Looking for a generalist short to mid-range zoom lens

[jaomul]

The gap between 35-70 is not important to you, but I'd say 75% of my portraits are in there

Thats cause you are on a crop. 99% of mine are in the 85-135 range. On a FF that range is kinda "meh". That was my feeling with the 24-70 2.8 I rented. I loved that sharpness and quality but the range was kinda blah. The lack of IS really hurts too as it would be a great video lens.

I had ff and may buy one again, and if so I kind of agree, focal lengths that are useful vary on different formats. I was however only stating my opinion on focal length relative to my use. The OP does also use a crop

 

[bratkinson]

Knowing I would one day go full frame - and did, 2 years ago - when I started replacing my EF-S lenses, a 24-105 f4L was my first purchase, followed by a 16-35 f2.8L ii for 'wider' shots. A year later, I bought a 24-70 f2.8L i but didn't like it because it lacked IS and was just plain too heavy on my 60D. So it was gone in less than 3 months.

I couldn't be happier with the 24-105. It's the lens that's on my camera 70% or more of the time...and on the 60D when I had that, too. And, as Derrel indicated, there's many 24-105 Ls available used as well as new white-box from kits, all at a good price. When buying used, other than 'mint like' appearance and clear glass, I look very hard at the contacts. To me, that will tell how many times the lens has been on and off a camera.

My current lens lineup is 16-35L, 24-105L, 80-200L, and 135L, all Canon. High on my list of zoom lens criteria is overlapping zoom ranges. While the 24-70 is an outstanding lens, even the mark i, with a 70-200 to go with it, I envision too many times when the 24-70 is mounted and you want to zoom in to about 80-90 mm, so you have to move closer or switch lenses. Having the 24-105 avoids that problem.

Many here and elsewhere complain that f4 is too slow, or the 24-105 isn't sharp enough. The only time I found the f4 too slow was low light work and I had to shoot at ISO 3200 on my 60D, and I was STILL in 1/10-1/40 shutter speed territory. So I had to take about 20 shots from a monopod to get one with zero subject movement. So be it. The 5Diii cured the ISO problem. Others are concerned with its sharpness. Once I performed MFA on it on the 5Diii, I'd say it's a match for the 70-200 mark i in IQ. So no complaints from me whatsoever.

Would a 3rd party 24-105 or something similar work for the OP? Probably so. Performing MFA might be a little more complicated, but shouldn't present any problems.

 

[gsgary]

You don't need IS on the 24-70 mine will be for sale soon

 

[chuasam]

If you shoot professionally, just get the canon 24-70/2.8 II if not, the sigma or tamron should do nicely.


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[Overread]

If you shoot professionally, just get the canon 24-70/2.8 II if not, the sigma or tamron should do nicely.

What if I'm a professional amateur?

 

[chuasam]

If you shoot professionally, just get the canon 24-70/2.8 II if not, the sigma or tamron should do nicely.

What if I'm a professional amateur?

Then that's still an amateur so go with sigma.


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