Can 24-70/2.8 II replace 35/1.4?

[Etienne]

Close focus, something I really like at wide angles, is apparently a problem for the 24-70 2.8 II.
But close focus is a strength of the 24 and 28 2.8 IS lenses, and probably also with the wide 1.4's

You are right, close focus on the 24-70mmL is poor at best. Its awful. Fortunately, my 100L is good for close focus. My 24-105 which I've kept is also good at close focusing.
There is never a perfect lens.

How close can you go at 24 mm on the 24-70?
It's mostly in the wide that I need to focus close

 

[Vossie]

Close focus, something I really like at wide angles, is apparently a problem for the 24-70 2.8 II.
But close focus is a strength of the 24 and 28 2.8 IS lenses, and probably also with the wide 1.4's

You are right, close focus on the 24-70mmL is poor at best. Its awful. Fortunately, my 100L is good for close focus. My 24-105 which I've kept is also good at close focusing.
There is never a perfect lens.

How close can you go at 24 mm on the 24-70?
It's mostly in the wide that I need to focus close

The MFD of the 24-70 2.8 ii is 380 mm; at 24mm even a bit longer.
The MFD of the 24 1.4 ii is 210 mm

So close to a 2x difference

 

[WhoIreland]

I had similar situation .
After buying 70-200mkii my 85Lmkii gathered dust for over a year. I sold the 85 and about a month later had a bad case of buyers remorse
But with 24-70mkii I was never tempted to sell the 35
The 35L just gets a look that the 24-70ii can't achieve.
I sold my 50/1.4 as the optics were in a lower class, but the 35L is my fave prime

Ouch

I hate the slow AF on my 85L II....however, everytimes I shoot portrait, 85L II is my 1st choice. The bokeh and sharpness are amazing. I hope newer version will be faster and lighter.

I should've said Sellers remorse there but think you got my drift...!

With a baby in tow I found I was losing shots with the slow focus
On the odd occasion it worked,the results were fabulous...but I was losing too many shots
70-200ii was SO sharp and such fast focus,I loved it

 

[Vossie]

I had similar situation .
After buying 70-200mkii my 85Lmkii gathered dust for over a year. I sold the 85 and about a month later had a bad case of buyers remorse
But with 24-70mkii I was never tempted to sell the 35
The 35L just gets a look that the 24-70ii can't achieve.
I sold my 50/1.4 as the optics were in a lower class, but the 35L is my fave prime

Ouch

I hate the slow AF on my 85L II....however, everytimes I shoot portrait, 85L II is my 1st choice. The bokeh and sharpness are amazing. I hope newer version will be faster and lighter.

I should've said Sellers remorse there but think you got my drift...!

With a baby in tow I found I was losing shots with the slow focus
On the odd occasion it worked,the results were fabulous...but I was losing too many shots
70-200ii was SO sharp and such fast focus,I loved it

I can imagine your remorse. The 'look' that you can achieve with the 85L is much more special than what you get with the 70-200 ii. I also agree that AF performance are worlds apart between these 2 lenses.

 

[AudioGlenn]

I have had the 24-70/2.8 II for a couple of months and I realise now that I have not used the 35/1.4 since. Obviously an f1.4 can do things a f2.8 can't but is DOF really an issue for a wide lens? And I have the 5D MKIII so light/ISO is not that much of a problem either. I was just about to put the 35/1.4 up for sale but I simply can not make up my mind.... Opinions are more than welcome.

I sold my 35L about 2 weeks ago due to non use. I just couldn't justify keeping it after I purchased my 24-70 II. Combined with a 5d mk3, I just didn't need/use it.

 

[Etienne]

Close focus, something I really like at wide angles, is apparently a problem for the 24-70 2.8 II.
But close focus is a strength of the 24 and 28 2.8 IS lenses, and probably also with the wide 1.4's

You are right, close focus on the 24-70mmL is poor at best. Its awful. Fortunately, my 100L is good for close focus. My 24-105 which I've kept is also good at close focusing.
There is never a perfect lens.

How close can you go at 24 mm on the 24-70?
It's mostly in the wide that I need to focus close

The MFD of the 24-70 2.8 ii is 380 mm; at 24mm even a bit longer.
The MFD of the 24 1.4 ii is 210 mm

So close to a 2x difference

MFD is not the whole story. My understanding is that IQ at MFD is awful, so to get good IQ you have to have a subject some distance further than the MFD.

I wonder how far away the subject needs to be in order to get that excellent IQ the 24-70 2.8 II can deliver?

 

[iso79]

When I got my 24-70mm f/2.8 II I sold all my primes under 85mm. I don't regret it one bit.

 

[alexanderferdinand]

Don't want to sell my primes even when they are covered by my zooms.
I love my 35L and 135L, they have their place when light is getting tricky or I want to have that 1.4/2.0- look.
My 2 cents.

 

[Etienne]

Don't want to sell my primes even when they are covered by my zooms.
I love my 35L and 135L, they have their place when light is getting tricky or I want to have that 1.4/2.0- look.
My 2 cents.

I agree... I have 16-35 2.8 II, 70-200 2.8 IS II, and 24-105 f/4 zooms, and I have the 28 2.8 IS, but I keep wanting bigger aperture. My only large aperture now is the 50 1.4. My 85 1.8 was damaged, and I tried a 24 1.4 several years ago but it didn't focus reliably on my 5DII. Now with the 5DIII I'm going to give the 24 1.4 another try, and I'd like a 50 1.4 IS and an 85 1.4 IS.

Large aperture primes provide opportunities for unique shots that are not possible on the zooms.

 

[risc32]

Think I have bought and sold and swapped between the 85 L and a 70200 six seven times. But indeed the AF just kills it for me with the 85.

I have bought a great portrait lens with great AF now, arriving tomorrow

so what are you going with?

 

[Viggo]

Think I have bought and sold and swapped between the 85 L and a 70200 six seven times. But indeed the AF just kills it for me with the 85.

I have bought a great portrait lens with great AF now, arriving tomorrow

so what are you going with?

It's listed below in my signature

 

[mrsfotografie]

Think I have bought and sold and swapped between the 85 L and a 70200 six seven times. But indeed the AF just kills it for me with the 85.

I have bought a great portrait lens with great AF now, arriving tomorrow

so what are you going with?

It's listed below in my signature

 

[Viggo]

Think I have bought and sold and swapped between the 85 L and a 70200 six seven times. But indeed the AF just kills it for me with the 85.

I have bought a great portrait lens with great AF now, arriving tomorrow

so what are you going with?

It's listed below in my signature

It's been a dream since it got released, and I even bought the 300 f2.8 instead of it, then the 135, but I just had to have it. Too dark to try here now, but it seems calibrated and good to go tomorrow. Pretty sharp at f2 ;D

 

[mrsfotografie]

Think I have bought and sold and swapped between the 85 L and a 70200 six seven times. But indeed the AF just kills it for me with the 85.

I have bought a great portrait lens with great AF now, arriving tomorrow

so what are you going with?

It's listed below in my signature

It's been a dream since it got released, and I even bought the 300 f2.8 instead of it, then the 135, but I just had to have it. Too dark to try here now, but it seems calibrated and good to go tomorrow. Pretty sharp at f2 ;D

Cool stuff. If anything, the most versatile big prime, and most useful for me to get, would be the 300 f/2.8 IS. But that is a whole lot of money that will also buy new bodies etc...

Anyway, enjoy! You lucky one! 8)

 

[Viggo]

Think I have bought and sold and swapped between the 85 L and a 70200 six seven times. But indeed the AF just kills it for me with the 85.

I have bought a great portrait lens with great AF now, arriving tomorrow

so what are you going with?

It's listed below in my signature

It's been a dream since it got released, and I even bought the 300 f2.8 instead of it, then the 135, but I just had to have it. Too dark to try here now, but it seems calibrated and good to go tomorrow. Pretty sharp at f2 ;D

Cool stuff. If anything, the most versatile big prime, and most useful for me to get, would be the 300 f/2.8 IS. But that is a whole lot of money that will also buy new bodies etc...

Anyway, enjoy! You lucky one! 8)

Thanks, I will! And a used 300 mk1 is getting lower in price these days, and it is also completely insane. I loved it, I just didn't have anything to shoot at the focal.

 

[Dylan777]

I have bought a great portrait lens with great AF now, arriving tomorrow

It's listed below in my signature

Congrats Viggo on your new toy

I'm saving up for 400mm f2.8 IS II...otherwise 200mm f2 looks extremely yummy

Post some pics

 

[Viggo]

I have bought a great portrait lens with great AF now, arriving tomorrow

It's listed below in my signature

Congrats Viggo on your new toy

I'm saving up for 400mm f2.8 IS II...otherwise 200mm f2 looks extremely yummy

Post some pics

Thanks a lot! Hope I get a chance to do some shots, I have to paint my house before the rain and cold sets in. But I'll post them either in "anything shot with 1dX" or the 200 gallery.

 

[CHL]

Thank you all for your input. I have decided to keep the 35/1.4 - for now..... Or let's say that I have postponed the decision

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

I would say that is one of the few primes it wouldn't replace since 35mm is where you might frequently make use of f/1.4.

 

[alexanderferdinand]

The 24-70II I use often, the 35L I love.
Different kind of use and style.
I will keep mine.