I considered the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM(which would have been a nice complement for myTamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II), Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di Macro,Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM II Macroand TokinaAT-X 535 PRO DXAF 50-135mm f/2.8. After tons of reading over the course of two years,it seemed like even longer,I decided I'd get the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USMinstead. When I got ready to make the purchase my wife pushed me to get a zoom, she doesn't care for primes. So, with her permision, I ended up blowing the budget by getting the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM. I'm very happy with it and glad I didn't settle for less. Don't tell my wife but I'd still like to get an IS version one dayalthough now it's very low on my priority list (behind a bunch of other expensive stuff).


If I were in your shoes I'd also consider primes in that range such as the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM,Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USMor Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM. One of these (prob the 85mm f/1.8)will likely be my next lens purchase.


Beingit's portraiture you are interested in keep in mind that lighting will give you much more bang for your buck. For what you'd spend on a Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM,Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di Macro,Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM II Macroor TokinaAT-X 535 PRO DXAF 50-135mm f/2.8.you could have a prettydamn good strobist setup.