Best lenses for canon 5D mark iii or 6D

[rafaelsynths]

I have a $8000 budget of getting a body and some lenses.
I love how the canon 6D has wifi so I can upload pictures directly to Instagram .
But the 5D mark iii has surpurb auto focus.
I'm mostly looking into carrying this camera through the city shooting street photography and portraits.
Help?
Just these two cameras please do not recommend me any other one.

[Jesse]

5D3 + 24-70 II + 70-200 II

[Drizzt321]

The WiFi on the 6D is only good where you have WiFi. Alternatively, you can use your phone as a hotspot. Or you can get the 5d3 with one of the EyeFi cards (for example, see http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/07/better-cameras-google-plus-and-other-instagram-hacks/) and get similar type of functionality in terms of uploading to instagram, or other photo sites while out and about.

[RLPhoto]

24L II

50mm 1.4/1.2L

135mm F/2 or 70-200mm II

[eml58]

I have all of the following Lenses, so highly recommend all. Two different scenarios to think about, IQ & or Versatility (without giving up too much in the IQ area).

I prefer IQ & softly blurred backgrounds, so would generally go with 5DMIII + 24 f/1.4 L II, 50 f/1.2 L & 135 f/2 L
A little cheaper & perhaps added versatility, but limiting yourself to f/2.8, 5DMKIII + 24-70 f/2.8 L II + 70-200 f/2.8 L II

[RS2021]

5D3 + 24-70 II + 70-200 II

Slight modification: 5D3 + 16-35 ii (wideangle hole filled) + 50L or 1.4+ 70-200 II

50L is a valid substitute but I think 1.4 is competent without breaking the budget.
Never been a big fan of the original 24-70L and haven't yet tried the new version II...  But people swear by both versions and it may just come down to shooting style /focal length comfort zone.

[elflord]

I have a $8000 budget of getting a body and some lenses.
I love how the canon 6D has wifi so I can upload pictures directly to Instagram .
But the 5D mark iii has surpurb auto focus.
I'm mostly looking into carrying this camera through the city shooting street photography and portraits.
Help?
Just these two cameras please do not recommend me any other one.

Some questions we need answered to begin to address this ?

What are you shooting with now ? Are you familiar with / have you personally experienced the difference between primes and zooms, and what is your preference ? Do you already do street photography (and if so, with what kind of setup ?)  Do you have a prefered kind of lens (will you be shooting mostly normal length/wide or telephoto ?)

Full frame DSLRs can be bulky/conspicuous depending on what lens(es) you pair them with. Is this a consideration ?

I'd say with that budget you could buy the better and more expensive camera and still have enough left in your budget for lenses. But unless you have found your taste in lenses, it might be better to rent a few for a while until you know exactly what you want.

[karen.tao]

The WiFi on the 6D is only good where you have WiFi. Alternatively, you can use your phone as a hotspot. Or you can get the 5d3 with one of the EyeFi cards (for example, see http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/07/better-cameras-google-plus-and-other-instagram-hacks/) and get similar type of functionality in terms of uploading to instagram, or other photo sites while out and about.

The 6D has it's own wifi and to use it, all you have to do is connect to it via your smartphone.

[EdB]

I know you said only between the 6D and mk3 but if I was shooting street I'd go with a NEX 5 or 7 and RX100. Both small, light and not in your face like an SLR with a fat lens on it would be.

[Dylan777]

5D3 + 24-70 II + 70-200 II

+1....no regret here

[Zlatko]

5D3 + 24-70 II + 70-200 II

Those are great lenses, but also a great deal of weight to carry.  One has to be really committed to carrying that much weight and bulk.  I do it for weddings, but more out of necessity.

If not into carrying that much, consider:

For street photography:  28/2.8 IS (new this year) or 35/2 IS (should be out this month) or 40/2.8 STM (delightfully small!)
For portraits:  50/1.4 or 50/1.2L (great lens but a bit chunky) or 85/1.8

Those would result in a smaller kit, and save money too.

[adhocphotographer]

OK...  i'm going for this....  (all from B&H)

5D mk iii
24-105 - Kit lens (walkaround lens)
17-40L - Landscape
Sigma 35 1.4
50 1.4 - a couple of fast primes
70-200 f/2.8 IS II - Portrait
32gb ScanDisk 600x CF

and 150$ change.... for other bits and bobs (spare battery etc)

I like versatility, I would be happy with that kit...  just another option!

[RobPan]

Why don't you begin with buying a kit with the excellent EF 24-105 mm? Take say 1000 photographs in different situations, indoors and outdoors, then produce a statistical overview of the focal distances you have used in practice. Did you only twice take a picture at 24mm? Then do not begin with buying a 24 mm or wider lens. Did you on the other hand, take 400 or more pics at 105 mm? Then buy a 100 mm lens AND a 135 mm one.
(Do not steer blind on F-numbers, you will rarely need an F1.2 lens, stick to 1.4 or even 1.8 for a 50 mm and you will be much cheaper of, perhaps enabling you to add an expensive 200-400 mm zoom to your list or a 400mm tele if you are in bird photography for instance. I have a 100mm F2 and a 85mm F1.8 and they're both excellent. And cheap! These 1.2 lenses date from a time when ISO was always low, hardly ever above 800.)
Kind regards, RobPan

[AudioGlenn]

5D3 + 24-70 II + 70-200 II

Slight modification: 5D3 + 16-35 ii (wideangle hole filled) + 50L or 1.4+ 70-200 II

50L is a valid substitute but I think 1.4 is competent without breaking the budget.
Never been a big fan of the original 24-70L and haven't yet tried the new version II...  But people swear by both versions and it may just come down to shooting style /focal length comfort zone.

+1 for the 5D3 + 16-35II + 50L or 1.4 + 70-200 2.8 IS II

Throw in a 40mm pancake for when you have a long day walking around an amusement park =)

[verysimplejason]

5D3 + 17-40L + 50 F1.4 + 85 F1.2L + 200mm F2L + 100mm USM L/non-L.

UWA - with 5D3, no need for a F2.8.  Almost same performance with 16-35 from F5.6 up (unless you are really into low, low-light).
Normal lens - nice IQ, light, good AF, versatile enough for low-light.
Portrait - arguably best portrait lens (with the 135L) or the 100mm F2.
Tele - not as versatile as 70-200 but good IQ performance.
Macro - 100mm USM L or non-L.  This or invest the money in getting a 70-200.