24-105 Refurb or get a new one?

[peety3]

I'm a firm believer that the 24-105 is valued at $600, since that's the typical price premium on kits that include it. You should be able to get them new-in-box for $599 from many folks who bought the kit and want to unload their lens unused. I'd suspect Canon's fee for clean/check/simple repair to be around $225 (we paid $216 for a simple repair on our 16-35/2.8II about three years ago). I'd keep all of that in mind as you make your choices.

[Busted Knuckles]

I'm a firm believer that the 24-105 is valued at $600, since that's the typical price premium on kits that include it. You should be able to get them new-in-box for $599 from many folks who bought the kit and want to unload their lens unused. I'd suspect Canon's fee for clean/check/simple repair to be around $225 (we paid $216 for a simple repair on our 16-35/2.8II about three years ago). I'd keep all of that in mind as you make your choices.

plus shipping to/from - basically gets north $250 perhaps even closing in on $300. Which might be worth it for a sort of back up/ knock around type lens. Was looking at the Sigma, but it doesn't appear to be a net better performer, even the new 24-70 f4 is more expensive and doesn't sound like it steps up much except in the macro mode, and I like the reach of the 105.

4x zoom provides quite a reach, so perhaps the compromise of IQ at the long end is a physics issue.

Ponder, ponder, ponder. Meanwhile I will be shipping the lens to Canon shortly.