Best Complete Lens Collection

this is my list

canon 10-22 3.5-4.5
canon 24-70 2.8 L still need $1140.00
canon 70-200 2.8 L I should have this week from B&H before they go on vacation!!!
canon 100-400 5.6 L IS still on the list $1380.00
canon 100 2.8 macro still on the list $475.00
canon 85 1.8
canon 1.4x should also have this week!!!

so I need another $3000.00and I should have all that I need in lenses.

Getting 430 flash and Grip when I get my $1800 from uncle sam. the wife gets to go see her mom for 8 days. Looks like I get the better deal Flash and Grip and 8 days to play with my new 70-200!!!

All around good kit:
Canon 10-22 (cropped body)
Canon 16-35 II (FF body)
+
Canon 35 f/1.4L
Canon 24-70 f/2.8L
Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS
Canon 300 f/2.8L IS or f/4L IS

For what I do.. my current gears suits me very well.

Canon 17-55 IS
Canon 70-200 f/4 IS
Canon 35mm f/1.4
Canon 85mm f/1.8

I might add 1.4x extender in the future.

Mine would be (FF, naturally):

Ideal:
16-35L
35L
50L
85L
135L
300 2.8L
500L
Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar f/2.5 SL Macro

'Budget' (aka the setup I want):
17-40L
28 1.8
50 1.4
85 1.8
135L
200 2.8L
400 5.6L
Sigma 150 Macro

The 'uber cheap':
17-40L (really no contest here)
35 f/2
50 1.8
85 1.8
200 2.8L
Maybe some cheaper macro lens. They're all good. Or extension tubes + T-Cons.

10-22
17-55
70-200 F2.8 IS

EF 50/1.4

..and a 135 format cam.

on top of the dynamic trio, your pick of either 17-40/24-105/70-200 or 16-35/24-70/70-200, i would think the ideal complete setup (for myself at least) would also include :

* 35 F/1.4L or 50 F/1.4 (depending on cam's crop factor)
* 85 F/1.8 or 135 F/2 (as above)
* 100-400 F/4.5-5.6L
* 100 F/2.8 Macro
* 300 F/2.8 with a 1.4X TC

You're going to get a lot of different answers, surely. Everyone has a different idea of what is "ideal" based on what they shoot.

If you want full coverage via zooms, try out the 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200. If you want primes, you can do that too. I'd suggest a good range of zooms and at least one nice, bright prime.

As for the "best line-up" I can only say that for me, what I have - works great.

My gear list is pretty much ideal for most things. I'd like a 300/2.8 though.

tracer bullet wrote in post #5273201
For FF:

16-35 II
24-105
100-400

also

15mm fisheye
50mm 1.4
100mm macro

Pretty ultimate in my opinion, and not too ridiculously expensive.

And a bit boring too.
No magic L primes.

Double Negative wrote in post #5277263
You're going to get a lot of different answers, surely. Everyone has a different idea of what is "ideal" based on what they shoot.

If you want full coverage via zooms, try out the 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200. If you want primes, you can do that too. I'd suggest a good range of zooms and at least one nice, bright prime.

As for the "best line-up" I can only say that for me, what I have - works great.

Thank you for all the replies.

I understand that "you never have the complete collection, unless you buy them all", but I do a lot of traveling in places, where you can't bring a ton of lenses.
For my "set of travel lenses" I like the idea of a smaller collection of zooms, that can cover more.
I currently use 70-200 F4 IS and 28-135, I plan on getting a 17-40 F4 soon. (I would like to upgrade my 28-135 as well, so I have been thinking about the 24-70 or the 24-105.)

At a later time I will probably add more, but would these three lenses be enough for now?

GilesGuthrie wrote in post #5277278
My gear list is pretty much ideal for most things. I'd like a 300/2.8 though.

Awesome gear!

mismis wrote in post #5272796
Crop:
10-22
17-55/24-70
70-200

FF:
17-40
24-70
70-200
1.4x tele

Assuming u dont want primes, and you dont need super tele

I agree with this.

Currently this is my setup.

10-22 (looking to get this too 16-35)
17-55 (looking to get a 24-70 f/2.8 as a second lens for second body)
70-200 f/2.8 IS (went from 70-200 f/4 IS)
1.4x tele (still holding off with this, no need for it yet, but if i need reach, this is a way to go for me)

Primes:
35
50 1.2 (not necessary 1.2, you can start of 1.4 or 1.8 if you're on a budget)
85 1.2 (not necessary but you can start off with a 1.8)
135L
200L

The only thing to consider is that if you plan to go FF, the 10-22 and 17-55 will be a bust. However, there is a reason to have two bodies! Hehehe. The 10-22 and 17-55 are superior lens, it just doesn't have the red ring to it.

My dream, as weird as it sounds, for my 40D / FF package would be:

11-16 f/2.8 Tokina
24-70
50 f/1.4
85 f/2.8

I'd keep my 17-40 L around, too. I love it too much

dahl wrote in post #5773560
Thank you for all the replies.

I understand that "you never have the complete collection, unless you buy them all", but I do a lot of traveling in places, where you can't bring a ton of lenses.
For my "set of travel lenses" I like the idea of a smaller collection of zooms, that can cover more.
I currently use 70-200 F4 IS and 28-135, I plan on getting a 17-40 F4 soon. (I would like to upgrade my 28-135 as well, so I have been thinking about the 24-70 or the 24-105.)

At a later time I will probably add more, but would these three lenses be enough for now?


Awesome gear!

If you are thinking about 3 lens.

Ultra wide (17-40 or 10-22)
Wide/Walkaround (17-55 or 24-70 or 24-105)
Zoom (any of the 70-200)

As stated before the 10-22 and 17-55 are superior lens but you lock yourself in within the crop body camera. But if you are sticking with a crop camera for a long time, it's a worthy investment, hell, some even would prefer these lens over the L.

The 24-105 is more of a walk around versus the 24-170 or 17-55 because it doesn't have reach potential and can be too wide. But honestly, it's good for me and can be subjective. I like fast lens so the 24-70/17-55 it is for me. The extra reach doesn't bother me or do I need it. I look at it this way, I walk inside a church somewhere in Europe with a 24-105 and it becomes difficult for me. The extra stops is useful for me.

I have a crop body now, but I will upgrade sooner or later. So I have stayed away from the EF-S lenses. I know they are supposed to be good, but I am going for L now.

The question right now for me is 24-70 or 24-105.