Originally Posted by
jrw
Have had all of the lenses you currently have. 100-400 was the first to go. Replaced due to aperture limitations and slower AF. EF 50 was replaced with Sigma 50mm as the coma issue was a problem for me with my fondness for backlighting. 100mm macro was replaced with other macro lenses and tubes along with TCs. Once the 100mm f2.8 capability was met with another lens there wasn't enough unique about it to justify keeping it. 24-105 is still used as single lens on single body option for carrying almost everywhere I go. My main areas are sports, events, product shots, portraits, landscapes, and wildlife.
Current kit has 24-70, 70-200, and 300 as the main lenses swapped across two bodies. Do carry 1.4x TCs and tubes to provide longer reach and macro capabilities. Specialty lenses include TS, old manual macros, primes from 21 through 135mm, and a 17-40 for wide angle landscapes.
Light travelling is 24-105 on one body. Events are 24-70, 70-200, and possibly 300 with 2 bodies. Holidays add the 17-40 and 24 TS-e to the list with 300 being optional depending on destination. Primes are mostly used to supplement zooms for portrait sessions, product shots, landscape trips with selection of primes being based on what is on agenda. It gives me flexibility of high quality zoom with aperture and IQ of primes as an available option.
300 f4 and 400 f5.6 are similar in bulk to 100-400 or 70-200 f2.8. The 300 f2.8 is only slightly longer that the f4 version but the diameter difference is huge when it comes to finding a way to pack it especially with the hood on it which makes it just massive. For light weight small bulk travel the 300 f4 would be your buddy.
As far as the value of what you are carrying on your back goes I can only tell you that it takes a bit of time to get used to it. Having insurance coverage helps as will making sure that you have carry on sized bag(s).
Additional thoughts: Zeiss vs Canon will be ongoing debate for a long time. Suggest comparing on lens by lens basis. There are some made by both companies that I would rather drop kick down the hall than own as well as some from both that I would very much like to have in my collection.