New lens for 5D2

You have $1000 and no lenses, what do you buy? (Doesn't have to be 1 lens)

Or would you have rather spend an extra $800 to get the 24-105.

This is all completely hypothetical of course.

I have the 24-105 and use it as my walk-around lens. It's a great lens and well worth the extra bucks.

135L

charro callado wrote in post #13524566
135L

Only lens 135mm?

snoop99 wrote in post #13524608
Only lens 135mm?

That might limit things a bit but it's a lovely lens!

It's hard to beat the versatility and the great bundle price of 24-105.

But personally, I'd still get sigma 50 + canon 85

First lens I bought for my 5DII was a 24-70, because I knew I would also be buying the 70-200, and I preferred the f/2.8 of the 24-70 over the IS of the 24-105.

Spend a little more and get the 24-70mm

50mm f1.4 and something else. I love it.

snoop99 wrote in post #13524608
Only lens 135mm?

I only shoot people, so yes, if I could only have one lens, it would be the 135L.

charro callado wrote in post #13524715
I only shoot people, so yes, if I could only have one lens, it would be the 135L.

Fair enough.

I like keeping the discussion wide open and am interested in what you all would do, not just what the average person should do.

I would get the older 28-70 2.8L second hand, I had it and it's perfect for standardzooming, a lot better that the 24-105 f4 for portraits & allround.

If you had more money I would pick the 35 1.4L second hand but hard to find (superb lens!)

Also 70-200 2.8L non IS is great and in your budget, eventually in combination with a cheaper 17-40f4 or something.

I used the sigma 50mm as my only lens on my 5d2 for about 6 months and it was great. I did wish for something wider or longer though. If you're looking on the wide end, pair the 50mm 1.4 with a 17-40L or get a 70-200 f4L if you want something longer.

Should be able to combo the two for $1k

You can always pano to go wider, or crop to go tighter. I find it easier to pano cause you gain a lot more resolution.

+1 for the 24-105

I bought the 5D2 and 24-105 kit, but I never really used the 24-105 much. I prefer my 17-40 while hiking and my "normal" walk around distance tends to be a bit longer than average. Given ~$1000, I'd go for a 17-40L and 70-200 f/4L (used, of course) new would cost a bit more.