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I'm looking at purchasing another couple of lenses and was wondering what you guys would prioritise.

So here's the game. You've got a friend who has brought a 550D or 7D that came with the 18 to 135 kit lens as the starting point for a system. Your friend travels quite a bit and is pretty outdoorsy (surf, mountain bike, climb, etc) plus bit of a petrol head.

Budget is far from unlimited because they also have a bicycle habit to feed so a quality / value balance is needed.

While the idea of FF is there its unlikely in reality

Lenses I'm looking at:

Canon 70 to 200 f2.8 USM non IS
Canon 15 to 85 USM

Wider than 30mm prime?
Extender?
Macro tubes or macro lens?

What are your thoughts on the ideal kit?

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Canon EOS 550D (with Magic Lantern)
18mm - 135mm Kit Lens, 50mm f1.8, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
430EX II Flash with Phottix Strato Wireless Tigger Set
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with 496 Ball Head. Gorilla Pod SLR
Canon Powershot A720IS with CHDK and intervalometer script. Pentax Optio W90

My Blog - http://www.ianganderton.wordpress.com

For me traveling around, I'd say 2 good quality zooms that will compliment each other.

I'd probably say 15-85 is good, maybe swap the 70-200L 2.8 for a 70-200L 4 IS to save weight and cash. If more than 200mm is needed, swap the 70-200L for a 70-300L, 100-400L, or just get an extender. Possibly have a small, but sharp non-L prime and flash.

For me though, I like IS, USM, zoom, and apeture...
So 17-55 2.8 IS USM and 70-200 L IS USM II for me.

I think its down to what aperture you are chasing and based on I what I have learnt with the kenko 1.4 I would look at avoiding extenders. They aren`t bad especially on bright lenses, 2.8 or better, but generally not worth the effort if fast focusing is a priority.

for aperture------- the 17-55 IS USM 2.8 and 70-200 2.8. But I reckon you will need to add something wider around 10-22 Sigma, Canon Tokina make good ones ( aperture most likely not so important here).

general purpose ------- 15-85 IS USM and 70-300L IS USM ( or 100-400L), should almost get away with the 15-85 and not require a wide angle lens. I would avoid the 70-200L F4 as the 70-300L does it at f5, which is very close to f4 and has more range and better IS. Then use a few primes to make up the stuff in the middle. ie 30 1.4, 50 1.4, 85 1.8, 135 2.0

cheaper general purpose ---------- Tamron 17-50 2.8 and tamron 70-300 SP VC, still leaves wide angle to be considered.

Would like to see the new 100-400L if its like the 70-300L in build quality IS, weather resistance, focus speed and only just a bit longer and heavier without the push pull , it will be on top of my list.

I think for me, on a cropped body the ideal aperture would be f2.8 from around 30 to 130 then f4 through to f5.6 up to 400.

As you already have the 18-135 and the 30 1.4 maybe just add something in the long zoom range for now.

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

As always it depends on exactly what type of photos will be taken. I'd suggest the 15-85 and pair it with one of the 70-300 lenses, with the Tamron VC probably offering the best value ratio at moment.

Why suggest the "Wider than 30mm prime?" Unless you go extreme to the likes of a Samyang 8mm fisheye, they don't offer a lot over the kit zoom.

Extender - not needed, unless you did go for the 70-200 lens after all, where a 1.4x would likely prove very valuable, less so a 2x and then only if you got a f/2.8 as you wont get AF on a f/4.

Dedicated macro lens would be more if it was a serious use.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.