Help me spend a one-time windfall!

[EricPeeg]

I will say that I'm increasingly convinced by the 70-200/teleconverter suggestion instead of the 70-200/100-400 combo...

Although I recommended the 70-200 + 100-400, I think the 70-200 + extenders makes sense.  I forgot that your wife already has a 70-300.  If your wife is like mine, she may take over your 70-200 too. 

You mean, perhaps, like how I have to beg to use the 100 Macro? Like that? (Yeah, I'm prepared for it. I'm betting, however, that she's going to say "it's TOO HEAVY..." and I'm going to encourage that response!  )

[FOB2009]

I know you have a tripod, but it is nice sometimes not to have to use it for low light situations. I couldn't imagine being w/o my 35/1.4L nor my Zeiss 21/2.8. I use B+W MRC UV filters for all lenses, and for landscapes often a circ pol. You say you don't often do portraits, but I love my Zeiss 100/2.0 for portraits (and macro) -- give the Canon macro to your wife. Good luck, and have fun!

[Wrathwilde]

First thing that comes to my mind: why would the company offer you to buy equipment instead of just giving you cash?

Probably for tax reasons, since it's his employer giving it to him, the money would be taxable. However, if the company bought $8000 of camera equipment, and decided "they didn't need it", and gave it to an employee, the employee wouldn't be liable for taxes on $8000.

[TexPhoto]

If your income is tied to your photography, you need to have 2 bodies.  You like the 5D II, keep it. 

Your lens choices sound great.

[jimjamesjimmy]

go medium format

[natureshots]

If your income is tied to your photography, you need to have 2 bodies.  You like the 5D II, keep it. 

Your lens choices sound great.

+5000 and +15 internets to you

[tron]

So, here are my questions:

1.   Should I spend half my funds on the upgrade to the Mark III? The images from the Mark II are lovely, and focusing speed or extreme low light hasn’t been my issue. I do find my images at 1600 ISO seem fairly noisy, but I don’t know whether the Mark III would be substantively better, often enough.
You do not spend half of the funds considering this buy allows you to sell your 5DMkII which you couldn't otherwise

2.   What’s the best mix of overlapping zooms? The 75-300 that my wife and I have been sharing is convenient, so in some ways just replacing that with L glass seems like a good choice – in others, I wonder about a 70-200 and 100-400 combo. Or maybe a 70-200 and a 1.4x converter...)
All L choices are good: 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, 70-200 f/4L IS, 70-300 L. The last 2 are great traveler lenses.

3.   How much use will the Tilt/Shift get, really? (I know, that’s hard to quantify an answer)
IT IS A VERY GOOD CHOICE: Suitable for Architectural Photography, Landscapes. Has Very high quality.

4.   If I keep the 100 Macro, which I love, will I really need the 180 macro?
The 100 doubles as a portrait lens. Keep it. You love it!

Thanks for reading what got much longer than I intended, and for advice and comments!

[scrappydog]

You mean, perhaps, like how I have to beg to use the 100 Macro? Like that? (Yeah, I'm prepared for it. I'm betting, however, that she's going to say "it's TOO HEAVY..." and I'm going to encourage that response!  )

Yeah, I heard that one.  Before she shot it, the 70-200 was a beast.  Then she shot with it, complained about her arms hurting, etc...  Now, she simply tells me she is shooting the 70-200 + 1.4x and that's the end of it.

[Bosman]

5dM3 + 70-200 2.8LII Winning!