Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L question

[cls]

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.

[clemmb]

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

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.

[Photog82]

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.

[conropl]

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).

[Sheiky]

+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.

[M_Six]

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.

[Photog82]

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.

[MaartenOtto]

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?

[Sheiky]

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.

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.

[cls]

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.)