Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I agree with the 24-105. I have it and love it. But the question seemed like two package deals were what was being considered and the 24-105 was not part of those packages.
Ideal Canon package with minimal lenses to cover a wide range? 5DIII or 5DS with 11-24 Canon, 24-105 Canon, and 100-400II Canon. Covers ultra wide for tight streets in Germany, a great walk around lens that gets you a wide range without changing lenses and a superior telephoto not requiring teleconverters getting in the way. It focuses close enough to be near macro, is tack sharp and super quick focus and the 24-105 and 100-400 have the same filter diameter.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Buy the 5D III body and then pick out a lens that you like. If you could find the 5D III with the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens then that would be the way to go. The 24-105mm f/4 lens isn't bad, but the other lens is faster.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The 24-105 was not on the OP's list of lens options. She specifically referred to two versions of the 24-70, one of which is f/4, the other of which is f/2.8.

Yes, the 24-105 is a popular lens. I had one on loan from the CPS folks, through our Canon rep at Herff Jones, back in about 2009. Frankly, I didn't find it useful for what I photograph. I prefer the 24-70 f/2.8 for low light candid work, weddings, etc. When I'm outdoors, I want something with longer reach to complement the 24-70. There's a reason many working pros have the HOLY TRINITY of zooms — On full frame, that's the 14-24 Nikon or 16-35 Canon, plus the 24-70 and 70-200 Nikon or Canon.

My point was, get the lens as a first priority, because it will work on future cameras you might own. I've regretted every lens I've ever bought with a maximum aperture smaller than f/2.8. Do some fine reading about AF sensors on Canons and you'll see why I want f/2.8.

The 5DIII is a fine camera for portraits, weddings, and low light work. I figured the OP had a budget, due to the way she paired those cameras and lenses and asked us to choose. That's why I went with her pairing of the 6D with the better lens.

There are few absolutes in photography, outside of the laws of physics. Equipment choices are largely relative to what one intends to photograph, with reference to one's budget...

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I will.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Jeez Burk, don't trip on yourself!! :lol:
Maybe you missed the part where several recommended the 24-105 and Tracy SPECIFICALLY said several times that she would strongly consider it.
So you've never actually owned a 24-105 or even shoot with Canon equipment?!?!
Strongly opinionated recommendations coming from a guy who doesn't even use Canon equipment.
Tracy has not mentioned what she shoots.
Only hardcore sports shooters really need to activate all the super-sensative duel-cross focus points with group A lenses. Which is why I mentioned if she is primarily a Landscaper(most photogs are) there may not be a need for either fast group A lenses or a 1Dx type focus system. It's horses for courses. Just because you have regretted f4 lenses, doesn't mean everybody needs them. There are a ton of photogs all shooting with the Trinity that would be much better served by spending that money on lessons so they can learn to use their cameras and learn how to compose. For too many it's about being seen and not seeing.
I have specifically gotten rid of 2.8 lenses because I have a tendency to not do car shooting and carry my pack for as long as 16 hours a day.
It's very easy to talk yourself into a need for fast glass where there is no need at all.
I use my 24-105 day in, and day out. I sold my 2.8 because of non-use and unlike you, I've never regretted it or even missed it. And if I ever did need one, I too just call CPS and they send me one, but I haven't needed one yet, even for a wedding!
If I need fast, I use a prime!! ;-)
SS

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I do have several primes: Canon 100l, Sigma 85mm f / 1.4, Sigma 50mm f1.4. I do shoot some sports, tennis, baseball.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I do have several primes: Canon 100l, Sigma 85mm f / 1.4, Sigma 50mm f1.4. I do shoot some sports, tennis, baseball.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

If you are shooting any sports then the 5DIII is definitely a better pick then the 6D. The auto focus is much better and it does have a higher frame rate. You can shoot action shots with the 6D but it is a whole lot easier with the 5DIII. When the 6D was first introduced Canon described it as being designed for landscape and "tourist" photography. They seem to have backed away from that statement lately, but it still holds true.

RJ Loc: Montana

The short answer is of course the 5DIII, however only you can make the choice dependent on your intended use and budget but without budget restriction the 5DIII would be my choice based on my experience with the 5DII.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

With what camera(s), currently? And will you be keeping it to use alongside or selling it to help fund the new camera?

Do you also have any zooms? I'm guessing you do, because none of those primes are particularly good for sports. Neither are any of the mid-range/walk-around zooms you've expressed an interest in.

To give you any kind of advice, one way or another, we really need more detail about what gear you already have and what you will be shooting with it, how you're finding your current gear lacking, how you use or want to be able to use your images, and anything additional you can think of that might have some bearing on your decision.

Without a lot more info, all we can offer is generalities...

6D is rated as Canon's best high ISO camera, at present. 5DIII is pretty darned close, though. The 6D uses a rather simplistic 11-point AF system that's just fine for a lot of things, but not great for sports/action shooting.

5DIII has a much more sophisticated and advanced 61-point AF system that is considerably better for sports/action purposes. It's also a little bit faster shooting and somewhat more durable/better sealed camera. But it's also a little larger and heavier.

But, to be frank, neither of those full frame modelswould be my choice for sports shooting, which is about 75 or 85% of what I do personally and is the only purpose you've stated so far. For a number of reasons, I prefer to use crop sensor cameras for sports and action shoots. I use a full frame camera mostly for scenic shots and architecture, also often for macro and portraiture.

As to the lenses, someone with a few f1.4 primes already on hand may not need a bigger, heavier and more expensive f2.8 zoom. An f4 might serve just fine (especially if it has IS). But, both the current Canon 24-70s are very highly regarded. The older 24-105L, not as much. It's a quite decent lens too, yes, but the far cheaper EF 28-135 IS USM actually can match it optically and performance-wise in all respects except for slightly different zoom range and the L-series lens' somewhat better build/durability and a bit of extra sealing against dust and moisture.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Ok, currently I have the 70D. My zoom is Sigma 18-300mm I also have the Canon 17-55mm (Love). I take mostly landscapes, and portraiture. The sports is only a couple times a year. I do macro with my 100mm also.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

(With apologies to everyone for going off-topic...)

Sharpshooter, we probably come from completely different worlds of photography. And that's okay! Really!

I do a landscape or two here and there, but most of what I photograph consists of people, processes, and products. The f/2.8 aperture speeds up and improves the accuracy of autofocus systems, and with my fixed-focus eyes, I need that. Like you, I also use primes and zooms.

I started as a yearbook photojournalist, with Canon FX equipment, way back in 1968. I used that for a year, then bought a Nikkormat. I used Nikons most of my career (FTn, FM, FM2, F3, even a pin-registered F3 I still own!). But I also own a Canon New F1. I've even used a lot of medium format film gear (Yashica, Rollei, Bronica ETRSi, Mamiya C330...) and even a Sinar 4x5 and a Fujifilm 6x17.

I used Canon Digital professionally (5D, 7D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, 5DIII...) at Herff Jones Photography Division, where I trained or created training materials for over 330 retail and hundreds of wholesale photographers. I've also used Nikon D100, D2x, D70, D300, plus a Kodak DCS 300, one of the first digital cameras ever made.

I worked professionally for 33 years for three of the largest photography companies on earth (Delmar Studios, bought by Herff Jones in 1996, which sold its Photography Division to Lifetouch in 2011). You can find my profile on LinkedIn if you want more of the story.

Most of my early work was photojournalistic in nature. I did a lot of photojournalistic, multi-image corporate AV (computer-controlled, 12-projector slide shows) for training, meetings, workshops, and promotions. I did tons of copy work, product illustrations, process illustrations for virtual tours, catalog photography, etc. The largest share of photojournalistic work was done with minimal auxiliary lighting — ambient, available light was all that was allowed.

Over half my career was in photo lab management roles — Systems, IT, Marketing, Production. I led several Production teams in the transition from optical, film-based imaging, to digital, file-based imaging. Then I became a Training Program Developer to help transition our photographers from film to digital capture.

From 2005 to 2012, I had a 24x32 foot studio with Norman professional lighting systems, Westcott CFL lights and lighting modifiers, and various Canon and Nikon digital gear — to test equipment, document its usage, and train photographers to use it. I developed over five hours of detailed training videos to explain our entire automated process to new hires.

Since then, I've left the industry and done freelance work. I'm semi-retired, thanks to the phenomenal ESOP at Herff Jones.

Photo educator and industry friend, Will Crockett, a guy who is sought after by manufacturers to test and promote all of the best gear on the planet, got me hooked on m43. He put away his D800 and Nikon lenses several years ago, and has not looked back. I now know why! You can find his most excellent videos on YouTube.

Anandnra Loc: Tennessee

I'd go with the 5D3 but switch the lens to the 24-105.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Good to know this. The 100mm is also a good, if longish, portrait lens on the 7D, but nearly ideal on the 6D or 5DIII. A 24-70 can be used on your 7D for portraiture at around 50 to 70mm. A 24-105 would be a better portrait lens on full frame, between 85 and 105mm.

Actually, my favorite full frame portrait lens is a 70-200 f/2.8, but that gets expensive! It's a bit long on a 7D, unless you're photographing wildlife and sports, in which case it's okay-ish. Most folks never have a long enough lens for wildlife and sports... They get very expensive.

I'd keep the 18-300 for travel. The 17-55 on your 7D is somewhat like a using a 28-85 on full frame. With two different formats, you increase your lens versatility quite a bit.

Let us know what you do! It's an interesting process, deciding, right?

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Yes I will let you know. I will be deciding within a few months. I'm in no hurry since I have the 70d. I'm going to research some more. Maybe, even look into renting. Thank You All for the great advice and links. I knew that I would get help here. My Photography has come along way since I started the UUH forum. And a lot of it is because of reading all the great information on this forum.

:D