Unlimited budget. Spend my money. :)

I am in the fortunate position to have a paying job that supports my photography habit. While photography is a sliver of my responsibilities, I do have a budget that allows me to buy stuff.

You can see the stuff I have in my bag in my signature. Out of everything in there, I probably use the 20D, Sigma 18-125; Canon 70-200 and the Bigma the most. I use the 300D when I am shooting sports and have the 20D on the monopod. (That way, I can shoot vertical and horizontal without having to rotate the camera on the stick.

What do you think would be a nice addition to my bag in terms of lenses? I shoot mostly portraits, some weddings, lots of sports, and lots of events. I would like to get into macro.

In terms of another box...I'm about 1-2 months away from getting either the 30D or the 5d. So I'll be ditching my 300D, as sad as it is because that's the camera that started this whole mess! I'll probably end up ditching the 70-300 Sigma too as over the past few months, I'm not that impressed with it anymore. The results from other lenses I have are much better. Plus, the 70-300 is redundant.

So..what would YOU add to my bag that would compliment my existing equipment? Lets hear it.

L upgrades on the wide end. Maybe even some primes for DOF/lowlight play.

cdi-ink.com wrote:
L upgrades on the wide end. Maybe even some primes for DOF/lowlight play.

Some examples???

24-70L F2.8 or a 24-105L F4 IS

Talk to me about the benefits of these lenses? What would they be best suited for in terms of shooting situations?

maybe a nice prime for portraits? 50mm 1.4 or 85mm 1.8 go for around $300 or if your budget is really 'unlimited' the 85mm 1.2L goes for about $2,000.

Better build, fast constant apertures (if you go with the 24-70) so you can have more DOF control than with that Sigma, faster quieter autofocus....

I don't care much for the 24-105 myself (on paper anyway...never actually shot with it) so I'd say get the 24-70. If you seriously have an unlimited budget, pair that up with the 16-35mm f/2.8L or for the same reasons.

Also your wide end will be shot on the 5D if you don't get something other than the Sigma. It's only functional on crop sensor bodies, and the 5D is a full frame.

You need a 10-22 or a 16-35 L depending on how serious you are about a 5D, a 24-70 f/2.8 then you're pretty much covered.
Have a read of this for recommendations:-
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/

I'd lose the 18- 125 and the 70-300 - they are basic lenses superceded by focal lengths you pretty much already have.

Yea, the 5D is somewhat realistic. Basically, it's a matter of waiting two weeks versus two months. Two weeks for the 30D because I have money left in my budget for it. Not for the 5D however. So, I'd have to wait until the fiscal year starts in July to get the 5D. I'm betting most would say hold out for the 5D, right?

Yeah, if you do portraits, you'd adore the 5D. Definitely get a 16-35L and a 50 1.4 for that sucker. 16-35L gives you an excellent wide angle, and the 50 1.4 will give you great portraits, as well as a dandy walkaround prime. If that budget really is "unlimited", I would say get a 24-70 range lens as well. Preferrably one with an L on the end of it. Ultimate walkaround lens. You might prefer the 24-105L IS if you don't mind f/4. I like speed, though.

Add me to your camera bag. I've been eating a bit too much lately and so am a bit on the wide end, but I'm still quite fast.

I come cheap. I'll be your L-caddy. I'll switch your lenses for ya.

Unlimited budget, huh? 5k per week will cover my expenses.

MDJAK wrote:
Add me to your camera bag. I've been eating a bit too much lately and so am a bit on the wide end, but I'm still quite fast.

I come cheap. I'll be your L-caddy. I'll switch your lenses for ya.

Unlimited budget, huh? 5k per week will cover my expenses.

Realisitically, the budget is about 20-25k per year...but that's for a number of things - advertisements, marketing materials, etc. However, I'm always about 10-12k under budget...thus, the ability to buy new equipment.

So, if you can do it for 2K, hop on in!

Unlimited budget, wow.

1DMIIN
5D
16-35L
24-70L
24-105L
70-200L IS
35L
85L
135L
300 F/2.8L
500 F/4L

So how much do you have to spend on lenses, and how much are you saving for a body? I'm talking right now, for this lens.

I have about 3 grand left for equipment for this fiscal year, which ends at the end of June. Then I start fresh in July. So, I could get the lenses now and wait for the 5D or 30D in July.