5Dc lens choices up to $1500

so lets say i have $1500 to spend on glass for a 5D Classic.
so let's also say that i dont have any canon glass currently except some old M42 stuff with EOS adapters (all fantastic lenses btw)

i know of sooo many fantastic lenses but would like some nudging one way or the other.
what would be best to pick up, 1 lens, multiple?

I shoot anything and everything.
right now being winter its mostly indoors so faster lenses are a must for now.
But once the weather is nice my wifes flower garden typically gives me lots of things to shoot.
i like stills best, and that fits the 5Dc best of course.
i have done people but nothing as fantastic as i see here.

i was thinking of going with the old trustworthy's (prices listed are retail, so would of course be cheaper if i bought from here)

50 1.4 - $379.00
85 1.8 - $400.00
70-200 F/4L - $670.00

alternately i was thinking about the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM instead of the 70-200 but i dont know... the 70-200 just offers more uses i think.
but i do like the 100mm macro

That pretty much eats up my $1500.00

any suggestions?

24-105/70 + 50 1.4

Are you a zoom person or can you go with using just prime lenses? Which focal range do you shoot the most?

If zoom...
24-105 or 24-70

If prime...
35L + 85 F1.8/50 F1.4

if/when I go ff, this is what i'd personally buy:

50 1.4 - $320
70-200 f4 - $400-500
24-105 f4 - $800

(prices are used in USD)

which is about $1600 (i know, this stretches your budget slightly, but that's what I'd buy :P)

For full frame I'd go with 24-105 & Sigma 85 1.4

I'm planning to upgrade to a 5Dc and have a similar budget for lenses. Eventually I want to have:

17-40
35L
85 1.8
70-200 f4 IS

I'm going to start off with just the 35 and 85. Heck, I'd probably be happy for quite a while with just the 35L.

17-40
50 1.8
70-200 f4
85 1.8


ads up to about $1500 used

Hold off on the 70-200 until you can afford the IS version. Its sharper and more versatile. Any of the above sets have merit, its more of asking what you want to shoot and how?

like i said, i shoot anything and everything.

this morning i pulled off onto my exit on the highway and while i was at the stoplights waiting i looked over and had an awesome view of the snow glimmering from the sun and some dried weeds poking thru.
10 seconds later i turned into the sun and there was a circular rainbow around it.
did i get shots of anything,, nope all my gear is gone.
what would i have been more prone to shoot? the snow that was 8 feet from my car because i felt more when i looked at it. circular rainbows around the sun are cool, but just something about the weeds sticking up out of the snow made me want a picture more.

i shoot flowers, leaves on trees that strike me in a particular way, my son, anything.
if it moves me to want a picture, i try to shoot it.

realistically this is the type of stuff i shoot.

Tawcan wrote in post #11816603
Are you a zoom person or can you go with using just prime lenses? Which focal range do you shoot the most?

If zoom...
24-105 or 24-70

If prime...
35L + 85 F1.8/50 F1.4

realistically i am a prime person but i have never owned an L zoom so....

jiddle wrote in post #11817082
17-40
50 1.8
70-200 f4
85 1.8


ads up to about $1500 used

That's a really nice setup for $1500. The only drawback is that you don't have any speed at the wide end. I wish canon would make a 35mm FF lens that's along the lines of the 50 1.4 in quality, or that Sigma would make their 30mm 1.4 as a FF compatible version.

v_lestat wrote in post #11817751
realistically i am a prime person but i have never owned an L zoom so....

Based on your sample shots, I'd say go for primes all the way. You're using very narrow DoF in most of those. The 24-105 won't pull off those shots with the flower on the ground. It also looks like you favor longer focal lengths. You could get a Sigmalux (Sigma 50 1.4), 85 1.8, and a 135L for about $1500 if you're patient and find good deals. Later on add something wide if you feel like it.

You are obviously comfortable with manual focus, so how about the Zeiss 100/2 MP? It's a stunning lens, excellent for stills, portraits and "near" macro (focuses down to 1:2).

Also, you said you like to shoot in your wife's flower garden, and the 100MP is one of the best lenses for that kind of work that I have ever used.

Only problem is you will likely have to go used to stay under budget, and there don't seem to be too many of these going up for sale. If you are lucky you might find a ZF(.1) version which should sell for $1200 or so, which would leave you enough money for a used copy of something like the 50/1.4 you listed.

Logan7 wrote in post #11817888
That's a really nice setup for $1500. The only drawback is that you don't have any speed at the wide end. I wish canon would make a 35mm FF lens that's along the lines of the 50 1.4 in quality, or that Sigma would make their 30mm 1.4 as a FF compatible version.

the canon 30mm f2 is sharp, almost on pair with the 35L

Looking at those shots looks like 35L would suit you pretty well. Looks like you like to use shallow DOF a lot.

Took these during a 3 week vacation in Europe. I shot 99% of the time with the 35L, only used the 85 when shooting portrait.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tawcan/52872936​04/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tawcan/52867149​81/

^nice set there, where in europe were you ?