New 6D user : 24-205mm f/4 kit or 24-70 f/4 + 70/200 f/4, or what else ?

frenchtraveller wrote:

Jonathan Brady wrote:

What about the 6D + 24-105 + 70-200?

You could also add the 40mm f/2.8.

With this setup you could cover practically every situation with 2 lenses (or 1).

Sorry there's a typo in the title, I mean 24-105 not 24-205 obviously.

The point of the 24-70 + 70-200 instead of the 24-105 alone is that the 24-70 has supposedly better IQ in its range (+ some macro functionality, I've read)

I've never used the 24-70 f/4 IS, but based on objective tests online, yes, it does appear to be a better lens across the shared range.  It also has 1 stop better IS, a macro mode, and is lighter and smaller.  It's also more expensive.  So, it's a cost:benefit analysis for you.  You've mentioned that cost isn't really a factor so it seems as though the 24-70 may be the right lens for you.  Except...

You've had the 15-85 for a while.  The 24-70 would be like having a 24-44 in terms of focal length on a crop sensor.  The limited zoom range isn't necessarily a bad thing if you frequently stay at one end or the other of the zoom.  But if you find yourself constantly bouncing back and forth across the zoom range, then you're in for a LOT of lens changing.  Similarly the 24-105 would be like having a 15-66 on a crop sensor.  That's a lot more range that you can work with before having to switch lenses.  Sometimes, some overlap in zoom lenses is a major advantage to minimize lens switches.

But again, if ultimate IQ is what matters, then the 24-70 is the right choice between those two options.

As for portrait lenses... the 70-200 will do very well.  The only downside is a lack of dramatic subject isolation and that's something that prime lenses can handle for you if you want it.  Typical portrait focal lengths vary between 50-135.  Some also use 24-35mm and also up to 200mm.  It really just depends on what you want to accomplish and what the space confines are.  Your subject matters too.  Me personally, I have the 35mm f/2 IS, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, and 135mm f/2 for portraits.  I find that the 85-135 focal range works best for what I like.  But I'm frequently outdoors and often photographing my 2 year old daughter.  If I were indoors and photographing people in tight spaces and/or groups of people, I'd probably choose the 35 or 50 (hence my earlier recommendation for the 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens for you).