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<p>For indoor low-light: EF 35mm f/1.4L. Perfect with a 5DII. Buttered milk. Sweet. 'Nuff said.</p>

<p>The "Tamron will be significantly sharper." Sorry, but I don't buy that statement. The EF 17-40mm f/4L lens is razor sharp - I imagine that you would need to shoot with a prime lens to get better results and even then I expect that improvements would be in color and contrast, not sharpness. The 17-40mm stands up very well to the much more expensive 16-35mm f/2.8L.<br>

If you plan on staying with the Canon line - eventually moving to a full frame (which I understand is Canon's long term strategy to get us all sucked in), then invest in the 17-40mm and be happy. It is an outstanding lens. Good luck!</p>

<p>The "Tamron will be significantly sharper." Sorry, but I don't buy that statement. The EF 17-40mm f/4L lens is razor sharp - I imagine that you would need to shoot with a prime lens to get better results and even then I expect that improvements would be in color and contrast, not sharpness. The 17-40mm stands up very well to the much more expensive 16-35mm f/2.8L.<br>

If you plan on staying with the Canon line - eventually moving to a full frame (which I understand is Canon's long term strategy to get us all sucked in), then invest in the 17-40mm and be happy. It is an outstanding lens. Good luck!</p>

<p>The "Tamron will be significantly sharper." Sorry, but I don't buy that statement. The EF 17-40mm f/4L lens is razor sharp - I imagine that you would need to shoot with a prime lens to get better results and even then I expect that improvements would be in color and contrast, not sharpness. The 17-40mm stands up very well to the much more expensive 16-35mm f/2.8L.<br>

If you plan on staying with the Canon line - eventually moving to a full frame (which I understand is Canon's long term strategy to get us all sucked in), then invest in the 17-40mm and be happy. It is an outstanding lens. Good luck!</p>

<p>Natalya,<br>

The 17-40mm is an excellent lens for group shots outdoors. I use mine with my 1DM3 and am delighted with the results.<br>

I am not as familar with the 35mm f/2. A better comparison to the 17-40mm f/4 might be the 35mm f/1.4, which I believe is one sweet lens and one on my wish list. <br>

For a general walk-around lens, I prefer the 17-40mm to my 85mm f/1.8, but the 85mm f/1.8 makes for a superior portrait and indoor sports lens.<br>

My favorite lens for bokeh is the 24-70mm f/2.8 which I also use for portraits.<br>

Finally, you can't go wrong with any of the four 70-200mm lenses in the Canon line.<br>

Good luck!<br>

Mark</p>

 

<p>Natalya,<br>

The 17-40mm is an excellent lens for group shots outdoors. I use mine with my 1DM3 and am delighted with the results.<br>

I am not as familar with the 35mm f/2. A better comparison to the 17-40mm f/4 might be the 35mm f/1.4, which I believe is one sweet lens and one on my wish list. <br>

For a general walk-around lens, I prefer the 17-40mm to my 85mm f/1.8, but the 85mm f/1.8 makes for a superior portrait and indoor sports lens.<br>

My favorite lens for bokeh is the 24-70mm f/2.8 which I also use for portraits.<br>

Finally, you can't go wrong with any of the four 70-200mm lenses in the Canon line.<br>

Good luck!<br>

Mark</p>

 

<p>New Body - Nope<br>

More glass - Yup</p>

<p>Totally agree. My "in focus" rate for both indoor and outdoor sports is very high. The 1DM3 is a killer with the 70-200mm f/2.8L lens. 99.9 percent of the time a shot is out of focus, it is my fault. My 1DM3 is an awesome machine!</p>

<p>The 30D with good glass will some thought and care will provide you with the opportunity to produce some beautiful images. It is - to this day - an outstanding camera. Go for it!</p>

<p>The 30D with good glass will some thought and care will provide you with the opportunity to produce some beautiful images. It is - to this day - an outstanding camera. Go for it!</p>

<p>Both are great lenses. You can't go wrong. The 85 f/1.8 is be better indoors without flash. The 70-200 f/4 I understand to be a great lens as well. I own the f/2.8 IS version and love the lens - I use it the most on my 1DM3. Good luck!</p>

<p>The 70-200mm f/2.8L IS may be the best telephoto zoom in the Canon lineup. Get that if you can swing the cash. Otherwise, the nonIS version is great (and the IS is not needed for fast action). I hear the f/4 versions are great, but I know that I see the pros shooting the big boy f/2.8 at sporting events.<br>

For weddings, I thought that still the 24-70mm f/2.8L "brick" was the weapon of choice. Sharp, with beautiful color and contrast - a great portrait lens.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>The 70-200mm f/2.8L IS may be the best telephoto zoom in the Canon lineup. Get that if you can swing the cash. Otherwise, the nonIS version is great (and the IS is not needed for fast action). I hear the f/4 versions are great, but I know that I see the pros shooting the big boy f/2.8 at sporting events.<br>

For weddings, I thought that still the 24-70mm f/2.8L "brick" was the weapon of choice. Sharp, with beautiful color and contrast - a great portrait lens.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Keep your 20D - it is a great camera. Buy the 17-40mm f/4L - it will turn your 17-85mm into a desk paper weight overnight. Warning: L glass is very additive. Save your money for a used 5D - a camera similar in operation to your 20D, but oh the image quality! Good luck!</p>

<p>Julian,<br>

I own the 24-70 f/2.8L, the 85 f/1.8, the EFS 17-85 as well as two other L lenses. I also own a 30D but seldom use it now because I moved on to a 1DM3. I do not own the 50 f/1.4.<br>

I have used all of these lenses on both cameras. The 85 f/1.8 was my first upgrade from my 17-85. I have loaned the 17-85 to a friend and hopefully I will never get it back! The 85 f/1.8 is a very nice piece of glass and perhaps very close to L lens IQ. Some imagers report that the L version 85 may be Canon's "best" prime, but I wouldn't know for sure. The 85 f/1.8 is a good buy - especialy if you are into portraits and/or indoor sports.<br>

The 24-70 f/2.8 is a very cool lens. Great color, sharpness and contrast and a fantastic L lens you could and should own for years. It is big - it has earned the nickname "The Brick." Some people have reported issues with this lens - bad copies - but mine is perfect. This lens is most often on my 1DM3.<br>

Primes are great, but zooms offer much better versatiity if on a budget. L zooms are among the best lenses in the world. Consider the 24-105 f/4 as another alternative - I believe that it is significantly cheaper, smaller and lighter than the 24-70. If I were in your shoes, especially with your desire to go full frame some day - one good L zoom is a better "investment" than two quality primes. (My wife laughs at the investment part of that statement as I never have nor will make a nickle on my photography habit.)<br>

Good luck!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Julian,<br>

I own the 24-70 f/2.8L, the 85 f/1.8, the EFS 17-85 as well as two other L lenses. I also own a 30D but seldom use it now because I moved on to a 1DM3. I do not own the 50 f/1.4.<br>

I have used all of these lenses on both cameras. The 85 f/1.8 was my first upgrade from my 17-85. I have loaned the 17-85 to a friend and hopefully I will never get it back! The 85 f/1.8 is a very nice piece of glass and perhaps very close to L lens IQ. Some imagers report that the L version 85 may be Canon's "best" prime, but I wouldn't know for sure. The 85 f/1.8 is a good buy - especialy if you are into portraits and/or indoor sports.<br>

The 24-70 f/2.8 is a very cool lens. Great color, sharpness and contrast and a fantastic L lens you could and should own for years. It is big - it has earned the nickname "The Brick." Some people have reported issues with this lens - bad copies - but mine is perfect. This lens is most often on my 1DM3.<br>

Primes are great, but zooms offer much better versatiity if on a budget. L zooms are among the best lenses in the world. Consider the 24-105 f/4 as another alternative - I believe that it is significantly cheaper, smaller and lighter than the 24-70. If I were in your shoes, especially with your desire to go full frame some day - one good L zoom is a better "investment" than two quality primes. (My wife laughs at the investment part of that statement as I never have nor will make a nickle on my photography habit.)<br>

Good luck!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The full frame will give you better low light performance and narrower depth of field than your 40D or 50D. I shoot the 1DM3 which is not full frame, but a larger sensor than my 30D. The 30D sits in my bag - the image quality on the 1DM3 is much better - printing images or just looking at them on a LCD.<br /> Buy the 5D if money is not an issue - I'll bet that you won't be disappointed. Good luck!</p>

<p>My 70-200 f/2.8L IS on my 1DM3 is heaven for indoor sports. I shoot lots of swimming at all levels, from youth to senior swimmers and I am often amazed at the quality of the images I get with this lens. Also great for portraits, flowers, landscapes, you name it - my favorite lens by far. Get any of the four versions of the 70-200 depending on your needs - I believe that they are all fantastic. You will not be disappointed.</p>

<p>My 70-200 f/2.8L IS on my 1DM3 is heaven for indoor sports. I shoot lots of swimming at all levels, from youth to senior swimmers and I am often amazed at the quality of the images I get with this lens. Also great for portraits, flowers, landscapes, you name it - my favorite lens by far. Get any of the four versions of the 70-200 depending on your needs - I believe that they are all fantastic. You will not be disappointed.</p>

<p>Save your nickles and buy a new or refurbished lens WITH IS from a reliable dealer. Mine is a fantastic lens used for sports (usually with IS turned off), but also used for low light photography where IS is a God-send. Although it is big and heavy, the image quality is fantastic. It is my favorite lens. Good luck!</p>

<p>Wow! Sounds like a great trip. Take the lens - you won't regret having a 70-200mm f/2.8 with you - even if you have to sweat a little bit. Good luck!</p>

<p>James,</p>

<p>Consider that the viewfinder on a xx body is like looking through a barrel after you have handled a fine camera like the 5D. A 40D or 50D is a big step back and you won't like it. The viewfinder alone should convince you of that.<br>

I go way back to film days when a 200mm f/2.8 lens was the bees knees. I have a crop camera as it was the best that I could afford at the time. After using a 1D and seeing the quality of the images, the crop factor nonsense is just that - get the largest Canon sensor that you can afford and don't worry about the conversion factor. My 30D is for emergencies only!</p>

<p>mark</p>

<p> </p>

<p>James,</p>

<p>Consider that the viewfinder on a xx body is like looking through a barrel after you have handled a fine camera like the 5D. A 40D or 50D is a big step back and you won't like it. The viewfinder alone should convince you of that.<br>

I go way back to film days when a 200mm f/2.8 lens was the bees knees. I have a crop camera as it was the best that I could afford at the time. After using a 1D and seeing the quality of the images, the crop factor nonsense is just that - get the largest Canon sensor that you can afford and don't worry about the conversion factor. My 30D is for emergencies only!</p>

<p>mark</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Extend the "range" all you want. The secret is in the quality of the sensor. A FF sensor will beat a crop sensor every time for low noise and low light sensitivity. You will be disappointed if you decide to step back to a XX camera. I shoot a 1DMIII - my 30D gathers dust waiting as a backup. And, yes, I know that a 1DMIII is not a full frame, but the sensor is still larger than a 1.6 crop camera and I can see the difference. I would shot a FF body, but I just love the speed of the 1D.<br>

Crop cameras don't "extend the range," rather, they "crop" the image. Get the FF sensor my friend.</p>

<p>I would take a look at the camera BODY. What are you shooting? Battery? Lighting? It's weird that a lens would act up in the middle of a shoot - bodies are another matter. Not much to fail on a lens, camera bodies can fail on a moment's notice. Glass is golden, bodies are lead. Hope that it works out for you.</p>

<p> </p>