12K to use - what to buy?

EricTober wrote in post #5865142
So, I have been working a part time job for a year to be able to buy some toys and I have about 12K left. I have a 30D and the 70-300 & the 18-55 kit lenses. I want to upgrade and am thinking about getting the
24-70 2.8 ($1190)
50 1.4 ($355)
70-200 2.8 IS ($1575)
400mm 2.8 ($6800)

I would also like to get a second body and was thinking about the 5D but having read some reviews it seems like it is not good for sports or wildlife photography (both of which I do often). Should I get the 40D?

I shoot mainly sports photography (football, soccer, track, baseball, some basketball) and wildlife photography along with landscapes. I would like to move into wedding photography but will need practice. Also, I do not have any decent photo editing software...which are the better ones? Thanks for the help and advice!

Eric

Wow, what an investment.

Anyhow, I'd recommend:

Sell everything but the 30D (for backup)

Buy:
EOS 1D MkIII ($4000)
EF 17-40L ($650)
EF 24-70L ($1190)
EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS ($1575)
EF 300 f/2.8 IS ($4100)
2 Speedlite 580EXII

If you need 400 @ f2.8, you've answered your own question.

If on the other hand you can get away with 420 @f4, by going 300 f2.8 with a 1.4x TC, then I think that would give you a few more options without any IQ pain, and it has to be said the 300 f2.8 is a peach of a lens..

Honestly, sports wise you'd do just fine with:

40D
24-70 2.8
70-200 2.8
300 2.8 or 120-300 2.8
500 f4 (heck even the siggy 500 f4.5)

I would opt for two 40D's as I fumbled with the idea of doing a 40D/30D combo or 1D/40D and just found the menu style differences to be a pain. In my opinion the 400 2.8 would just be overkill for the price and the money would be better served to get a more even spread of gear.

Since you have the funds, I say go with the 1D M3, that way you're covered in any situation you want to shoot.

Might want to look for a flash bracket if you're getting into event photography.

I use Photoshop CS3, but learning to use it is like working a part time job. You may need to throw some funds at a computer, CS3 is demanding on a processor.

Have fun...

16-35mm f/2.8L II
24-70mm f/2.8L
85mm f/1.2L II
70-200mm f/2.8L IS
300mm f/4.0L IS
1D Mark III

B&H total: $11,118.95

Take the left over money, and get some good UV/CP's.

EDIT: I didn't see you're primarily into sports. Oh well, it's still a decent kit that I listed above.

picturecrazy wrote in post #5865358
12k? geez... I'd put most of it away in investments.

Who let the adult in here?

If you are going to spend that much, finance a trip to B&H and see it all in person!

As for photo editing software, Photoshop CS3 is pretty decent.

^^ Yeah, just so so.

that'd be me who's heading off to college, but i've already spent my budget =)

Wow. What fun! And it certainly looks like you have done your homework, so you're just looking for reassurance, maybe?

Ok, you could upgrade the 30D with a 40D for about $400. Sell the 30D on here and buy the 40 on here as well. I love my 5D, so maybe I'm biased but I think it would complement your 40D so the learning curve would be simple and I'm not sure you need the 1D series... Then you could purchase some great lenses... Let's see...

40D Upgrade $ 400
5D body $1,500
16-35 Mk II $1,200 For your landscapes...
24-70 2.8 $1,000
85 1.2 L $1,500 Just rocks...
70-200 2.8IS $1,500
300 2.8 IS $3,400 Sports...

That's 10,500 and spend the rest on bags, filters, maybe a TC 1.4 and you have an amazing setup! Happy spending! (What I want to know is how you managed to wait until you had the 12K... ) Ok, these are all mint used prices, and I think you'll have good success as long as you make sure they have good feedback...

I will take 400mm f2.8 IS over 300mm f2.8 IS for outdoor sports. Gives you more reach for soccer, football and even baseball. And definitely upgrade to 1 series, even if it is older 1dmk2 or the 1dmk2n model.

I have 500mm f4 and going to buy 300mm f2.8 but if I was more serious in sports, I would have 400mm f2.8 IS than 300mm f2.8 IS. More useful focal length for outdoor sports, IMHO.

I think I'll revise me advise, doesn't look like (after re-reading through clear eyes) that you need a 1D series camera. If so:

sell all but the 30D (use it as a sports back-up)

EOS 40D gripped + EOS 5D ($2200)
EF 16-35L mkII ($1400 with a good UV filter)
EF 24-70L ($1190)
EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS ($1575)
EF 300 f/2.8L IS ($4100)
EF 1.4xII teleconverter ($280)
2x 580EXII ($700)

spend the rest on nice filters, a monopod, a bag, extra memory, etc.

If shooting a game, I'd put the 300mm on the 40D on one shoulder, 70-200 on the 30D on one shoulder, and slingthe 5D + 24-70 across the neck

Eric, I own the 85 1.8, it is a very nice lense, just buy the hood for it when you buy it. As for the nifty fifty, I use the 50 1.2 and I use it almost daily. I also own the 24-70 and I travel with that lense and the 50 all over the country.
I honestly don't need or want to go beyond 400mm so I bought the 70-200 2.8 IS and added the 2X extender. I like keeping my options open. If you want a 5D then buy it, it really is a phenomenal camera for the price and it acts very much like a canon film camera. If you have questions about the 5D send me a message.

40D is significantly sharper than the 30D. 17-55 F2.8 IS is a better choice "normal zoom" for the crop sensor bodies. Sounds like you need some long glass too, I can't suggest anything there, except to only buy what you need as fast long glass is expensive. For landscapes you'll want wide, probably wider than 17mm, any of the wide lenses will do a good job, but if you're serious the 5D II and a 16-35 or 17-40 will rock.

Have a look at my wedding FAQ for advice on wedding gear. Short answer: two 40D, 17-55, 70-200 F2.8 IS, backup to 17-55 (Sigma 30mm F1.4 maybe, calibrated) , couple flashes, plenty of CF.