Age-old debate: EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM or EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

**Chris White** · 12-27-2009, 02:09 PM

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<p class="MsoNormal"]I am wrestling with that age-old debate: EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L
USM or EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM.
<p class="MsoNormal"]My current gear is:

<span style="font-family: Symbol;"]<span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;"]
50D
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"]<span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;"]
EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM – (seldom used these
days due to my other two listed below)
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"]<span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;"]
EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"]<span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;"]
EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"]<span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;"]
Speedlite 580EX II

<p class="MsoNormal"]I really like the f/2.8 as you can see, but I also like the
IS. This seemed like an easy decision as I saved for it, but now when it is
time to order, it seems to have gotten complicated.
<p class="MsoNormal"]I do a lot of photography at my children’s school and my
church using my f/2.8s without a flash and with great results. At the afternoon
and evening productions of the school Christmas play I took 319 shots and 317
were keepers, not an uncommon result with this gear.
<p class="MsoNormal"]I was leaning towards the 24-105, but I am now not sure that
I would not regret not having the f/2.8 I have become so accustomed to. Since I
always use the IS, I do not know how dependent I have become on it. Back in the
day I used to get great results with my Pentax MX with manual everything. I
took wedding to drag racing photos with very good results.
<p class="MsoNormal"]I know the ideal solution would be to get both, but for now
that is not an option, although down the road…
<p class="MsoNormal"]My questions are:

<li class="MsoNormal"]I would use a lower ISO
with the f/2.8 and stop more indoor action, how much would I miss the IS?
<li class="MsoNormal"]Conversely, if I am not
stopping action, would I be better off with the extra reach and the IS?
<li class="MsoNormal"]How important is IS on a
1.6 crop body using the 24-70mm?
<li class="MsoNormal"]Is 24-70 too close to my
17-55?

<p class="MsoNormal"]I welcome any advice and experience all of you can offer. My
deadline for the 24-70 is the end of the current rebates in two weeks, so I want to make a decision by next weekend to avoid a back order situation.
<p class="MsoNormal"]Chris

Thread: Age-old debate: EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM or EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

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Age-old debate: EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM or EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

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