stop smoking, get a new lens...

[Anbesol]

Long story short - my work has provided me with a 'stop smoking incentive', $1000. Its something I want to do anyway, and this has finally enabled me to be more immediately committed to it. No more dawdling and putting it off and excusing myself till next year.

I'm going to be putting this stop smoking money towards a great strong to super telephoto lens, the carrot to the ox if the ox was a smoker. Created a short list but open to all options. Realizing of course the merit of each of these lens, trying to balance the features.

Tamron 200-500 f/5-6.3
Sony 70-300 f/4-5.6 SSM G
Minolta 100-400mm f/4.5-6.7

With those I might also add a third bounce flash (Minolta 5600HSD/F56AM), with another light stand and diffuser (or softbox). Or - I could get just a lens:

Minolta 80-200 f/2.8 HS APO.
Or, put the budget to the max with the 70-400 G SSM.

*edit - scratch the 70-200 f/2.8's. I can't really justify it, not for just one stop and better CA control. I think my beercan will do me fine for that range for a while to come, not really yearning for the speedy telephoto as much as I am the strong telephoto. I think my inclination is towards the 100-400mm APO....