If your B&H wishlists looked like these...

I went to a local camera store to do side-by-side comparisons with the 16-35 and 17-40. I found that the 1mm difference on the wide side doesn't mean much to me but the 5mm advantage that the 17-40 has does matter to me. What this means is that I don't think I could consider the 16-35 as a "walkaround" lens. I could possibly use the 17-40 as such.

I do need something wider than 24mm.

I also did side-by-side comparisons with the 85/1.8 and the 135L. I liked them both. Sadly, they did not have a 35L in stock to look at as well. I have rented the 35L to use on my 20D.

Anyway, given my budget, I think I am down to the following three B&H wishlists. I use B&H to research stuff but may or may not purchase with them. I could use the local camera store or some other online site. We'll see.

So, if you had these three wish lists, which would you choose?

(Keep in mind I already own the 70-200/F4L IS and the 430 EX Flash.)

5DII
17-40 F4L
70-200 F4L IS
35 1.4L
85 1.8
$4,880.00

5DII
16-35 2.8LII
24-105 F4L IS
70-200 F4L IS
85 1.8
$5,000.00

5DII
17-40 F4L
70-200 F4L IS
35 1.4L
135 F2L
$5,499.00

What about 24-70?

Option 4:
17-40
70-200 f/4 (you already own)
35L
85 f/1.8
135 f/2

if you go with the 135L maybe you don't need the 70-200?

To start, I'd go with option 2. It's what I started with and is a phenomenal set of lenses.

I then added primes into my kit from there. However, there is very little that you can't do with the zoom trinity. You're at ƒ4 for two of your lenses, but you have the 85 1.8 right in the middle, so it works.

However, do you need 2.8 on your wide? Is that something that you will use?

snoop99 wrote in post #10262039
What about 24-70?

Nope. Don't want it.

Todd Lambert wrote in post #10262121
To start, I'd go with option 2. It's what I started with and is a phenomenal set of lenses.

I then added primes into my kit from there. However, there is very little that you can't do with the zoom trinity. You're at ƒ4 for two of your lenses, but you have the 85 1.8 right in the middle, so it works.

However, do you need 2.8 on your wide? Is that something that you will use?

I could use 2.8 on the wide end...if I had the 35L then maybe not.

Staszek wrote in post #10262066
Option 4:
17-40
70-200 f/4 (you already own)
35L
85 f/1.8
135 f/2

Out of my budget at close to $5900 for this option.

I would go with option 2. Of course, only you can decide what's best for you. If you don't need f/2.8 for shallow DOF, I think the 17-40 is a better choice. The 5DII will handle high-ISO well enough that you can probably get by with f/4 in all but extreme situations. That said, the 5mm on the long end can be fixed with a slight crop; 5DII files are huge.

IMO, 24-105 sounds like an awesome zoom range. It is one of the reasons I'm considering a FF camera. 24 is just so much wider than the 28mm equivalent of my 17-55. I would LOVE that on a walkaround. I could get away with only one lens more often, I think.

Wait on the 35L until you're sure you need it. Make sure you shoot in the 35mm range a lot and you find yourself wanting a wider aperture on those shots.

16-35L II, Σ 50 1.4, 85 1.8, 135L, 70-200 F4L IS.

Of course, I continue to play with the options...

5DII
17-40 F4L
24-105 F4L IS
70-200 F4L IS
85 1.8
135 F2L
$5,279.00

5DII
17-40 F4L
24-105 F4L IS
70-200 F4L IS
35 1.4L
$5,270.00

SchnellerGT wrote in post #10262209
Of course, I continue to play with the options...

5DII
17-40 F4L
24-105 F4L IS
70-200 F4L IS
35 1.4L
$5,270.00

I like this one and maybe add a 85 1.8 for $5639... but what do I know.. I'd be happy with all of them.

do you have to buy everything all together? just start with the 5D + 2 lens and figure the rest out later

SchnellerGT wrote in post #10262159
Out of my budget at close to $5900 for this option.

Come on man, if you can afford to drop $5500 on gear what's another $400??

5DII
16-35 f/2.8L
24-105 f4L
70-200 f/4L
35 f/1.4L