Gear Talk > Lenses

24-70 f/2.8L mk 1 or 24-105 f/4L

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1255:
hi all.

long time reader, but i'm new to posting, so please forgive me if i'm off a bit on etiquette. 

i'm rebuilding my glass kit more or less from scratch. i need what i'd consider to be a mid-range zoom, and i'm considering both the 24-70 f/2.8L mk I or 24-105 f/4L (i've pretty much convinced myself that i can't afford the 24-70 mk II given all the rebuilding i need to do across the board).

looking for thoughts on which lens you all prefer and might suggest. or also thoughts on alternatives.

i shoot with both full frame and crop bodies. i don't consider myself a professional, though i do sell prints, but most of the prints i sell are derived from studio work, and neither of these lenses would come into play.

i suppose i'm looking for a good, general walkabout lens. i'm not concerned about weight. and i'm not really concerned about the extra reach between the two. i'm really more concerned about quality of image. 

very general, i know, but any thoughts would be appreciated.

thanks much, for thoughts on this topic and for everything i've learned from all of you in the past. looking forward to contributing more directly in the future     

neuroanatomist:
Frankly, there isn't much to distinguish these two lenses in terms of IQ.  The 24-70 has a little less barrel distortion at the wide end, but that's something which is pretty easy to correct in post. Mostly, it comes down to whether you would gain more benefit from f/2.8 or from IS.  Personally, I find IS to be very useful in a walk around lens, and the 24-105 is my most-used lens.

1255:
neuro, honored that my very first reply is from you. thanks for sharing your thoughts. very much appreciated

briansquibb:
I love the 24-105L - used it now for 4 years and still love it.

When travelling light I take 2 lens - the 24-105L and the 70-300L. I choose the body to take on whether I am expect to shoot long or wide.

Here is an example from Saturday- larger version shows the level of detail

Camera Model: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Image Date: 2012-05-26 13:04:57 +0100
Focal Length: 88.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.0013 s (1/800)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: -0.67 EV

http://www.squibb.org.uk/pictures/IMG_7955.JPG

pwp:
Later builds of the 24-70 f/2.8L have a reasonable chance of being OK. I know there are fabulous copies out there but my own experience with three very disappointing copies, and surprisingly negative experiences from just about every photographer I know would make me urge caution. If you choose the 24-70 be sure to buy where you can test & return if it's not up to your expectations.

Most photographers who use the 24-105 f/4is, myself included find it a useful and adept piece of glass. Most are very sharp wide open. Get a new one. Heavily used copies can experience jammed apertures and/or self-destructing IS. This is confirmed by CPS. But don't let that put you off. It's a great lens for the money and justifies it's L ranking. Mine needed a $250 repair at the 3 year mark but I'm tough on my somewhat abused gear. Don't buy mine!

PW

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