Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L question

I'm considering purchasing this lens to replace my Canon EF 28-135 lens. I've found that this lens has been around for 7 years now. I'm wondering, if this lens is aging now and should I wait for a MKII? I'm also concerned that the MKII will be much more as recent lens releases from Canon have gone up in price.

I have a 40D that I'm attempting to sell and want to either purchase the 60D or 7D. I'm not planning moving to a FF body as they cost too much for me and I'd rather spending the money on glass.

Any insight, advise, etc would be appreciated. Thank you!

Edit (added my lenses):
Canon 10-22
Canon 70-300
Canon 50 1.8
Canon 28-135

Since you are going from a Kit lens would this be your first lens upgrade? If so I think there are better choices since you are not going full frame, such as the EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=CA175528IS&N=0

I think it will be a few years before you see a 24-105mm II. Canon is using it as a kit lens for the new 5D III, I would think if they were going to replace it they would have done it in advance of the 5D III release. Most likely it will jump in price like the 24-70mm did.

I think the 24-105mm f/4L IS is an excellent lens - the ideal general purpose zoom for full frame, but a nice outdoor walkaround lens on APS-C as long as you don't mind that it normal-to-tele and lacks the wide angle focal lengths (pr maybe you have an APS-C ultrawide zoom to cover that). I do agre with Rick that the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is the best general purpose zoom for APS-C.

I'd not wait for a MkII of the 24-105 - the current lens is the kit lens for the 5DIII, meaning it's likely to be around in it's current form for some time, and a new version will certainly be a lot more expensive if Canon's recent trends are any sort of guide.

You might consider buying a resold new copy - especially with the 5DIII coming out, a lot of people who buy a 5-series body buy the 24-105mm lens too, and sell it new in the white box. The lens adds $800 to the kit price, so they're commonly sold for ~$900.

I updated my original post with my current lenses. I think the 17-55 is too short on the long end for what I'd use my "walk around lens" for. I generally like to use the 28-135 for sunsets, zooming out (and if that's not enough I use the 10-22) and then zooming in on interesting areas. I also use it for certain landscape shots as well, it varies as I swap between the 10-22 and 28-135.

As long as you don't mind switching lenses, the 10-22 + 24-105 is a nice combo - great IQ and lots of versatility.

have the 24-105. Use it on both 5Dii and 7D. I find it works very nicely on 7D, which takes advantage of the centre of the image circle. Biggest drawback is f4 limit. 24-70(v1 or 2) would fit nicely in with your other lenses if you think that f2.8 is an advantage for your intended usage. Otherwise it sounds like there aren't going to be too many other options that will meet your stated needs.

I'm going to wait for the snow to melt here in Maine before I rent the lens, just to give it a good test but I am leaning towards it. You all have some good points on the lens being paired with the 5D MKIII.

I was more curious if the lens is showing it's age- it sounds like an odd question but I've never used it before. I'd love to buy the lens @ $800 new. :)

If you're happy with that focal length range on a crop body, then the 24-105 is the best choice. If you could make do with a shorter focal length and slower f-number, the 15-85 would be a great option -- I would guess that it has noticeably higher contrast and resolution than the 24-105 (which is already very sharp).

It's possible that a new 24-105 could come out any day now, or it might be another 5 years. Nobody knows so I just don't worry about it. :) One safe bet, though, is that it will cost a whole lot more, as you suspect.

How about you find a buddy or someone on the forum that is upgrading that wouldn't mind buying it with a kit lens and re selling it. There seems to be a few people pre ordering the 5D III.

Personally though I am a little negative toward the 24-105mm. When I had my 50D I bought the 24-105mm to upgrade from the 28-135mm, I returned it after about four days and got the 24-70mm instead. Indoor performance at F4 was lacking and I really wanted the F/2.8. Then again after I bought my primes I wasn't happy with the 24-70mm so maybe I can't be pleased. If you had the cash and could make the stretch the new 24-70mm II might just be the ultimate. The charts for the lens are showing that it will have incredible IQ, possibly very close to what we get out of the L primes now.

I'd have to test the 24-70; it does seem to be an excellent lens and am looking forward to reviews however it's currently out of my price range. I also like the extra reach of the 105.

I suppose I could also rent the 24-70 I and see how it works out but I like that extra reach for sunrises/sunsets. I'm basically looking for a lens with better IQ/build quality than what I have now that is close to the focal range.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Photog82

I'm basically looking for a lens with better IQ/build quality than what I have now that is close to the focal range.

---

Then you've probably found what you're looking for. I've never used the 28-135 lens so I can't be sure the 24-105 is better, but I simply can't believe that a zoom lens with that focal length range could be made much better than the 24-105. Sure, it has some shortcomings (mainly barrel distortion), but they are more or less automatically compensated in the RAW-processing.

If you're about to buy one it would - as already pointed out - be a good idea to wait until the 5D3 kits have reached the market. Then there will be both new kit lenses and probably lots of used 24-105 copies for sale.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Photog82

I also like the extra reach of the 105.

---

I have two 24-105's. My photography tends towards the long end as well. I have wider lenses for when I have the need but most of the time my 24-105 is at the long end so this is the best walk around lens for me. I see most people say they need the f2.8 for indoors yet the 24-70 does not have IS and the 24-105 does. I use this lens at weddings in dim light hand held and do not have a problem. Here is an example hand held @ 105mm f5.0 ISO 800
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6...2b70ea18_z.jpg
IMG_0159 by clemmb60, on Flickr

My old XTi was too noisy at ISO 800 but my 5D and 1DmkIIn are expectable in my book. I know the 7D has more noise than my 5D or even than my 1D but I think still expectable at ISO 800.

I think that I'm going to rent the 24-105 sooner than I planned, to test it out outside and inside. I like the sounds of the 24-17/17-55 but they are sort of short but could be better for indoor photos. Canon gives us too many options. :)

If I decide to go with the 105 then I'll try to strike a deal with someone here.

Edit: Clemmbb, nice shot! Our wedding was primarily shot with that lens as well.

I have a simular gear set as you do except I have the 24-105mm. With my 7D, the combination of 10-20mm (Sigma in my case) and the 24-105mm works really well together. And I agree with Mark... the fact that the 24-105mm has IS is a plus that does get glossed over sometimes. I like the lens... I do tend to shoot more outdoors so the f/4 does not bother me that much; but if I do use it indoors with little light, then the flash is an option. The main probelm I have is the CA, but that is more than adiquately controled automatically in post processing with lens correction (as is the barrel distortion as cls commented on above).

+1 on the 24-105. I wouldn't trade mine for the 24-70. The range of the 24-105 is very nice. Perfect holiday and walk-around lens. The f4 aperture doesn't bother me at all. It's wide enough for my normal photos. Only with night shots I sometimes wish I had a fast wide-angle lens. However f2.8 would only be a little better. The image quality of the 24-105 is just very good. Combined with the awesome IS system, it's a great lens and very flexibly usable.

My 24-105 lives on my camera unless I need something wider or faster, which isn't all that often. I'd like some longer glass, as 105mm is sometimes not enough reach, but that will be down the road a few months. Most of the pics I've posted on this forum were taken with the 24-105. It's an amazing lens.

How would I go about setting up a deal with someone on this lens with the 5D MKIII preorder? I've rented the lens, it should be in on Thursday and will have it for a wekk so I can test it out to see if I really like it.

I have seen the review of this lens and it raised a question.

Currently I have a Tamron XR di 17-50 f2.8 and a Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L is. That leaves me with a 50 mm gap which sometimes results in a bit of frustration when I can not get the picture I want.

So I thought about the 24-105 f4. Will this lens still provide me with good quality pictures at cloudy conditions with objects moving around 50 km/h (1:320 to 1:400 shutter speed) without going above 400 ISO (I find higher ISO settings on the 40D to give to much noise)

Or is that too much to ask from this lens?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MaartenOtto

Currently I have a Tamron XR di 17-50 f2.8 and a Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L is. That leaves me with a 50 mm gap which sometimes results in a bit of frustration when I can not get the picture I want.

---

If you are thinking about replacing the Tamron with the Canon, you must consider that you are going to fill the gap from 50-100mm which sound like a lot. However you end up with a loss from 17-24mm. Which has quite an impact on your wide-angle capabilities.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MaartenOtto

So I thought about the 24-105 f4. Will this lens still provide me with good quality pictures at cloudy conditions with objects moving around 50 km/h (1:320 to 1:400 shutter speed) without going above 400 ISO (I find higher ISO settings on the 40D to give to much noise)Or is that too much to ask from this lens?

---

Your question is a bit unclear to me. You normally shoot at f2.8 with those settings and you ask if you can go up to f4 and bump your ISO one stop and get the same quality? Is that what you mean? A lens does not control noise, the camera does.

Hi, during daylight f/4 is fast enough even if it's cloudy. (Think 1/100, f/16 at ISO100 when sunny. Maybe 3 stops darker when cloudy. That's 1/50 at ISO400, f/16. At f/4 that corresponds to 1/800.)

The Tamron will still join me on my trails across the UK when I need a wide angle (mostly signal boxes and locomotive maintenance sheds). The question is if I'll be able to get pictures that will be light enough (so no extreme photoshopping) at cloudy days when I set the camera to f8, shutter speed at 1/400 and ISO not higher then 400. (I just don't want dark shots)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MaartenOtto

The question is if I'll be able to get pictures that will be light enough (so no extreme photoshopping) at cloudy days when I set the camera to f8, shutter speed at 1/400 and ISO not higher then 400. (I just don't want dark shots)

---

The 24-105 will let in the same amount of light at these settings as your Tamron will(at the same settings), so you'd just have to test the settings if they are good. If they aren't you should adapt your settings to the situation. Either bump ISO, open up your aperture or change your shutter-speed. You must make changes if settings prove to be wrong. Regardless what lens is used.

The lens just came in (rental), unfortunately a light snow fall has hit and I wasn't able to test TOO much just yet. I'm looking forward to the weather this weekend.

My first impressions is that the lens is heavier than I expected, about 10 ounces heavier than the 28-135. I understand now what people mean by this lens being sharp and having better color straight from the camera. I shot a snowy bog with the 24-105 and 28-135 and i can see the difference. So far, I'm impressed.

It's hard to say good bye once you need to turn it in again:o

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

I think the 24-105mm f/4L IS is an excellent lens - the ideal general purpose zoom for full frame, but a nice outdoor walkaround lens on APS-C as long as you don't mind that it normal-to-tele and lacks the wide angle focal lengths (pr maybe you have an APS-C ultrawide zoom to cover that). I do agre with Rick that the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is the best general purpose zoom for APS-C.

I'd not wait for a MkII of the 24-105 - the current lens is the kit lens for the 5DIII, meaning it's likely to be around in it's current form for some time, and a new version will certainly be a lot more expensive if Canon's recent trends are any sort of guide.

You might consider buying a resold new copy - especially with the 5DIII coming out, a lot of people who buy a 5-series body buy the 24-105mm lens too, and sell it new in the white box. The lens adds $800 to the kit price, so they're commonly sold for ~$900.

---

I'm pretty happy with the lens, I have to send it back tomorrow however am hoping to set up a deal with someone purchasing the 5DIII.

Sell the 28-135. Put that money into the 24-105. You can get one from Canon refurb, for a tad under nine bills with the promo code on the home page. As others have said, dont look for an upgrade to this lens any time soon.

Used it for just a day and I already have a confirmation that one of the photo's will be published in a Railways related magazine, fingers crossed for the front cover...

But I'm not sure to buy it... It's a lot of money and I think a 28mm Canon Prime lens might offer the same quality at a more decent value.

I hope you've got luck with your cover-photo! It's definitely not a cheap lens and yes some primes will offer the same or even better IQ at the same settings. But it does offer a nice range, IS and fast USM. Things that primes in that range don't necessarily have. But there are definitely some options in the prime-department at this range. Check some other threads if you need more info.
I personally have thought about buying the Canon 28mm f2.8 for the times I need a lightweight kit. It does seem to perform reasonably good wide open and it's cheap. Second hand it's a real bargain.