If you can have ONLY 3 lenses, what would they...???

[jrista]

Bird, Wildlife, and Landscape kit:

EF 300mm f/2.8 L II IS
EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L II IS
EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II

This assumes that teleconverters are allowed, in which case I'd also have the Kenko 1.4x DGX and EF 2x III TC's. I think that would cover most of my needs. Focal lengths range from 16mm through 400mm without gaps when factoring in the teleconverters, plus 420mm and 600mm. If teleconverters are disallowed:

EF 600mm f/4 L II IS
EF 100mm f/2.8 L II IS Macro
EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II

I'd like to have the MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x as well, but as a niche lens I don't think it would be as versatile as the 16-35mm and 100mm f/2.8 macro lenses.

[odie]

I would go for primes.

35.4L, 85.2L and 135.2L

[killswitch]

For crop

Tokina 11-16 f2.8 DX Pro MK II
Canon 24-70 f2.8L MK II
Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS II

For FF

Canon 14-24 f2.8L =D (If Canon ever made one that equals Nikon's one)
Canon 24-70 f2.8L MK II
Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS II

[Lawliet]

24-70/2.8II
70-200/2.8ISII
Those two cover the everyday situations nicely.
As the last one - the 200-400/4 seems to be to be a good choice, but depending on my mood a macro, TS-E, or Lensbaby might get the spot. Esp. if TCs don't count as lenses...and do closeup filters count?

[tnargs]

For all-round general purpose flexibility and a 28mm sensor,

EF-S 10-22mm

EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS - mounted on the camera!

EF 70-300mm L IS


However if macro is a serious priority,

EF 100mm f2.8 L IS - doubles as a portrait lens

EF-S 15-85mm IS

EF 70-300mm IS

[Promature]

Well, I used this thread and some others to help me decide on this trio during the 20% refurb sale:
EF-S 17-55 f2.8
EF 85 f1.8
EF 70-200 f4 (non-IS, shooting kids sports outdoors in sunny Florida)

I know it doesn't sound very impressive against everyone's dream list that costs $10k+, but I'd say I did alright for $1.5k and got 95% of the performance those lists offered.

[mb66energy]

For APS-C:
10-22 + 60mm Macro + 4.0/70-200
EDIT: the Why: wide and tele landscape/townscape/industrial landscapes + nature photography (Macro) + lightweight + compact +excellent IQ

For Full Frame:
40 + 2.8/100 Macro + 4.0/70-200 w/ 2xTC
EDIT: the Why: tele landscape/townscape/industrial landscapes + nature photography (Macro) + lightweight + compact +excellent IQ -  missing good wide angle zoom for FF from Canon (see below) so the shorty forty should compensate until ...

Just missing the full frame body (6D , if IQ is excellent) ...
And I would replace the shorty forty with a 17-40 Mk II if it
delivers good edge to edge sharpness from f4.0 on in the
full frame set.

Best - Michael

[tnargs]

Well, I used this thread and some others to help me decide on this trio during the 20% refurb sale:
EF-S 17-55 f2.8
EF 85 f1.8
EF 70-200 f4 (non-IS, shooting kids sports outdoors in sunny Florida)

I know it doesn't sound very impressive against everyone's dream list that costs $10k+, but I'd say I did alright for $1.5k and got 95% of the performance those lists offered.

Excellent lenses, you are in for a treat!   

[Zv]

Well, I used this thread and some others to help me decide on this trio during the 20% refurb sale:
EF-S 17-55 f2.8
EF 85 f1.8
EF 70-200 f4 (non-IS, shooting kids sports outdoors in sunny Florida)

I know it doesn't sound very impressive against everyone's dream list that costs $10k+, but I'd say I did alright for $1.5k and got 95% of the performance those lists offered.

Excellent lenses, you are in for a treat!   

+ 1 on the kit (almost like mine) I would recommend picking up the 50mm f/1.8, it's super cheap but very discreet (as opposed to the 17-55 which tends to scare people - or maybe its me!) and great for kids. I find the 85 a bit long on a crop body for indoor stuff.

[AudioGlenn]

35L
100L
70-200 2.8 IS II

[Sitting Elf]

Easy!

24-70 f/2.8L II
70-200 f/2.8 L II
The upcoming 200-400 f/4L with built in 1.4X

That gives me a total reach of 24mm (on my 1DX and 5D3) to 896mm (using the 1.4X on my 7D)

[runninghead]

24-70, 85 f/1.2, and a 300 f/2.8 II would be a killer combo!

[Romandoc]

From wide to tele:

Zeiss Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8 ZE Lens for Canon EF
Voigtlander 40mm f/2.0 Ultron SL II Aspherical Lens for Canon
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II

Can I do 3 more, in addition to the must-haves mentioned above?
Here they are, from the most to least desirable:

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II
Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro
Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye