Canon Advice - Readjusting Gear - Lenses & Flash

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jpwild

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I've been doing photography for about three years now and have loved every moment. Started of with the 450D (which I thought was huge at the time) and then moved on to the 5D II a year later and still use it today. Love the camera, but I do want the 5D III for AF and low light.

I've mostly done scenic landscape shots, but I do want to now fully venture out into the world of outdoor and indoor portraits. I've had various flashes that haven't seen much use over the couple of years because of my interest in landscapes, but I want to return to flash and do portraits as I feel there's more creative element than landscapes.

My Current setup
- 5D III
- Canon 17-40
- Sigma 50MM 1.4
- Canon 24-70 2.8 I [possibly will sell]
- Canon 70-200 F4 [sold as it was too slow for my needs - was not used for landscapes]

I'm thinking of going down the route of:
- Canon 5D III
- Canon 85 1.2 L II
- Canon 70-200 2.8 IS L
- Canon 600EX-RT
- Canon ST-E3-RT or other triggers.
- Selling the 24-70 to help fund the new gear, and to be honest in a year or two I will most likely get the II version.

The world of primes does interest me and quite happy to move about in order to get the shot and the 1.2 is something that I would want. Obviously, keep the 17-40 for landscapes or things that need UWA perspective. Love my copy of this lens.

Obviously, get the 70-200 for outdoor low light portraits and such that require that extra focal length/distance.

Is this lens combination good, or am I missing something? Whilst I love my 24-70 I think I could be okay with the suggested lenses.

With portraits and such I want full body shots with ground, and headshots too

However, as I said, I want to return to the world of flash and with the 600s I love the fact that everything is built in, but they are expensive and are there good alternatives? I've read about latest Yongnuo versions and the 622 triggers, but I really do want everything built in for ease of use really and off camera ettl option is vital. HSS and 2nd curtain is essential.

I know people recommend quantum flashes/heads etc, but at this stage they are too cumbersome for me to carry around with battery packs etc.
 
The Mk1 70-200 2.8 can be somewhat dodgy. The MkII is amazing in comparison so if you can do, splurge out on one of those.

Are you sure you need an 85 1.2. Tempting though the 1.2 is, how often would you use it considering that you've already got that focal range covered? Think hard on that one. If you really want it, drop the 70-200 and get a 200 f/2.8 instead and save some £££s, which you can then spend on a wider lens or keep your 17-40 (I wasn't sure from your post if you are selling that).

Don't worry about bigger flashes yet. Work in the shade and you should be fine. If you want some cheap optical slave triggered flashes then the Yongnuo YN560III is great and you might as well pick up 2 or 3 of them. If you want a bit more sophistication, the YN565EX handles Canon and Nikon wireless slaving and are also very reasonable at about £100 each. Get a couple of umbrellas and a softbox and you're sorted.
 
Rather than the 70-200 2.8 IS, or the 200 2.8 suggested I'd look at the 135mm f2 and a 1.4x converter if you like primes, that gives you a choice of 135mm f2 or 189mm f2.8, both with very very good IQ.

Re flashes, with that setup you're looking at the neck end of a grand, I'd be tempted to put a bit more to and get a set of Quadra Rangers, not only do you get two heads but you've got the option of a wider range of modifiers, softboxes, snoots, grids, barndoors, the lot, and if you're doing a lot of portrait stuff they even do a ringflash to work with the same packs. I bought a set recently and they're superb.
 
Yeah, I've look at heads/strobes such as Quadra Rangers and others, but they do seem a bit cumbersome to carry around all the time. Though, the results look fantastic.

I think I would like to stick to a 2/3 flashgun setup.

Infact, just been using the 50MM Sigma today, and I love it. There's something about a prime lens that I can't put my finger on. The 85MM Canon does intrigue me. Though, I have felt that 50MM problematic as it's not wide enough and too short.

Decisions, decisions.

I would invest in the 600ex-rt system, but the lack of AF assist on the st-e3-rt is a concern.
 
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