Purchasing 7D - please help with lenses!!!!

[Kayaker72]

I have narrowed it down to a few options:

1. 7D with 15-85mm IS USM ($1800) with either 70-200 F4 L ($2450) or 70-200 F4 iS USM ($2850) or 70-300 ($3075)

2. 7D with 10-22mm ($1855) with 24-105L ($2720) plus cheaper zoom lens eg 55-250 ($2870) as suggested by the Dr

OR

3. 5D Mark II with 24-105L ($2850)

I would also buy a 50mm prime

Weewillo, would you then be done with spending? Or can you see adding another lens in a year or two? Also, you've never said exactly what you intend to photograph (other than night time shots in Vegas and not shooting sports). Will you be shooting wildlife? Do you need a zoom lens, which are sometimes nice even for landscapes?

I look at the options you've provided and I see two that could be considered complete kits with a very good to excellent camera body and lenses that cover a significant enough focal range to cover most situations. Then the third option I see a camera body with an excellent FF sensor (better than the 7D), has great DR/ISO performance but only a single lens.

So, if your intent is to buy your kit right now, and you don't see adding more lenses in the future, I'd go with option 1, the 7D, 15-85, 50 mm f/1.4, and the 700-300 L. If you can see spending another $1,000-$1,500 within a year or so (and can get by with a more limited AF), I would agree with Neuro, the 5D II + 24-105.

And just to point it out.....it is unlikely you'll be disappointed with either.

BTW...on the 50 mm prime...remember to apply the crop factor to focal lengths. The 50 mm on the 7D is equivalent to 80 mm on the 5D II. Or, 50 mm on the 5D II is equivalent to 31 mm on the 7D (all due to the crop factor). Something to keep in mind if you are going for a specific angle of view.

EDIT: What is with the links to B&H? I didn't do that and I am definitely not a fan.
EDIT MK II: When I am logged in, there are not links to B&H in my own post. But there are links to B&H for every word that is camera related (7D, 5D, lens, etc) when I am logged out or in other's posts.

[Dr Croubie]

EDIT: What is with the links to B&H? I didn't do that and I am definitely not a fan.
EDIT MK II: When I am logged in, there are not links to B&H in my own post. But there are links to B&H for every word that is camera related (7D, 5D, lens, etc) when I am logged out or in other's posts.

that's a function of the new forums, I've noticed it on other posts too. It's an auto-link to searching for keywords in B+H, problem is that it's not very well tuned atm, i wrote "EF 70-300L" and the link was created only for "EF 70". Whatever gets Bryan more ad revenue is fine with me, I can't order from them anyway so just ignore it (although it may lead to links we put in being ignored?).

[HDNitehawk]

@ Kayaker,"EDIT: What is with the links to B&H? I didn't do that and I am definitely not a fan.
EDIT MK II: When I am logged in, there are not links to B&H in my own post. But there are links to B&H for every word that is camera related (7D, 5D, lens, etc) when I am logged out or in other's posts."

I see no links and have not experienced this. Is it something new it is doing?

[DavidEccleston]

I see no links and have not experienced this. Is it something new it is doing?

I saw it this morning, on all sorts of words, like "can". I'm not seeing it now. I'm guessing Bryan tried it out and either didn't like it, or is fine tuning it.