Urgent - Lens purchase guidance

First thanks to everyone on these forums who have seen me post similar lens buying questions.

Look at the lenses I own in my signature. Which option should I go with:

1. 17-40 and 24-70

or

2. 70-200 2.8 IS MK2 (then sell my 70-200 F4 to get a 24 or 28 2.8 to help on the wide end).

I am leaning towards the 70-200 because I don't know when my wife will allow a large purchase like this again in the future.

Option 2 sounds good if you use the 70-200 range a lot and need the IS + f2.8

If you are happy with the 70-200 F4, get a wide-angle prime like the Zeiss 21mm

The questions really are, what you'd like to shoot at the short end, and why you think you need F/2.8 in a telezoom.

Get what you think you need or are missing, rather than max the budget guaranteeing you won't see another purchase like this ever again....

Kind regards, Wim

I do mainly portraits and weddings. I almost always rent the 70-200 for weddings and i don't see why it wouldn't do well with senior pictures and engagement photos.

I'd go for the 70-200 and the 24mm prime.

I do need some help on the wide end of things so option 1 has some merit.

Am I am being blinded by the awesomeness of the 70-200 2.8 IS II into making a decision that might not be whats best for my camera bag but instead buying the holy grail?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Given what you shoot, why not a MKI 70-200 and a 50L?

I noticed you have no wide coverage, so if not a 50L perhaps the 17-40 for a different perspective.

You could try the sigma 70-200 OS and a 17-40.

I decided to go with the 17-40L and 24-70L. Although I would love to own the 70-200L 2.8 IS II, I felt my camera bag as a whole looked better.

Camera Bag: 17-40L, 24-70L, 50 1.4, 85 1.8, 70-200 F4L

vs.

Camera Bag; 50 1.4, 85 1.8, 70-200L 2.8 IS II

The first camera bag looks more well rounded in my opinion.

Good.

Both of the additions will provide great results for many years.

Good choices indeed, it does look more rounded, and it wil fit well with your subjects of choice.

Kind regards, Wim

Also consider the 70-200 4.0IS. If you can do without the extra stop you will save a bundle for more lenses...

paulmoceyhanton wrote in post #12981269
Also consider the 70-200 4.0IS. If you can do without the extra stop you will save a bundle for more lenses...

Well done for not reading through the whole thread

Two new L's will be delivered in about 10 hours!

Both have arrived. I will post some pics soon!