Want opinions on upgrading lenses

[Pyromaniac]

My current lens line up consists of a 35-80mm kit lens that came with my film Rebel, a 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6, and the 50mm f/2.5 macro. I want to over the course of the next year or so up grade to the following lenses.



17-40mm f/4L

24-70mm f/2.8L

50mm f/1.4 (maybe and probably last if I get it)

85mm f/1.2L (to fill the gap between the 24-70 and the 100-400)

100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L



What I have gives me complete coverage from 35mm to 300mm. So my question is should I expand my coverage by getting the 17-40 and the 100-400, then replace the lenses I have now with the better ones or replace the 35-80 with the 24-70 and the 75-300 with the 100-400? I like that combination of lenses because it will give me good speed and coverage from 17mm to 400mm.



I don't do much indoor stuff where I need a long zoom so that’s why a 70-200 isn't on the list. I don't really want any of the EF-S lenses so I can use all of the lenses on any EOS.



The reason I want to upgrade is to get better quality and expand the range of what I can shoot.



Any advice and or opinions are welcome so let me know what you think.

[ijohnson]

Somebody is bound to tell you that "it depends what you shooting style is".

Not knowing any better though, I like the idea of getting the 17-40 and then the 100-400. You seem fairly well covered up to 300 so I like the 17-40 to add a lot more to the wide side.

That's all I can tell you given what you told me. Once you get these first two lenses you might have to replace the ones in between because you are disappointed in them.

Maybe your goal could be to get the 17-40, 24-70, and 70-200 with a 1.4x converter.
That would be good coverage and very high quality.

-Isaac

[tim]

Seems like there's a lot of overlap for the first two zooms to me, but I don't know much about wide angle lenses. An option for the 2nd is the Tamron 28-75, which has a good reputation, and would save you a fair bit of $$$. I probably wouldn't get 50mm and 85mm primes either, they're pretty close really. 100-400L IS is probably my choice of zoom lens too though, or perhaps the 70-300 DO IS.

[Jon]

Are you bumping into the 35 mm end of the 35-80? If you are, I'd add the 17-40 first, then the 100-400, thirdly replacing the 35-80 with the 24-70. If, on the other hand, you're running into the 300 mm. limit more, add the 100-400 first. If you need both wider and longer lenses right off, getting the 17-40 and 100-400 will be less of a hit on your wallet than the 24-70 and 100-400 combo and still give you overlap with your current middle zoom. Then upgrade in the middle with the 24-70 and 85. In any case, the 17-40 and 100-400 will add the most capabilities to your current configuration while the 24-70 and 85 will give you better optics in a range you've already (pretty well) covered.