Sold Everything!--Now I need some glass for 5Dii :)

I sold all my gear and bought a 5Dii. I have a small strobist studio going on, so all my lighting is taken care of, but I need some advice.
I need:
1) Portrait Lens--something like 100L, or 85 1.8, Sigma 85mm?(need help here)
2) Walk around Lens--24-70, or 24-105
3) Safari Lens[SIZE=2]- nothing less than a 100-400 ( my 70-200 wasnt long enough even w/1.4 TC)

My budget is about $2900-$3500. My main interest is portrait work, then walk around, then Safari. In fact I dont NEED a lens for safari, as Im not going until summer of 2012 ( I love that its out my back door ).
And before that Safari, I am going to pick up a 40D again, I just love that camera for the price.

I could expand my budget by using B&H "Bill me Later" option, although my wife wouldnt like that too much. And Im not at all against a used lens or a 3rd party lens.

Need help here, andy ideas are appreciated.

What I would do:

1. Canon 85 1.8 - you can find a good used one for around $350 - super sharp, great portrait lens!
2. Could go either way - if you need the extra stop of light, spring for the 24-70, if not, the 24-105 is a great option.
3. Canon 100-400 is on rebate NOW @ BH for $1444

While you may be a bit over budget when shopping new, if you go used, there are some great deals out there.

For portraits, well, it depends of the focal lengths you prefer. Is 85mm the ideal focal length for your shoots ? If it's too short, the 135L can be a very good idea. 100mm f/2 could be a good idea, too. You can consider 100mm macro (L or not) if you need.. macro.

Another idea can be the recent 70-200 f/2.8 II IS... of course your budget will suffer (and if weight is not a problem), so you may complete it by a Tamron 28-75.

Titi

I would agree with the first two,its a personal decision regarding the 24/70/105 depends how much you value aperture/reach/IS,its a very personal choice.
Regarding the safari lens from reading your post I am not clear if you have sold the the sigma 150-500 as it still shows in your sig,if you have then try the 100/400 and compare it with what you had.
BTW I use a 100/400 with a 5Dc and find that with the pins taped it AFs fine with a Kenko 1.4TC wheras my 40D does not.

Angry Dad wrote in post #13497145
I sold all my gear and bought a 5Dii. I have a small strobist studio going on, so all my lighting is taken care of, but I need some advice.
I need:
1) Portrait Lens--something like 100L, or 85 1.8, Sigma 85mm?(need help here)

Considering my experiences with 3 85 F/1.8s and with Sigma, I would recommend 85L II, 100L, or 135L.
Pick the FL based on the space in your studio... . If your space is limited, a 50L would be another option - several of my friends use it specifically for this purpose. An alternative may well be the 24-70L you mention under 2).

24-105L. Or the 50L of course . Unless you want to use a 24-70L as a studio lens .

The 24-70L is a reportage lens, quite heavy, no IS, which is why I think for general walkaround purposes the 24-105L is better. I also mentioned 50L because that is exactly what I use it for, amongst others, and because I referred to it under 1) . It is the lens that is mounted on my 5D II by default.

[SIZE=2]That would be (is ) my choice. No question about it.

[SIZE=4]My budget is about $2900-$3500. My main interest is portrait work, then walk around, then Safari. In fact I dont NEED a lens for safari, as Im not going until summer of 2012 ( I love that its out my back door ).
And before that Safari, I am going to pick up a 40D again, I just love that camera for the price.

I could expand my budget by using B&H "Bill me Later" option, although my wife wouldnt like that too much. And Im not at all against a used lens or a 3rd party lens.

Need help here, andy ideas are appreciated.

Either of the above will do nicely, used or new.

Kind regards, Wim

Portrait: 85 1.8, $350
Walkaround: 35L, $1,250
Safari: 100-400L, $1,450

Total: $3,050

On my 5DII I use:

24-70 or 70-200 for portrait, depending on whether I am shooting full length or just head and shoulder
24-70 as a walkaround
100-400 for anything that requires a bit of reach.

Some interesting ideas here.
I don't want another 70-200, as that length is not good for me. So lets say the Safari lens is the 100-400 for now.

The walk around lens Im leaning twords the 24-70, only because I haunt owned one. I have owned a 24-105 before.

Now comes the hard part, the Portrait lens.
I never gave the 135L much thought, but its got great reviews and is cheap at $924 on B&H
The 85L is out of the question, and the 50L is intriguing me. I really felt the 85mm was the longest I could do, but now Im thinking I could possibly make it work outdoors.

Why is this so hard????

...............NEW ...............USED
135L........... 924............... 850
100-400.......1444........​.......1,100
24-70..........1299......​.........1050

Total...........3667..​.............3000

forget about zoom, get

1) 50L, 85mm f/1.8 and a 135L (I prefer the 85mm f/1.8 coz it has way faster AF than the 85L)
or
2) 50mm f/1.4, 85L and 135L (but if you are looking for pure IQ, 85L is the way to go)

What about something much longer, like the Sigma 150-500?

You know, the 5Dii is fully capable of cropping in later. I didn't consider that.

I will never own the 150-500 again.

thestone11 wrote in post #13497785
forget about zoom, get

1) 50L, 85mm f/1.8 and a 135L (I prefer the 85mm f/1.8 coz it has way faster AF than the 85L)
or
2) 50mm f/1.4, 85L and 135L (but if you are looking for pure IQ, 85L is the way to go)

50 85 and 135 as your only lenses is a little bit of an odd choice.

I'd go 35L and either 85L/135L/70-200 ii. If something is really needed in the middle, maybe a 50 1.4 135/70-200 is chosen.

Angry Dad wrote in post #13497660
NEW USED
135L 924 850
100-400 1444 1,100
24-70 1059 825

Total 3427 2775

Sounds like a great set to start with . Everything covered...

Just get a few extension tubes, and the 135L doubles very nicely as an excellent macro lens too .

Kind regards, Wim

That's scary when $3000 is a starter!!