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Thread: My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?

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    My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?



    I have read all the posts on here and still haven't decided, either wayI will be getting a quality product so that's the good part. I currently have the Canon Rebel T2i with:


    EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 Kit Lens


    EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro


    430EXII Flash


    I am looking for a general purpose lens to carry around on my camera most of the time (80% outdoor use). I also plan on purchasing a FF(5D or equivalent) in 2 years or so. I also plan on adding the following 2 lenses before i buy the 5D:


    EF 50mm f/1.4 and


    <span id="btAsinTitle"]Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM


    <span>I just got the 15-85 from Amazon for $699 and the snaps look good, but for $300 more i could get an L series with comparable IQ and quality that would work in the 5D. Also, I will not sell the Kit Lens which could cover the 18-24 Range if needed.


    <span>


    <span>With that being said should i purchase the EFS 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6or EF24-105mm f/4?


    <span>Thanks in advance...

  2. #2
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    Re: My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?



    If I were in your shoes I would:


    1)Keep the 15-85 and sell the 18-55, unless the latter is still needed for something (small size and weight). The 24-105 is likely to be not wide enough.


    2) Get the 50 and 70-200 in the meantime, like planned.


    3)When the time comes sell the 15-85 (and possibly the T2i) and get a full frame body and the 24-105 oranotherfull frame lens (24-70 2.8 IS??)


    My 2 pennies...

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    Re: My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?



    Hi,


    I have a t2i for almost a year and have the 15-85, the 17-55 2.8, and I can "borrow" the 24-105 when I want.


    In terms of an outdoor zoom, I use the 15-85 the most (more range than the 17-55) and the difference between 85 and 105 is not that much and I can always crop, since most of my prints are 4 x 6 up to an occasional 8 x 10. Its also the lightest of the three and has the newest IS. There are lots of comparisons of these lenses online, including the 24-105 on a crop sensor, but from my copies, I like the image quality from my 17-55 followed by the 15-85 and then the 24-105 as a very close third.


    Obviously, if you dont use the wide end and prefer a longer lens based on what you shoot, then go for the 24-105. But, if you are looking for a single outdoor zoom, which also works pretty well indoors with the 430exii, my vote is for the 15-85. You could take your $300 "savings" and put it into a fast prime. The 85 1.8 and the 100 2.0 are pretty decent and are faster than the zooms, both of them around $400. You could also get your 50 1.4 even sooner...


    Best of luck. If you are going to buy, dont forget prices are going up on 2/1.

  4. #4
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    Re: My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?



    Thank you much for your help! Why will prices go up on the 1st? Does Canon do an annual price increase?

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    Re: My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?



    Quote Originally Posted by huskermba
    . I also plan on purchasing a FF(5D or equivalent) in 2 years or so.

    For me, 2 years is way too long to live with a suboptimal lens (24-105) on a crop camera. I'd much rather go through the hassle of selling the 15-85 in two years. (Or even keep it for the times when you want 2 cameras -- such as when your 5D2 breaks).

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    Re: My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?



    Thanks for all your input.. i

  7. #7
    Senior Member neuroanatomist's Avatar
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    Re: My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?



    Hi, and welcome to the TDP Forums!


    I would definitely recommend going with the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS over the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. But, I'll try to run through the pros and cons of both lenses.


    The 15-85mm is one of Canon's two excellent general purpose zooms for a crop body (the other is the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS). Of the two, I think the 17-55mm is better for indoor/outdoor use, while the 15-85mm is better if the primary use will be outdoors, as is the case for you. For indoor use, it really needs a flash - and you've already got that well covered.


    The 24-105mm is a very nice lens, but not really wide enough for general purpose use on a 1.6x crop body (it starts at 38mm FF equivalent, meaning it's not really even wide angle). Optical quality of the 15-85mm vs. 24-105mm is pretty similar, so that's not a real differentiator. However, optical quality of both is much better than the kit lens, so you would likely find yourself not reaching for the 18-55mm even if you keep it, or find yourself less happy with shots between 18-24mm taken with that lens instead of the 24-105mm, if you go that route.


    The 24-105mm is definitely better built than the 15-85mm (and the latter is much better built that the kit lens). One reason I initially bought the 24-105mm was for the weather-sealing. However, weather-sealing only helps with a sealed body (e.g. 7D), which the T2i is not.


    I agree with Daniel that 2 years is too long to use a lens that's not ideal for your current needs. You plan to get a FF body in two years, but maybe you'll find yourself shooting mainly wildlife or sports, in which case the 7D (Mark II at that point, probably) would be a better bet. Also, if you do get a FF camera, that's the time to get the 24-105mm. It's the 'kit lens' for the 5D series, meaning when purchased with the body you're only paying $800 for the lens, instead of the nearly $1100 for the lens alone (when I got my 24-105mm, I bought it used, then when I later got the 5DII, I sold the used copy for the $800 which covered the cost of the lens with the kit).


    Canon does raise their prices periodically. There was an increase in 2008, another in 2009. If you go HERE, you'll see some information on this latest <s>gouge</s> price increase. At that site, you can also click on a lens name, then scroll down, and you'll see a plot of average pricingfor that lensover the last few years.


    Hope that helps, and good luck with your decision!


    --John

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    Re: My situation: Should I buy the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 or 24-105mm f/4?



    John, thanks for that info.. i thought about the 17-55 too, but I elected to go with the 15-85mm (which i have been using for a week) and ordering the 50mm f/1.4 today before it gets a 10% price increase.. you

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