Help me choose an L series walkabout lens

Kol

Kol

Kol

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Hi guys,

I'm still reading dpreview and a variety of other sites, but my actual ability to decide is pretty poor. I need a lens for my camera, and previously having owned L glass I think it makes more economic sense for me to buy L glass now rather than waste by going through a variety of lenses, lose money and then eventually buy L glass again.

I'm looking to get a walkabout lens, so wanted to get your opinions on what you reckon would be the most sensible and offer the greatest value for money. The three lenses I've narrowed it down to are:

17-40 F4 L
24-70 F2.8 L
24-105 F4 L

Money wise, the 17-40 is the cheapest but the 24-70 offers the extra stop and slightly longer range. My issue with the 24-105 is being such a range it may suffer loss in quality more than the other too. My initial thinking is the 24-70 but I've also heard that it can be a little soft until around F4 anyway so might be a waste?

Has anyone used all three or at least digested the reviews better than me? I'm tempted to buy used if I can find a very well looked after one, but the cost isn't a massive issue, I just want to know I'm getting value for money.
 
first i would decide on the focal range you want/use the most

17-40 is wide only
the 24-70 gives extra stop
the 24-105 gives extra reach

which is more important to you ?
 
Are you putting it on a crop body or full frame? 17-40 is way too wide for a full frame walkabout, but on a crop is not too bad (roughly 28-65mm equivalent, or wide to standard lens if you prefer). 24 can sometimes be a little 'narrow' on a crop body.

Otherwise what Paul said above :)
 
That's one of my problems, so indecisive because there isn't anything that I shoot more often. I'm simply an amateur who will snap away. I think the 24-70 could be the winner here, but for general walkabout do I need the extra reach or say the 24-105? Is it sharp enough at the long end?

The lens will sit on my 40D so a crop body aye.
 
I'd probably go with the 24-70 for the shallow depth of field and low light potential, because reach can always be achieved by another lens, DoF is much harder to gain.
 
Exactly - I think it was just reassurance that I was making a good choice.
 
24-70 is a great lens..

heavy as they come

but a great lens

you wont go wrong with it and they hold their value, so if for any reason your not happy you can always sell it

(thats what i tell myself when i buy new lenses)
 
Ha, that's my thinking also - the used prices are massively lower than new prices so I won't lose much (though the idea is to keep it for a looong time anyway). I will see about trying one out - maybe I should hire one or something for a weekend.
 
For a crop body the 17-55mm is a nicer range. Not officially an L lens but the quality is nearly the same. Almost half the price of the 24-70mm too. So unless your going full frame at some point... otherwise, another vote for the 24-70, speed is much more useful than range!
 
For a crop body, the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS, no questions asked.
You can combine the best of both 2.8 and IS, along with a much more useful rnage on a crop body, with a lower price tag. The only reason it doesn't get an L designation is because the build quality is not Pro (just very good I guess). L doesn't so mcuh mean the best optical quality (not all L glass is very good), more the focus and build are the highest standards.

I have never used the Canon 17-55 IS 2.8 but I'm sure suer are happy with build and focusing.


One lens I wish Nikon had a like for like substitute (not an optically weaker and more expensive version without IS/VR, at least it has full PRo build quality but with the associated weight).
 
And on a crop body it is even more important to get that 2.8 glass.

You need the extra stop of light and you need the reduced DoF for portraiture (crop sensor have about 1 and 1/3rd extra stop of DoF.
 
My decision to get the 24-105L was based on the fact that I also do film on a canon EOS1 which of course needs an EF lens.
It's a trade-off against resources, I wish I could afford both!
 
I have used both the 24-70 and 24-105 and IMO the 24-70 is superb. You get that extra stop and to be honest the weight is not a problem. Use this lens pretty much all of the time.

Try to get a good 2nd hand one - mine was 2nd hand and is still selling on ebay for around the price I paid for it. Use it on a 5D, but when I used it on my D30 I still preferred it.

Cheers

Dipper
 
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