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I currently don't have any SLR equipment but would like to start
building a setup in the near future. I would like some opinions from
the group on what 5 Canon lenses would make the best well rounded
setup. I'm not interested in fisheye, macro, or lenses over 200-300MM.
When making your recommendation do NOT consider cost or weight, only
quality and functionality. If a lens is 5% better but costs twice as
much, then pick it! Same thing goes for you Nikon fans, name your 5
best. One last thing, this will be for a digital setup, but assume the
sensor is full frame like on the 1Ds. Hopefully this doesn't get out
of control! --Ed

>From: (Ed)

>what 5 Canon lenses would make the best well rounded
>setup. I'm not interested in fisheye, macro, or lenses over 200-300MM.

You can cover this limited focal range with three "L" series zooms, something
like the 16-35 f/2.8, the 24-70 f/2.8 and the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS or the 70-200
f/4 L. I have something similar to this with older "L" lenses, the 17-28
f/2.8, 28-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS ... the optics are excellent but the
weight and bulk is a hassle at times when traveling and I also have several
non-zooms for different conditions, including the 24 f/2.8, 35 f/2, 85 f/1.8,
100 f/2.8 macro and three telephotos (300 f/4, 400 f/5.6, 500 f/4 IS).

If you feel you need at least one lens faster than the f/2.8 zooms get
something like the 50 f/1.4 or the 85 f/1.8 or the 100 f/2. Sometimes fast is
nice. I love the 85 f/1.8 for street shooting, for example.

If you don't like the zooms due to weight or cost I'd suggest a 5 lens kit of
fixed focal length lenses like the 24 f/2.8, 35 f/2, 50 f/1.4, 100 f/2 (I'd
prefer the f/2.8 macro myself, but you said no to macro) and 200 f/2.8.

Bring money, lots of money

Bill

14 2.8L
16-35 2.8L
50 1.4
28-70 2.8L
70-200 2.8L IS

"Ed" <> wrote in message
news: om...
> I currently don't have any SLR equipment but would like to start
> building a setup in the near future. I would like some opinions from
> the group on what 5 Canon lenses would make the best well rounded
> setup. I'm not interested in fisheye, macro, or lenses over 200-300MM.
> When making your recommendation do NOT consider cost or weight, only
> quality and functionality. If a lens is 5% better but costs twice as
> much, then pick it! Same thing goes for you Nikon fans, name your 5
> best. One last thing, this will be for a digital setup, but assume the
> sensor is full frame like on the 1Ds. Hopefully this doesn't get out
> of control! --Ed

The obvious 3 that cover your range are:
16-35/2.8 L
24-70/2.8 L
70-200/2.8 L IS

That does not get you to the 300 mm focal length, so you could consider
replacing the 70-200/2.8 with a 100-400 L IS. Other lenses in that range
that would warrant consideration would be Sigma 50-500 EX, 100-300/4 EX or
80-400 OS EX, any of which have similar to or better than the optical
quality of the Canon 100-400.

The remaining two lenses I would choose for more specific purposes. For
example the 28-135 IS is a very good travel lens to take when you only have
room to take one lens and camera. For the fifth lens I would get a sharp
prime lens in my favourite focal length. For me that would be the 100/2.8
macro lens, but you don't need macro and 100 mm might not be your most
favoured length.

Scott Elliot
http://www3.telus.net/selliot/

"Ed" <> wrote in message
news: om...
> I currently don't have any SLR equipment but would like to start
> building a setup in the near future. I would like some opinions from
> the group on what 5 Canon lenses would make the best well rounded
> setup. I'm not interested in fisheye, macro, or lenses over 200-300MM.
> When making your recommendation do NOT consider cost or weight, only
> quality and functionality. If a lens is 5% better but costs twice as
> much, then pick it! Same thing goes for you Nikon fans, name your 5
> best. One last thing, this will be for a digital setup, but assume the
> sensor is full frame like on the 1Ds. Hopefully this doesn't get out
> of control! --Ed

Start with the 70-200 f2.8 IS.
Then buy other lenses based on what YOU need as opposed to what I need.
If you are going to buy the best, know what the hell you are buying it for,
instead of blindly following the advice given by others - who have neither
the same budget nor the same interests you do.

--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
New email - Contact on the Menyou page.
"Ed" <> wrote in message
news: om...
> I currently don't have any SLR equipment but would like to start
> building a setup in the near future. I would like some opinions from
> the group on what 5 Canon lenses would make the best well rounded
> setup. I'm not interested in fisheye, macro, or lenses over 200-300MM.
> When making your recommendation do NOT consider cost or weight, only
> quality and functionality. If a lens is 5% better but costs twice as
> much, then pick it! Same thing goes for you Nikon fans, name your 5
> best. One last thing, this will be for a digital setup, but assume the
> sensor is full frame like on the 1Ds. Hopefully this doesn't get out
> of control! --Ed