Questions on EF 24-70mm II on 5D Mk3 vs EF-S 17-55mm on 7D

[Vigood]

Hello experts,

I currently shoot dual cameras with both 5D MkIII and 7D and the following zooms that I usually carry around during my sessions:
- EF 16-35mmII
- EF 70-200mm IS II
- EF-S 17-55mm
- EF 35mm 1.4

I currently do not have 24-70mmII. However, I have just pulled the trigger on purchasing the EF 24-70mmII and now contemplating if I am making a wrong move here.

Does anybody know if EF24-70mm on the 5DIII would be better than the EF-S 17-55mm on the 7D? I usually deal with family related photos such as portraits, birthdays, cake smashing events etc. Most of the time, I have good lighting except for several indoor events which off camera flash will take care off.

Should I be returning the EF24-70mmII and just stick with all the lenses that I already have and normally work with? Is there an advantage of using the EF24-70mmII on the 5DIII over the EF-S 17-55mm on the 7D?

Thanks in advance!

 

[rs]

There's a huge advantage. The 17-55 on crop is a closer match to the 24-105 on full frame, but the L lens and FF sensor combo captures more light, has a wider zoom range and is sharper. Think of the 24-70 II and 5D3 combo as an optically better, wider zoom range version of the Sigma 18-35/1.8 and 7D.

The same aperture combined with the much improved high ISO of the 5D3 will allow you to get access to action stopping shutter speeds much easier. If shooting moving people, you'd typically want a shutter speed faster than 1/50th of a sec, so IS isn't of much use on that focal length range for that sort of subject anyway.

I have a 5D2 and 40D with both the lenses you mention - not quite the same camera/sensor line up as you, but the 17-55 doesn't get a look in these days.

Or to put it another way - it's optically equal to the 70-200 II. If you notice any image quality difference between your 5D3/70-200 II and your 7D/17-55, expect that same step up when moving to the 5D3/24-70 II.

 

[dswtan]

Like rs, I'll be amazed if you don't find the 24-70 II on 5d3 far superior in overall image quality - though I'm one of those rare people that did not like the 17-55 on 7D. (I have all these combinations myself; I presume I just have a bad copy of the 17-55.)

But for the shooting scenarios you suggest, you might find you'll miss the IS of the 17-55, and the 24-70 is heavier and more bulky. You may find the 17-55/7D more convenient in practice, plus you even get a little more fps.

On the other hand, you may find the increased image quality so seductive with the other combo, you'll use it more. In my case, my 7D is gathering dust.

 

[Eli]

If I were you, I'd sell the 7d and 17-55 to get a 6d...
You'll see why after you get your 24-70 ii!

 

[BrandonKing96]

In no way it would be a bad move. It is such an amazing combo! 5D 3 and 24-70II go together so well

 

[Rienzphotoz]

Hello experts,

Please count me out, me no expert ... but I have owned 7D + 17-55 f/2.8 IS and 5d MK III 24-70 f/2.8 L II

Does anybody know if EF24-70mm on the 5DIII would be better than the EF-S 17-55mm on the 7D? I usually deal with family related photos such as portraits, birthdays, cake smashing events etc. Most of the time, I have good lighting except for several indoor events which off camera flash will take care off.

Should I be returning the EF24-70mmII and just stick with all the lenses that I already have and normally work with? Is there an advantage of using the EF24-70mmII on the 5DIII over the EF-S 17-55mm on the 7D?

Thanks in advance!

The 24-70 f/2.8 L II is sharp even at f/2.8 ... which is something my copy of 17-55 f/2.8 IS was not.
There is a big difference in color, contrast & sharpness between EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II on the 5DIII over the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 L IS ... the 24-70mm f/2.8 L II on the 5D MK III comes out tops by a long margin. I sold my 7D + 17-55 f/2.8 IS in favor of 24-70mm f/2.8 L II on the 5D MK III and have never regretted it (except when my 24-70 L II was stolen :'().
I know that plunging over $2000 on a lens always gives many jittery moments of "have I made the right decision" ... fear not ... you made a great decision to invest in the 24-70 f/2.8 L II ... it will serve you well and impress you every time.

 

[vbi]

I sincerely doubt if you can get a better camera/lens combination than the 5D3/24-70II or the 5D3/70-200II. The detail, sharpness, contrast and colour are in another league. In my experience the 7D simply cannot capture the detail of the 5D2/5D3, so if you are looking for more detail that is your starting point.

 

[Loswr]

Does anybody know if EF24-70mm on the 5DIII would be better than the EF-S 17-55mm on the 7D?

If I had a nickel for everyone who claimed they were reluctant to go FF because there's no EF equivalent of the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS...

The real FF equivalent of the EF-S 17-55mm is a hypothetical 27-88mm f/4.5 lens...the 24-105L is wider, longer, and faster in terms of DoF for the same framing. The FF sensor gives 1.5-2 stop less ISO noise. And that's the 24-105, which is not as good a lens as the 24-70/2.8 II.

Bottom line, the 24-70/2.8L II on a 5DIII will be leaps and bounds ahead of the 17-55 on the 7D. You made the right choice...and I'd go so far as to suggest that you sell the 17-55mm lens (at least, that's what I did...).

 

[Dylan777]

Hello experts,

I currently shoot dual cameras with both 5D MkIII and 7D and the following zooms that I usually carry around during my sessions:
- EF 16-35mmII
- EF 70-200mm IS II
- EF-S 17-55mm
- EF 35mm 1.4

I currently do not have 24-70mmII. However, I have just pulled the trigger on purchasing the EF 24-70mmII and now contemplating if I am making a wrong move here.

Does anybody know if EF24-70mm on the 5DIII would be better than the EF-S 17-55mm on the 7D? I usually deal with family related photos such as portraits, birthdays, cake smashing events etc. Most of the time, I have good lighting except for several indoor events which off camera flash will take care off.

Should I be returning the EF24-70mmII and just stick with all the lenses that I already have and normally work with? Is there an advantage of using the EF24-70mmII on the 5DIII over the EF-S 17-55mm on the 7D?

Thanks in advance!

DO NOT return 24-70 II. It's a kick ass lens with 5D III or 1D X.

+1 with Rienzphotoz comments.

 

[Deleted member 7828]

I can speak on this topic from experience.

I *used* to use a 17-55/60D combo at certain social events. While I loved it in reception-style settings (where I often had an external flash like the 580EX II), I was often disappointed with the results when I used available light (ex. a well-lit room). They would often be noisy and lacking detail, even when I opened up all the way to 2.8. It was far better than the Tamron 17-50 I was using with it before, however.

Fast forward to this year, when I sold the 60D after acquiring a 5D3 late last year, and therefore had to give up the 17-55. I replaced it with - you guessed it - the 24-70 II. After using both combos in similar situations, here are my thoughts:

- My keeper rate was generally higher with the 17-55/60D, primarily due to the IS.

- However, (generally speaking) the quality of the 24-70II/5D3 is significantly better than what I was getting out of the 60D. This is even after accounting for the higher ISOs I often have to use to get shutter speeds fast enough to prevent blur in the absence of IS (which surprised me).

- I find that in general, I'm happier with what I'm getting out of the 24-70 II/5D3, even if my hit rate is somewhat lower (I take more shots to compensate). The pictures are not only sharper and cleaner, but the background blur when shooting at 2.8 is sometimes "Wow". Sometimes I miss the IS, but honestly, I don't think I would ever go back to using a crop camera when shooting these types of events. This is where FF cameras really shine, to me.

ETA: Another note...24mm on the 5D3 is noticeably wider in my experience than 17mm is on 60D/7D.

 

[Don Haines]

Speaking from experience, a 24-70 Mark 1 on a 5Dmark2 gives better images than a 17-55 on a 60D.

The 7D and the 60D are about the same for image quality... but the 5D3 is better than the 5D2 and the 24-70mark2 is better than the mark1, so the 5D3 and 24-70mark2 combo MUST be better than the 7D and 17-55 combo.

While there are conditions where a crop camera will out-reach a FF camera on distant objects, when it comes to normal and wide angles FF is superior across the board. Enjoy your new lens when it comes, and don't forget to post some pictures!

 

[Vigood]

Ok thanks all for the responses. The consensus appears to be to get rid of the EF-S 17-55mm and even 7D altogether and get another FF body. I shall look into this path.

Once again thanks again!

 

[Triggyman]

I used to have a 7D and a 17-55mm IS and just recently purchased a 24-70mm II.

I've never gotten over the huge improvement I have seen in the quality of the shots taken by a 5Dm3 with a 24-70mm II, and I used a 24-105mm for more than a year with the 5D.

I've looked back and compared out-of-camera JPEGS and processed RAW's between the 7D and 5D with the mentioned lenses, and I'm very very satisfied of the output the 5D and 24-70 II produces over the 7D and 17-55mm.

In my humble opinion, you didn't make a mistake.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The 24-70 is very good, but its not wide enough for a crop body, so you still need a wide lens.

I'd watch for a deal on a FF body to go with your new lens.

 

[serendipidy]

The 24-70 is very good, but its not wide enough for a crop body, so you still need a wide lens.

I'd watch for a deal on a FF body to go with your new lens.

I think he already has the 5D3.

 

[Vigood]

The 24-70 is very good, but its not wide enough for a crop body, so you still need a wide lens.

I'd watch for a deal on a FF body to go with your new lens.

I think he already has the 5D3.

Yes that is correct that I have already have the 5D3. But I will be monitoring a deal for a 6D to replace the 7D or even if I am lucky another 5DIII perhaps...

 

[bholliman]

The 7D is a great camera and the EF-S 17-55 2.8 is an excellent lens, but are not in the same league as the 5D3/24-70 2.8 II combo for image quality. I owned a 7D until recently and borrowed my brothers 17-55 many times. I loved the combination, but my 6D with 24-70 II is much, much better.

I seldom used my 7D after buying a 6D, but when I did it was always for sporting events with a telephoto lens mounted. I used my 6D for all normal and wide angle photography. If your experience and use is similar to mine you may feel you can sell the 17-55 and not miss it.

 

[sagittariansrock]

Is there an advantage of using the EF24-70mmII on the 5DIII over the EF-S 17-55mm on the 7D?

I wish someone would come out and be the devil's advocate, and there would be an interesting FF vs APS-C war. Unfortunately, everyone is (accurately) toe-ing the line that there's no competition between the combinations.

The 7D is a great camera and the EF-S 17-55 2.8 is an excellent lens, but are not in the same league as the 5D3/24-70 2.8 II combo for image quality.

+1. And I think that has more to do with the difference between 5DIII vs 7D rather than 24-70II vs 17-55. Even the 24-105 on a 5DIII is far, far better than the 17-55 on 7D (and IME the 17-55 is a much better performer than the 24-105 on the same body for overlapping focal lengths and the same aperture).

 

[Loswr]

I wish someone would come out and be the devil's advocate, and there would be an interesting FF vs APS-C war. Unfortunately, everyone is (accurately) toe-ing the line that there's no competition between the combinations.

Well, no one has mentioned that the 7D + EF-S 17-55mm has one thing going for it - you could buy that combo for about 40% of the cost of the 5DIII + 24-70/2.8L II.

 

[takesome1]

I wish someone would come out and be the devil's advocate, and there would be an interesting FF vs APS-C war. Unfortunately, everyone is (accurately) toe-ing the line that there's no competition between the combinations.

Well, no one has mentioned that the 7D + EF-S 17-55mm has one thing going for it - you could buy that combo for about 40% of the cost of the 5DIII + 24-70/2.8L II.

I think FF won the war. With a 24-70 II on a FF camera the 7D didn't stand much of a chance.
Also they would be arguing about a 4 year old camera that is over due for replacement.
I suppose we will have to wait for a 7D II before we can renew the pixel density vs FF debate.