Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

Wassup Jordan! I too have a dilemma. I need to find another lens to
compliment my 70-200 f2.8 IS. I was leaning towards the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8.. I was looking into the 24-105 f/4. The only down side to the EF-S is that for the price......it's not an "L" lens. Let me know what you decide. If you decide to get the 17-55........let us know how it is!

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

My experience with the 24-105 and 24-70 showed the 24-105 to be slightly sharper in the center but the 24-70 is much sharper in the corners and handles CA way better on the outer portions of the frame.

Crop users will probably say the 24-105 is superior, but FF users will probably prefer the edge to edge sharpness and better controlled CA.

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

WEll digital,

The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is practically an L-series lens... it's just not given to title, presumably due to the fact that it's EF-S and there are no EF-S L lenses. It has many of the L parts on the inside. It doesn't feel quite as solid of a build as the L, but other than that and the red ring, it basically is. Optically it's GORGEOUS! I rented it the other day and WOW... I really think I'm getting it. I just sold my EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM last night and am happy because that will go toward the 17-55. I also have a 70-200 2.8 IS and I think between those two... most everything is covered. I also have a 60mm Macro, the 50 1.4, and two ultra wide angles... a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 (which will arrive today) and a Tokina 10-17mm fisheye. Between those, and my other lenses... I think I'm covered! :)

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

I just got mines! It is "optically" awesome but the "dust" issue is a problem. I notice I have some specs under the front element. Less than a day old. Because of this, I'm gonna return it. I think in the long run.....it will become a problem. I've read too much stories about this. I don't want to take a chance.

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

I hear a lot of "dust" complaints, but I have never had any issue with dust, and it has been my workhorse for over a year. I have both the 17-55 and the 24-70, but if I could only have one, it would unquestionably be the 17-55. it is truly outstanding and where it really shines is in the low light. I cropped the image below from an image I took the Sunday night before Christmas looking at the decorated village with the family. I hand held this shot at 1/25.

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50D, EF-S 17-55mm IS USM, 1/25, f/2.8, ISO 1600, cropped with DPP

I could not have done this with my 24-70 -- I can not hand hold at 1/25 with sharp results, and certainly not with a 24-105, ISO too high with my 50D. this image is truly sharp at original size. You can see from Mrs. Chris the truism that IS does not stop movement.

Chris

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan

but I'm starting to realize that the image clarity isn't up to par with what I want in my photography.

I'm surprised you don't think the 24-105 is sharp. It's one of my sharpest lenses. Yes, it's not as sharp as my 70-200 f/4 IS, but keep in mind that the 24-105 is a wide-to-tele 4x zoom, whereas the 70-200 is a tele-to-tele 3x zoom. And, yes, it is a bit soft in the long end, but I personally appreciate the extra reach when I don't want to carry the 70-200.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan

I keep saying, an EF 24-70 2.8 L-series with IS would be KILLER!

...at probably $2,000 and with 50% more weight than the 24-105. Nah, I'll stick to my 24-105 me thinks. [:D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan

The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is practically an L-series lens...

No, it's not. Yes, IQ is supposed to be very good. But build quality seems to be similar to the 10-22, which I've always found to be subpar for $700 (and at $1,000 for the 17-55 I'd expect nothing but outstanding build quality). I recently dropped my 24-105 from a non-trivial height; it just carried on working and hasn't shown any issues since. I'm sure the 17-55 would have ended up in pieces...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris White

I can not hand hold at 1/25 with sharp results, and certainly not with a 24-105,

Chris, I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here. Why if you can handhold the 24-70 at a certain shutter speed, you cannot do the same with the 24-105? The IS on the latter is wonderful. I've got down to 1/4sec with it on a few occasions and I managed to get great and sharp results. Yes, I had to shoot a few frames to make sure I get at least one good one, but without IS I would have got no good ones.

1/4 sec:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Air/Lockheed-SR-71A-Blackbird/1574849/L/

1/6 sec:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/US-Airways/Embraer-ERJ-190-100IGW-190AR/1625747/L/

Tony

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Printezis

Chris, I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here. Why if you can handhold the 24-70 at a certain shutter speed, you cannot do the same with the 24-105? The IS on the latter is wonderful. I've got down to 1/4sec with it on a few occasions and I managed to get great and sharp results. Yes, I had to shoot a few frames to make sure I get at least one good one, but without IS I would have got no good ones.

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Tony, you do have a point with the 24-105, since I do not have any
experience with it I was making a calculated leap that I would lose some
quality at slower shutter speeds that the IS would not help me with. This photo
is with my 17-55, which is tied with my 70-200 2.8 IS as my favorite lens; my
keeper rate with both is in the range of 99%. Usually images with those two I
choose not to keep are the "carpenter" and not the "tool"
to use the old saying. I find that with my 24-70 my keeper rate declines significantly
after about 1/100, hand held. Shooting my daughter's basketball games, there is
generally enough light to make the 24-70 very usable without IS. Thus, the
reason I have 2.8's vs. the 24-105 IS is that I am frequently trying to keep up
with moving subjects. Moreover, although I am sure I could get great background
with the 24-105 during the games, the players are moving too quickly for the
f/4 given available light.

Jordan's thread start was his desire to get rid of his 24-105, which he did.
Personally, I have not heard anyone displeased with that lens, until Jordan. I,
like so many, was debating between it and the 24-70 before I got the 24-70. His
main choice it seemed to most of us was the 17-55 or the 24-70. I have both of
these, I like both and I use both for different things. If I could only keep
one or had to get one first, it would be the 17-55.

Having said that if Canon indeed comes out with a 24-70 IS I would look to
trade them both towards it. [:D]<span><o:p></o:p>

In other threads, however, others whose opinions I respect have made a case
that Canon has other needs before the excellent and relatively new 24-70 gets a
rework.

Chris

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

Well said Chris!

I want to make clear that I don't dislike the EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM, but rather that I would prefer to have a $1000 tied up in a lens that I can make some serious money with (i.e. portraits, weddings, other events etc...) and though the pictures from the 24-105 aren't bad... they are not the quality that I would get from the other lenses... especially in relatively low light. Because of that alone, I would prefer to go with a lens that is faster and a little sharper. I would love to have the 24-105 still... it's a great walk-around lens and vacation lens and such, but I just think that it's $1000 that I could put toward something that will make me more money. I did indeed sell that lens and though I'm sad to see it go, I'm happy to look toward the future and probably put that money into an EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. The build quality of that lens certainly isn't L-build, but the IQ is INSANE. I baby my lenses... I'm not a National Geographic photographer who is laying in my and trekking through deserts... so I figure it's no big deal. Also, the 24-105 is said to have dust issues (as I think someone above commented). I have heard this from several places, and though I haven't experienced it with mine, it is another point for the "sell the lens" side of the debate. Please don't think I don't like that lens though, I do... just figure my money can be put to better use elsewhere!

- Jordan

www.freshphotohawaii.com

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris White

I was making a calculated leap that I would lose some
quality at slower shutter speeds that the IS would not help me with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris White

Shooting my daughter's basketball games, there is
generally enough light to make the 24-70 very usable without IS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris White

Moreover, although I am sure I could get great background
with the 24-105 during the games, the players are moving too quickly for the
f/4 given available light.

Chris, yes, I actually totally agree with you. If you want to shoot fast moving subjects in low light (as you do), the IS will not help you therefore the f/2.8 lens is the one for you. If you want to shoot stationary subjects in low light (as I do), the IS will definitely be of great help and the f/4 IS lens is the one for you (actually: for me!). This is I think the best way to determine which of the two one really needs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris White

Having said that if Canon indeed comes out with a 24-70 IS I would look to
trade them both towards it.

Despite what I said earlier, yes, if the price is right I might actually consider it too! I think I'll eventually move to a FF body, so another reason I might consider switching to a potential 24-70 f/2.8 IS would be if the corners on a FF body would be better than with the 24-105.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris White

In other threads, however, others whose opinions I respect have made a case
that Canon has other needs before the excellent and relatively new 24-70 gets a
rework.

I wouldn't be surprised if Canon upgrades the 24-70 soon (and IS would be a non-brainer for it!). The 70-200 f/2.8 IS is not that old and Canon already has a replacement lined up... and the 24-70 is a very popular lens. Personally, there are some other lenses I'd rather see upgraded instead (e.g., 50 1.4 II with a proper USM motor, 17-40 II with better borders on FF, 400 5.6 IS), but a 24-70 replacement with IS would not surprised me at all!

Regards,

Tony

Re: Opinions: Ditch my 24-105 f/4 L for what? + poll

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Printezis

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris White

Having said that if Canon indeed comes out with a 24-70 IS I would look to
trade them both towards it.

Despite what I said earlier, yes, if the price is right I might actually consider it too! I think I'll eventually move to a FF body, so another reason I might consider switching to a potential 24-70 f/2.8 IS would be if the corners on a FF body would be better than with the 24-105.

The corners on the current 24-70 are already considerably sharper than 24-105 on FF. Much less CA too.