Questions for a camera expert?

Question

I'm in the process of purchasing a professional digital camera. I'm not a beginner but not an expert either. And I'm torn between the Canon 5D and the Canon 1D Mark II.
I want to use a camera for small jobs such as weddings, portraits etc.
Also, what lense should i start off with. There's the Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6~~~~OR~~~28-300mm f/3.5-6.3.
Please Help!

Thank you!

Answer 1

A poll of Cannon users shoe these as the best portrait lenses. You have to have to have a good one for weddings alone.

EF 50mm f/1.8 342 20.41%
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM 321 19.15%
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM 274 16.35%
EF 85mm f/1.2L 259 15.45%
EF 100mm f/2L 46 2.74%
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro 98 5.85%
EF 135mm f/2L 122 7.28%
EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft focus 23 1.37%
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L 184 10.98%
EF Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 XR DI 84 5.01%
200mm f/2.8L 22 1.31%
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L (IS) 194 11.58%
EFS 60mm F2.8 Macro

Answer 2

What a dilemma... You are in a nice position if your "problem" is deciding between two of the very best cameras made. Personally, I'd go for the 5D, just as much for the "normal" size as the full-format sensor. If you are not shooting sports, you would probably never exploit all the speed and features of the Mark II. You have to pick them up and see how YOU feel about this, as it is a very personal choice.

Here are some review sites for Canon lenses, so you can look up your lenses and get different opinions.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/
(See "Recommendations" on this page)
http://www.photo.net/canon/#lense
http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/index.htm
http://www.photozone.de/active/news/index.jsp
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/index.html
http://www.fredmiranda.com
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1029

The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (28-135 equiv.) (April 2007-$515) is a good "walk around" lens at a good price.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=10511
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-17-85mm-f-4-5.6-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Not quite as much of a wide angle, the Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Autofocus Lens (2007-$1,060) is a pretty good all-around lens. This review says, "If I had only one lens, this would be the one."
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-24-105mm-f-4-L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Excellent general purpose lens: Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens (April 2007-$1,140)
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-24-70mm-f-2.8-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

I really like my Nikon 17-55 and Canon makes a comparable lens, the Canon Zoom Super Wide Angle EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Autofocus Lens. It's not an "L" lens, but it seems popular.
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/ef-s_17-55.html