Canon 24-70 f2.8L Vs 24-105 f4L IS

Maynard23

Please help:

I am tossing up between the following lenses.

Canon 24-70 f2.8L USM

Canon 24-105 f4L IS USM

Please, what are the pro's and con's of both of these lenses?
I have read some great feedback on B&H for the 24-70, but none on the 24-105.
B&H states that both lenses are designed with weather protection, but is this to the same standard? The 24-70's description makes it sound like a more purposefully designed weather protection system, but are they the same?:dunno

On paper the 24-105 would seem a better choice, given the advantages of IS. But is the 24-70's depth of field something to consider?

I'll be using it on a 40D, and also have a 70-200mm f2.8L IS lens.

I am not a specialist photographer, I'll shoot anything. I would envisage that the lens I choose, combined with the 70-200, and a 1.4 TC, will be the only lenses in my kit.

Any and all advice given will be greatly appreciated!!:thumb

Thanks in advance, Maynard

Photoskipper

I have both 24-105 F4 and 70-200 F2.8 IS.
The 24-105 F4 cames with the 5D as package. I like it very much. It is the excellent walk about lens for the full frame body. Covers the wide angle to portrait. F4 is not that slow, the IS helps to push 2-3 step exposures which is good enough for 90% of shooting conditions.
I got the 2x TC with the 70-200. I have not much complaint about the combination. The IS works well with the 2X but the autofocus seems slow down a bit and the IQ drops towards maximum length.

Just added the 17-40 F4 for the wider angle specially for fireworks.

the 24-70 F2.8 looks great but it is 50% heavier and 40% more expensive and no IS. It is excellent close up lens.

Personally, I prefer the 24-105 F4 IS. It is cheaper, lighter and most import the IS. Since you have the 70-200 IS, the 24-105 give you some over lapping of focal lenght so the you don't need to change lens so often. You may consider to use the money saved from the 24-70 F2.8 to get a wider lens.

Maynard23

Excellent!!
Just the sort of real world information I am after.

Thank you for your input!!!

Cheers, Maynard

ChatKat

Both
I have both. Because you are on a 1.6 crop factor camera, the focal length of 105 is equal to a longer lens and the 24 might not be wide enough. You might want the 17-55 or the 17-40 lens.

I use the 24-70 when I am shooting and need macro. It gets up closer than the 24-105. It's also better for low light with the 2.8 aperture. My husband uses the same lens on his crop factor for everything.

My general all round is the 24-105 but they are really interchangable for the most part.

All that said, supposedly, they are revamping the 24-70 to include is later this year.

Scott_Quier

with what Kathy has said.

In addition, things to consider:

• The 24-105 is an f/4 - great for outdoors, not so great for indoors.
• On my 30D, the 24-105 can hunt for focus a bit in dimmer environments. The 40D focus system is better, but ....
• The 24-70 is a best of breed lens. I don't think the 24-105 quite lives up to that standard.
• On the 1.6 crop cameras, I think you might want to look at the 17-55 f/2.8 IS. This is a sweet lens, an "L" lens optically. It just misses the mark on weather sealing and a little on the build quality. For indoor work, this is my goto lens. I also use it a lot outdoors. It's just a wonderful, all-around lens.
• I have the 24-105 in my kit and love it. However, I'm giving serious consideration to also acquiring the 24-70.

ChatKat

24-70
Scott,

For a wedding, I shoot with the 24-70. Bokeh is way better on that lens.

Scott_Quier wrote:

with what Kathy has said.

In addition, things to consider:

• The 24-105 is an f/4 - great for outdoors, not so great for indoors.
• On my 30D, the 24-105 can hunt for focus a bit in dimmer environments. The 40D focus system is better, but ....
• The 24-70 is a best of breed lens. I don't think the 24-105 quite lives up to that standard.
• On the 1.6 crop cameras, I think you might want to look at the 17-55 f/2.8 IS. This is a sweet lens, an "L" lens optically. It just misses the mark on weather sealing and a little on the build quality. For indoor work, this is my goto lens. I also use it a lot outdoors. It's just a wonderful, all-around lens.
• I have the 24-105 in my kit and love it. However, I'm giving serious consideration to also acquiring the 24-70.

Scott_Quier

ChatKat wrote:

Scott,

For a wedding, I shoot with the 24-70. Bokeh is way better on that lens.

Compared to the 17-55 or to the 24-105. If the latter, I would agree (f/2.8 vs. the f/4). On the former, I have to wonder a bit.

evoryware

Sorry but I absolutely love the way my 24-70 focuses in low light on my 40D.
I did pick it over the 24-105 and would do it again. I have the 70-200 non IS 2.8 also.

Scott_Quier

evoryware wrote:

Sorry but I absolutely love the way my 24-70 focuses in low light on my 40D.
I did pick it over the 24-105 and would do it again. I have the 70-200 non IS 2.8 also.

What's to be sorry about. That f/2.8 has got to be a dream in dark environs.

colourbox

Maynard23 wrote:

I have read some great feedback on B&H for the 24-70, but none on the 24-105.

fredmiranda.com is another good place to read lens reviews.

Maynard23

Many Thanks

colourbox wrote:

fredmiranda.com is another good place to read lens reviews.

Thanks mate, shall have a squiz.

Also, thank you all for the advice posted so far.
Please keep it coming.

Cheers, Maynard

ziggy53

Maynard23 wrote:

...

I am not a specialist photographer, I'll shoot anything. I would envisage that the lens I choose, combined with the 70-200, and a 1.4 TC, will be the only lenses in my kit.

Any and all advice given will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance, Maynard

Hopefully you are getting the idea that each lens has advantages. The right lens choice really depends on the application. I know you said "I'll shoot anything.", but you need to decide for yourself whether the extra range and IS of the 24-105 are more important than the extra f-stop and better bokeh of the 24-70.

My ideal travel kit for Canon crop 1.6x cameras is:

One of the "super-wide" zooms (10-20mm-ish)
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 1.4x II teleconverter

I have such a kit and I find it to be tremendously empowering. I added a close focus diopter which fits the 50mm prime and, with a couple of flashes and some flash modifiers, there are tons of photographic possibilities.

But ... I went back and surveyed how I use cameras and found first that the gap between 55-70mm was unimportant for how "I" use the equipment. You need to do your own assesment to see what sort of equipment "you" need.

Review everything you have shot that has value. Figure out what is lacking or could have been better, and how your equipment factors into the results.

As you find out more about yourself and your style evolves, you'll be able to design a system to meet your needs.

Photoskipper

I agree with Ziggy that we need a range of lenses to complete the coverage. The standard zoom and telezoom are used very often. Super wide zoom and ultra-fast prime lens are good to have.
My current l5D lens line up is 17-40 F4, 24-105 F4 and 70-200 F2.8, added with 2X TC. It covers the range from 17 - 400 with some overlapping so that I don't need to change too often. The older 300D (Rebel) 1.6X has 11-18, 18-200, 70-300 plus the kit lens 18-55 and the 2XTC.

One of the consideration to add 17-40 F4 instead of the faster 16-35 F2.8 is that the 17 -40 using 77 mm front filter which can be share with the other 2 lenses. By sticking to 77 mm filters, I can save a bit of money on buying another size of filter. On top of it, I don't need to remember to pack the filter for every trip.

The 100 mm Macro and the extension ring gives me more fun.

salazar

Maynard23, did you read this Dgrin review on the 24-105 F4 IS by Andy? The review is from January of 2006 but the lens hasn't changed.

http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1161613

There was a discussion thread about this lens too, here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=237605

Maynard23

Many Thanks
Thank you everybody for the advice, links, and also for making me think more about what my specific requirements would be

Greatly appreciated!!!

Cheers, Maynard

jrmyrnsm

I know it was mentioned earlier, but there is some buzz that if the 5D is replaced at Photokina in a month or so, which it should be, that they may be releasing a new version of the 24-70mm possibly with IS which would make for a pretty sweet lens. Anyways you may want to think about giving it a month or two to see what happens. Good luck!

ziggy53

jrmyrnsm wrote:

I know it was mentioned earlier, but there is some buzz that if the 5D is replaced at Photokina in a month or so, which it should be, that they may be releasing a new version of the 24-70mm possibly with IS which would make for a pretty sweet lens. Anyways you may want to think about giving it a month or two to see what happens. Good luck!

Good advice. Photokina often has surprises.

My own hope is for a 28-135mm, f4L IS USM. The professionals have been asking for this for some time for both the full-frame and crop 1.3x cameras.