Your Realistic 3-5 Lens Collection

Realistically, here's what i'd have.
17-55 f/2.8 IS
70-200 f/4L IS
100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L
85mm f/1.8
100mm f/2.8 macro

that's all i need. Got all the range covered.

24-70, 16-35, 100mm macro (first three - covering walkaround, macro, portraiture, all good in low light)...
then
85L or 135L for portraits
then
24L or 35L or 50L for short, very fast prime - length depending on need.

FF camera

24-105/4 or 24-70/2.8
70-200 F/4 IS
85 f/1.2
Tamron 180mm F/3.5 Macro (just as sharp, if not sharper, than my 60mm macro was)

Maybe something wider OR longer, depending on shooting style. This grouping would pretty much cover everything. Thankfully I will own 75% in a month (maybe all if an 85L comes along with a hell of a deal).

Realistically, Tandy does NOT make lenses:p

Anyway, my current acquisition list looks something like this:

EF 17-55 2.8 (got)
EF 70-200 2.8 IS (got)
EF-S 10-22 AND Sigma 150-500 (maybe this summer/fall) OR 100-400 (next year)

That would probably do it...today...:p

I am trying to get by on 4 lens from my sig but I think a 5th is in the cards.

I have :

10-22mm EF-S (great lens!)
18-55mm IS
60mm EF-S 2.8 macro

Realistically I would like to add a 50mm F1.4 and a 70-200mm F4L. I think I would be happy with this for what I shoot.

For crop:
Toke 11-16mm f2.8
Canon 17-55mm f2.8
Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS
Canon 100-400mm L IS (working towards)

That should cover 11-400 (16-640 - Equiv to a 40X zoom!)

FF:
17-40mm f4 (16-35 f2.8 is too over priced for an extra stop, i dont need f2.8)
24-70mm f2.8L
70-200mm f2.8L IS
100-400 L IS

my 3 lens set up would be as follows 16-35L II, 24-70L, 70-200 2.8IS L or 100-400 IS L

if i can have 5
+ 85L or 135L or 50L
+ 15mm fish eye or 14L

Easy choice if I could choose 5 without looking at the money

35L - 85L - 135L
24-105 F4 IS + 70-200 F2.8 IS


Looking at my kit I already have
35L - 85 F1.8
24-105 F4 IS

So I should add the 70-200 and the 135L, but it would cost me 2500€ so I won't do it. It's crisis you know

A realistic line up would be:

Tokina 12-24 F4
Tamron 28-75 F2.8
Sigma 50 1.4
Canon 70-200 F4
Canon 300 F4is
[with a Canon 1.4ex]

Already have the 70-200, and the 28-75 will be with me soon.

16-35 f/2.8L
24-70 f/2.8L
70-200 f/2.8L
400 f/2.8L

Trying to think of a prime for good measure... 85 f/1.2L or 35 f/1.4L probably

A realistic-ish line up (for the near future):
24-70 f/2.8L
70-200 f/2.8L
50 f/1.4 (if I feel like it).

24-105L
100-400L
35L
50L - w/no shifting
135L

My list is pretty close to what I have already, as I don't really regret any of my purchases...

40D with:
Tokina 11-16 F2.8
Tamron 17-50 F2.8
Sigma 30 F1.4 (OR a Canon 24L mark 1 - but that's still unlikely...)
Canon 100mm F2.8 macro
Canon 70-200 F4 IS

I already have #1, 2 and 4 out of the list

On FF
16-35
24-105
35L
85L
70-200 2.8 IS

If I were to be realistic, I'd get the following;

17-40 L
24-105 L
70-200 L (f/4)
100-400 L
100 Macro

I think that would be my ultimate setup if I had the money!