Another voice for renting the 24-105. I have had a hard time fighting for a decision
about buying either the EF 2.8/24-70 L OR the EF 4.0/24-105 IS L.
I rented both several times, and sort of hated both.
The 24-70 had no IS, not enough reach on the long end and the bigger diameter
made it harder to handle. Also, the rented sample was badly decentered one time.
The 24-105 had the reach, had IS, was nicer to handle, was more compact.
But it didn't offer the max aperture, and was badly prone to suffer from backlight.
In the end handling, reach and IS were the key reasons to finally buy the 24-105.
With a grumpy feeling about the lack of speed and the weak backlight performance.
So.... without the reach I am not a fan of the 4.0/24-70. I would have preferred a
2.8/24-70 with IS. Also I think that my next 35mm will be the Samyang/Rokinon
T1.5/35mm rather than the new 2.0/35mm.