Which should I choose

[heymirth]

My budget - $1800

Either
70-200 f2.8 IS

OR BOTH

17-55f2.8 and a 70-200 f4.0


I shoot family portraits (inside and out), 30D and a Rebel XT. I currently have the nifty 50 f1.8, 85 f1.8 and the 28-135 f3.5-5.6 Kit

I plan on selling the 28-135 and maybe the 85 1.8 to get $500-600

What would you do?

[BucketMan]

Me personally?

I would ask this be moved to the lens forum and go from there...

But that's just me.

Also, ditch the craptacular 50 and the 28-135, keep the 85 and get the 17-55 as a walk-a-round lens and save up for the 70-200 2.8 IS

[IVY]

wrong thread
but I probably would sell 28-135 and 50, keep 85
will get 17-55 and 70-200f/4 as long as its IS version ;)

[tun]

sell nifty fifty, 28-135

buy 70-200 2.8 is and tamron 17-50

[aviator.4.life]

Are you planning on buying used or new?

If used the 70-200 2.8 IS and Tamron 17-50 2.8 together around $1800. Then sell your 28-135 and 50 1.8 and buy a 50 1.4. That's what I'd do.

[stsva]

For use on the XT/350D, you might consider the new EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS instead of the 17-55; it's about $300 or so less expensive. Although you lose some on maximum aperture, if you're shooting with flash or adequate light that won't matter so much and the 15-85 provides excellent image quality, almost on a par (maybe not quite) with the 17-55. Here's the 15-85 thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=760140

[RPCrowe]

wrong thread
but I probably would sell 28-135 and 50, keep 85
will get 17-55 and 70-200f/4 as long as its IS version ;)

+1

IMO, the combination of 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and 70-200mm f/4L IS will allow you to do most general purpose and travel photography. It is also a decent setup for portraiture. The general consensus that you absolutely need a very fast lens for portrait photography is not necessarily true.

See this link with the photographer shooting beautiful portraits of his lovely model at f/stops around f/11.

http://www.lastoliteschoolofphotography.com/using-the-triflector-mkii

[CanonHowitzer]

My budget - $1800

Either
70-200 f2.8 IS

OR BOTH

17-55f2.8 and a 70-200 f4.0


I shoot family portraits (inside and out), 30D and a Rebel XT. I currently have the nifty 50 f1.8, 85 f1.8 and the 28-135 f3.5-5.6 Kit

I plan on selling the 28-135 and maybe the 85 1.8 to get $500-600

What would you do?

BOTH.
:)

[J-Blake]

Seeing you mostly shoot portraits, I see no reason to buy the 70-200 2.8 IS. Instead buy the 70-200 f/4 IS, and save yourself the $600. Since your shooting portraits, you're really not giving up low light shots because your subjects are still anyway. Between the weight and cost I don't see why you would go to the 2.8.