OK folks, time to "step it up" on this one. LensRentals' Black Friday sale is right around the corner, and I'd like to put in a reservation for the cruise while I can take advantage of 25% off. I'll toss out my initial thoughts, and let you folks nudge me in other directions if you see fit.

Parameters: my wife and I both shoot Canon, and we want to approach a point where we each have a "full kit" independently (i.e. we don't have to borrow from each other to get most shots).

Current gear: bodies 1Dx, 1Dmk3, 5Dmk3, 7D, 7D. lenses 14/2.8, 16-35/2.8II, 24-70/2.8, 24-105/4IS, 70-200/4IS, 70-200/2.8IS, 85/1.2, 100/2.8 IS Macro.
Likely purchases between now and then: second 1Dx, 300/4IS, 1.4x TC

Key parameter: she's a "don't move my cheese" shooter who prefers lighter weight gear. She gets the 5D3 and likely the two 7D. She's not good at managing shutter speed via ISO to overcome that which IS would fix, so IS is essential where appropriate.

(* means item to rent)

Dream/overkill kit: for me, 1Dx with 600/4II* and 1.4x TC, 1D3 with 300/4IS, 1Dx with 70-200/4 non-IS*, 24-70/2.8 in a lens case, Zeiss 15/2.8* in lens case. for her, 7D with 200-400/4&1.4x, 7D with 70-200/4IS, 5D3 with 24-105/4IS, 14/2.8 in a lens case. Monopod for each of us to handle the heavy lens. My concern is if she decides the 200-400 is too heavy for her, I end up with the 600/4 and the 200-400/4, which is potentially an unmanageable combination on two monopods. I also think the 600 could be too much for whale watching, and would potentially earn second fiddle as "just" a bird lens.

Likely choice: for me, 1Dx with 200-400/4&1.4x*, 1D3 with 70-200/4 non-IS*, 1Dx with 24-70/2.8, Zeiss 15/2.8* in a lens case. for her, 7D with 300/4IS, 7D with 70-200/4IS, 5D3 with 24-105, 14/2.8 in a lens case. Monopod for the 200-400. Lighter weight overall, skips the 600/4II altogether while "rebalancing" the pieces.

General thoughts: leave the 70-200/2.8IS home. She may take the 100 Macro as well. I might rent (or buy) the Zeiss 100 Macro to take as well. Don't know if I'll take the 85/1.2. Any other specialty lenses that'll see decent use that you'd recommend? Any other lens combinations you can think of? 16-35 just doesn't have much "magic" as I remember it, so I prefer the Zeiss 15.