India travel - lens suggestions immediately needed

friends I have a India trip coming up in the next 2 weeks and I am at crossroads trying to decide between a few lenses that are on my purchase track for the next year or two. I have already spent the last two days on Amazon looking at the confirm order page thinking before I click the button - my dilemma is as follows (I have a 10% off coupon off Amazon till 16th so I have to use Amazon):

1. The Canon 24-70 II is not available on Amazon - this is out hence. The tamron dows not measure up in sharpness though the IS is a addon - I would prefer sharpness and I like shooting at larger apertures

2. Canon 35L - The sigma 35 is out of stock temporarily and the sigma has the canon beat on important areas. Is the Canon 35L still good vaule over the sigma with a 387 USD premium

3. Needed a wide angle like 16-35 but I see real bad corner sharpness on FF - don't know if it is worth the extra premium over the 17-40. Did not like 17-40 on the t3i.

Guys I am torn between the 35L and the 16-35 (one gives me low light advantage, the other gives me perspective to shoot in busy Calcutta and Mumbai).

Please help.

Canon 35L is well worth the price. I'd get that It's the best offering from Canon and the sigma is just marginally sharper. Really you won't notice unless you are blasting your pictures up to 100% and looking at every detail.

Corner sharpness will be bad for all zoom wide angle lenses. You just have to live with it. If you are shooting wide, I usually shoot with smaller apertures so I'd hit the 17-40mm anyways. Considering you have a 5D3 your ISO shouldn't be a problem.

I'd take the 35L over the zooms. It is wider aperture and the 35 length is very general purpose. I prefer primes anyways...

the 387 USD premium over the sigma is whats stopping me kinda - else the 35 Canon for me is the lord of the rings.

anyone who owns both or has experience shooting with both share their experiences?

How about?
http://www.lensrentals​.com …-f1.4-dg-hsm-a1-for-canon

Amazon does not have stock - I have the sigma 30 and would not mind the sigma 35 but Amazon does not have stock and I need this lens delivered before the 25th of Dec.

Buy used 35L. Use it for the trip, sell it when you get back. Cheaper than renting IMHO. I have 35L and it is so good on 5dmk3.

Sigma looks good but I will wait for its price to drop. Used 35L and new sigma is what $200-$300. I think used sigma and used 35L would be $500. And if 35L II comes at higher prices, I hope 35L also moved higher like 70-200mm f2.8 IS I and 24-70 ver I.

Seriously, for landscape type shots at f/8 or f/11 the 17-40 is reported to be as sharp as the 16-35 anyway. I have never owned a 16-35 so cannot compare. But I do own a 17-40 and even though I don't use it a lot I will never sell it because of the versatility it gives. I also own a 35L as well and it is a terrific lens, one I tend to go to first. For travel though the 17-40 offers me more versatility. Let's face it, when you want a UWA, you really want one.

highly confused - only solution include both now ?

What camera is going? Fuller frame take a 24-105 L IS. Crop body get a 15-85 IS. In India more wide is better. Your 70-200 L will come in handy in a wildlife park.

starkyrulz wrote in post #15363109
highly confused - only solution include both now ?

If I had to take only one of them (35 or 17-40) I seriously would choose the 17-40 from the versatility angle. Mind you, I would try to fit the 35 in somewhere haha

yes agreed - low light would warrant a 1.4 particularly in around temples etc. But going wide on monuments aand forts would warrant a wide angle - only if the sigma 35 were available right now, things would have easier with the sigma 35 and 17-40.

Have you considered second hand? There is always plenty of 17-40's for a reasobale price and in good condition. Also the 35L come up regualrly as well. When I travel I only take one body (5DII) and mainly my zooms. Let's face it, travel photography is mainly about the memeories it creates for you rather than award winning shots for the masses. I have the 17-40, 24-70 or 24-105 and 70 200. These usually fill my needs. Believe it or not the one that gets the most use is the 70-200. I hate having to constantly change primes when we are on the move, it can be quite a hassle and in places that are less than desirable not something I am comfortable with doing. I have a shoulder bag that I take the body with one lens attached and another lens in it. Depending on where we are depends on which 2 lenses come out. The rest of my gear stays in the hotel.

that is the reason I was bend over on the 16-35 - I have a 70-200 and the in between range, unless the tamron 24-70 VC gets cheaper or the price of the new canon 24-70 gets cheaper, i will let that range a pass. Somehow the range 24-70 does not interest me too much.

Whatever you take my friend but think about dealing with customs and air pollution. Good luck on your trip.