Which to choose - 24-105mm f/4 or the 70-200mm f/4

[ronlane]

I had pretty much made up my mind to trade in my 28-135mm and get a 24-105mm for the constant f4 aperture. When I got to my local shop to talk to them to see how much cash difference I needed, I got to looking and they had a couple of 70-200mm f/4's that would be cheaper for me at this time.

So now I'm really at a loss. My wish list has included a 70-200mm but it's been the 2.8.

So my question is this. Should I continue to save and get the 24-105mm or go ahead and get the 70-200mm and start saving for 24-105mm later?

I shoot portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports.

 

[bentcountershaft]

Is the 28-135 your only lens at this time?

 

[ronlane]

No bent. I have it a 50mm f1.8, 55-250mm kit, and a vivitar 200mm prime fd mount.

 

[bentcountershaft]

Tough call. I was going to recommend a prime if you didn't have one already. The 24-105 only gives you one stop better on the long end, which isn't a whole lot, but it can make a difference. Actually that might not be true. I don't know at what point the 28-135 goes to 5.6, so it actually might be less than that at the 105mm mark. The 70-200, any of them, will be a huge jump in focusing speed and at least some boost to a hell of a boost, depending on model in image quality, but you might miss the extra 50mm you have now. Maybe consider the better 70-300 that's available.

 

[ronlane]

Tough call. I was going to recommend a prime if you didn't have one already. The 24-105 only gives you one stop better on the long end, which isn't a whole lot, but it can make a difference. Actually that might not be true. I don't know at what point the 28-135 goes to 5.6, so it actually might be less than that at the 105mm mark. The 70-200, any of them, will be a huge jump in focusing speed and at least some boost to a hell of a boost, depending on model in image quality, but you might miss the extra 50mm you have now. Maybe consider the better 70-300 that's available.

Thanks bent. This summer, I was lucky enough to have a friend loan me a 70-200mm f/2.8, so I won't miss the 50mm, but not sure if I'll regret the f/4 over the f/2.8. If I can answer that question for myself, I may go that route and save for the 24-105mm.

 

[Juga]

How often do you shoot indoors or in low light should be the question you are asking yourself. The stop difference might be worth it if you are shooting indoors or low light often however if the sports and such are in reasonable light then maybe you won't miss that extra stop. I love my 24-105 but I also loved using the 70-200 f/2.8 VERY sharp and very quick focus. Tough call friendo...

 

[bratkinson]

I had a similar situation with an EF-S 18-135 and 55-250 on my 30D and later, 60D. But I knew I wanted to go full frame, having come from many years of 35mm photography. So, I replaced the 18-135 with a 24-105L. That got me constant aperture and noticably improved IQ. BUT...at the 24 end, the angle of view is that of a theoretical 38mm lens...not 'wide enough' for sometimes cramped indoor photography on the crop sensor 60D. That necessitated the addition of a 16-35 f2.8L for 'wider' needs. I also longed for the 70-200 f2.8L, but price wise, it was out of my range. So I found its predecessor, the 80-200 f2.8L 'magic drainpipe' in mint condition on ebay for about half of what a new 70-200 f2.8L mark i was going for. The 55-250 was sold shortly thereafter. And the 80-200 produces results every bit as good as the 70-200 AND it's black! A plus for me!

 

[ronlane]

How often do you shoot indoors or in low light should be the question you are asking yourself. The stop difference might be worth it if you are shooting indoors or low light often however if the sports and such are in reasonable light then maybe you won't miss that extra stop. I love my 24-105 but I also loved using the 70-200 f/2.8 VERY sharp and very quick focus. Tough call friendo...

Thank you for your help.

I had a similar situation with an EF-S 18-135 and 55-250 on my 30D and later, 60D. But I knew I wanted to go full frame, having come from many years of 35mm photography. So, I replaced the 18-135 with a 24-105L. That got me constant aperture and noticably improved IQ. BUT...at the 24 end, the angle of view is that of a theoretical 38mm lens...not 'wide enough' for sometimes cramped indoor photography on the crop sensor 60D. That necessitated the addition of a 16-35 f2.8L for 'wider' needs. I also longed for the 70-200 f2.8L, but price wise, it was out of my range. So I found its predecessor, the 80-200 f2.8L 'magic drainpipe' in mint condition on ebay for about half of what a new 70-200 f2.8L mark i was going for. The 55-250 was sold shortly thereafter. And the 80-200 produces results every bit as good as the 70-200 AND it's black! A plus for me!

Thank you.

 

[sm4him]

How about getting the 70-200 f/4 now, sell the 55-250, then save for the 24-105. Once you've got both of those, start saving for the 70-200 f/2.8. You can always resell the f/4 version in a year or two; I look at it as a really low cost way of "renting" a lens.
I'm not sure how much the f/4 version is, but let's say you pay $700 for it, then resell it in a year for just $550. You've paid $150 to "rent" the lens for an entire year.

 

[Juga]

How about getting the 70-200 f/4 now, sell the 55-250, then save for the 24-105. Once you've got both of those, start saving for the 70-200 f/2.8. You can always resell the f/4 version in a year or two; I look at it as a really low cost way of "renting" a lens.
I'm not sure how much the f/4 version is, but let's say you pay $700 for it, then resell it in a year for just $550. You've paid $150 to "rent" the lens for an entire year.

That's smart

 

[ronlane]

How about getting the 70-200 f/4 now, sell the 55-250, then save for the 24-105. Once you've got both of those, start saving for the 70-200 f/2.8. You can always resell the f/4 version in a year or two; I look at it as a really low cost way of "renting" a lens.
I'm not sure how much the f/4 version is, but let's say you pay $700 for it, then resell it in a year for just $550. You've paid $150 to "rent" the lens for an entire year.

Thanks Sharon, that is sort of the plan for now. Looking at throwing in a body upgrade in there probably before the 2.8.