Do you need 12 mp? That's something that you need to decide. I've had images that weren't even RAW images but were shot as superfine JPEG's that have been purchased by a very well known men's magazine and are slated for the flagship magazine. I suppose if you have the extra cash lying around, the 1Ds MarkII would be nice to have while I'm sure the 5D is just as nice but not quite as fast or well built as the Mark II. ON the other hand, the 10 and 20D's are also fine cameras for far less money.
As for how much light you'll need, that depends on what and where you're shooting. I think I could live without my 400's and prefer 800's. My main is 1600. Depending on the set up, I've had some probelems completely blowing out a seamless background with just two 400's.
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