. I'm going to sell the 300D and keep the 18-125 because I really like that lense and the results I have with it. I'm also going to keep the 50-500 sigma because for what I need it for it does just fine and the results are great. I'll also be ditching the sigma 70-300 because between the sigma 50-500 and canon 70-200 I can get both field and gym sports without having to worry about focal length and/or a wide enough aperature for low light situations in the gym.

So hopefully, by mid-summer, my signature will look like this:

30D/5D & 20D
Canon 70-200 f/2.8
Canon 50/1.4
Canon 24-70/2.8L
Sigma 18-125 f/3.5
Sigma 50-500 f/4

I won't be able to sell the 20D just yet because it'll have to wait until next year. So, maybe I get the 30D in the summer and when this time next year rolls around I ditch the 20D for a 5D.

[sageone]

Well...I've gone and done it. Here's the current line-up:

30D, 20D & 300D
Canon 70-200 f/2.8
Canon 50/1.4
Sigma 18-125 f/3.5
Sigma 50-500 f/4

Next up on the hit list: Canon 24-70/2.8L. Now that I've been sucked into the quality of the Canon lenses (though Sigma is a decent alternative) what lense from the Canon line-up could replace my Sigma 50-500? I only use that lense when I'm shooting sports on the football/soccer/lacrosse field. And most of the time, I'm in the 200-400 range. I'm not all that thrilled with the results with this lense over 450mm. I'm going to hang on to the sigma 18-125 because I really like the flexibility of that lense and it would be nice to have another lense in this range if and when I get the Canon 24-70/2.8L as I have two bodies and can see myself in a situation where I might use both bodies and both lenses (weddings maybe? or even family portraits?)

Thoughts? More suggestions? Budget is tapped for this fiscal year. But the new one starts July 1. :)

P.S. the 300D with grip, batteries, sigma 70-300 is for sale. Best offer. Just looking to dump it. I guess it wouldn't hurt either to hold on to it, though it would only collect dust with the 20/30D's in the bag.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=176322

[Jon]

Competition for the Bigma? The 100-400 IS.

[sageone]

Competition for the Bigma? The 100-400 IS.

Yea...to those that have used or own both, what's the skinny?