Canon 24-70 2.8 mkII reviewed by DRev

ElDude said:
While we're talking about expensive nice places, I've always wanted to go http://www.tokyo.park.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-tokyo-park/index.jsp?null <-- there ever since seeing lost in translation. Okay, not exactly what we're talking about, but it's so nice :) If you zoom the map out far enough, it's only a thumb away :D
Click to expand...

I went there a few years ago, just for a drink though didn't have a room there :)

I believe that the the bar area up on the top floor was used as the lobby in the film, or something like that my mate was telling me when we were there.

Am lucky that work are sending me to Japan in just over a month so get to go back for free :) Staying in Shinjuku but sadly not at the Park Hyatt :p
 
Ev0 said:
I went there a few years ago, just for a drink though didn't have a room there :)

I believe that the the bar area up on the top floor was used as the lobby in the film, or something like that my mate was telling me when we were there.

Am lucky that work are sending me to Japan in just over a month so get to go back for free :) Staying in Shinjuku but sadly not at the Park Hyatt :p
Click to expand...

When I first got my current job, I was planning on saving to go on holiday there, but as usual, life got in the way. I didn't look at prices when I posted the link the other day, but I do remember when I last looked a couple of years ago it was £345 a night!

Phate said:
Am I the only one that cannot stand this guy?

Turned it off after a couple of minutes :p
Click to expand...


Yes :D I can see why he'd irritate people as he's got a bit of a cocky self important way about him, but I've chosen to believe that's just his way of hiding nerves for the videos. Otherwise I'd have to hunt him down :D
 
He just doesn't give a hoot about anything or anyone, I like that! It means I can trust his opinion a bit more because of his negative bias!

Plus entertainments :p
 
ElDude said:
When I first got my current job, I was planning on saving to go on holiday there, but as usual, life got in the way. I didn't look at prices when I posted the link the other day, but I do remember when I last looked a couple of years ago it was £345 a night!
Click to expand...

Yeah it's around 350 a night I believe, annoyingly it's not on the work list of hotels in Tokyo to pick from, the regency hyatt is but not the park Hyatt.

Still not complaining though at a week there for free :)
 
Photozones review not so glowing?...

Fast standard zoom lenses are obviously very difficult to design. To date we never really thought "oh, this is it!". Unfortunately this also applies to the mighty Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 USM L II. Now this may sound worse than it really is. Considering the sum of its characteristics we'd still state that the lens has been improved over its predecessor but it is not perfect and regarding its sky high price tag we simply expected a little more.

That said the Canon lens is capable of delivering an outstanding center sharpness even at f/2.8 and across the zoom range. There's certainly more "punch" (contrast) at max. aperture now. The border region reaches a very high quality level at 24mm - and that's without the high field curvature that plagued the mk I here. The high quality remains intact at 40mm. However, there's an almost surprising drop in border quality at 70mm with resolution figures that are inferior compared to the old version of the lens. The vignetting and distortion characteristic is above average for a lens in this class. Lateral CAs are well controlled and not relevant from a real world perspective. The quality of the bokeh is pretty decent but not without flaws in certain situations. A very positive aspect is the virtual absence of bokeh fringing.
Typical for modern Canon L lenses, the mechanical quality is a shining aspect, of course, but then you also expect no less from such a pricey beast. Canon's USM drive offers an extremely fast AF and lack of noise is highly impressive.

The question of the day is, of course, whether this is "enough" compared to the impressive Tamron AF SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di USD VC ? Well, we have some doubts here. We'd say that among the primary criteria the Canon lens has an edge in terms of contrast (at max. aperture), build quality and it has a slightly better bokeh. However, the Tamron lens is as good in the lower zoom range and provides a much better border quality at 70mm. Additionally it has a unique selling point - an image stabilizer. So unless you're heading into a war zone (thus requiring max. equipment quality) a premium of one grand (EUR) over the Tamron lens seems a little excessive.

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/773-canon2470f28mk2ff
 
dannyjo22 said:
Photozones review not so glowing?...

Fast standard zoom lenses are obviously very difficult to design. To date we never really thought "oh, this is it!". Unfortunately this also applies to the mighty Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 USM L II. Now this may sound worse than it really is. Considering the sum of its characteristics we'd still state that the lens has been improved over its predecessor but it is not perfect and regarding its sky high price tag we simply expected a little more.

That said the Canon lens is capable of delivering an outstanding center sharpness even at f/2.8 and across the zoom range. There's certainly more "punch" (contrast) at max. aperture now. The border region reaches a very high quality level at 24mm - and that's without the high field curvature that plagued the mk I here. The high quality remains intact at 40mm. However, there's an almost surprising drop in border quality at 70mm with resolution figures that are inferior compared to the old version of the lens. The vignetting and distortion characteristic is above average for a lens in this class. Lateral CAs are well controlled and not relevant from a real world perspective. The quality of the bokeh is pretty decent but not without flaws in certain situations. A very positive aspect is the virtual absence of bokeh fringing.
Typical for modern Canon L lenses, the mechanical quality is a shining aspect, of course, but then you also expect no less from such a pricey beast. Canon's USM drive offers an extremely fast AF and lack of noise is highly impressive.

The question of the day is, of course, whether this is "enough" compared to the impressive Tamron AF SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di USD VC ? Well, we have some doubts here. We'd say that among the primary criteria the Canon lens has an edge in terms of contrast (at max. aperture), build quality and it has a slightly better bokeh. However, the Tamron lens is as good in the lower zoom range and provides a much better border quality at 70mm. Additionally it has a unique selling point - an image stabilizer. So unless you're heading into a war zone (thus requiring max. equipment quality) a premium of one grand (EUR) over the Tamron lens seems a little excessive.

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/773-canon2470f28mk2ff
Click to expand...
Although it is not easy to compare on photozone, it looks like the new canon doesn't really match the Nikon (and the Nikon is now 5 years old, these lenses are normally updated every 5-8 years). Most prominent at 70mm, the new canon looks a little disappointing for the money TBH.

Of Course some canonites will say who cares and they love their L primes, but the wide-normal pro zoom lens is one of the most important and highly sold premium lenses used by a majority of professionals. You don't see photojournalists pulling out their 35mm prime, most wedding togs will extensively use such lenses (in fact i have never seen a wedding tog who didn't have a 24-70 permanently attached to one of their cameras), the other camera would swap between a 70-700, 14-24/16-35 or the odd prime (105/135DC is popular on Nikon to get ultimate creamy bokeh)
 
It looks like Canon have issues with variation on this lens already, which just isn't good enough at this price level. TDP have had two which vary quite a lot. Then again the Nikon they have doesn't look great either, loads of purple fringing wide open.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

The new Tamron VC is probably going to do well. I'd be interested in having a play with one just to see if the build quality is there. I'm not convinced I could spend that much on a Tamron lens from the cheaper 17-50 and 28-75 I've used if there isn't a significant improvement in feel.
 
At the price Canon is releasing these lenses, they don't need to be better than the opposition in some areas, they need to be better in all areas.

Or do people think this is worth the price to them? (professionals and well off amateurs alike)

From the scattered reviews it just doesn't seem to command the asking price.
 
QC has taken a dive in recent years and yeah I agree, the price of such lenses isn't worth what you get in terms of optical performance because that performance should be 100% out of the box on 99% of samples IMO.

You expect that kind of thing from a non premium lens.

I think Sigma are on the right track in this regard now with the new lenses that come with user calibration adapters so you can tailor a lens to your camera and not have to send it away to be fixed.
 
mrk said:
QC has taken a dive in recent years and yeah I agree, the price of such lenses isn't worth what you get in terms of optical performance because that performance should be 100% out of the box on 99% of samples IMO.

You expect that kind of thing from a non premium lens.

I think Sigma are on the right track in this regard now with the new lenses that come with user calibration adapters so you can tailor a lens to your camera and not have to send it away to be fixed.
Click to expand...

Agree wholeheartedly. I really like sigma products so its nice to see them really stepping up. Also the finish on their newest lenses is faaaaar more appealing than it use to be. The 120-300 F2.8 new version gives even primes a run for their money at around a third less in cost!
 
James J said:
Agree wholeheartedly. I really like sigma products so its nice to see them really stepping up. Also the finish on their newest lenses is faaaaar more appealing than it use to be. The 120-300 F2.8 new version gives even primes a run for their money at around a third less in cost!
Click to expand...

That alignment adapter could very well swing huge sales for Sigma so long as they optics and af speed remain high.
 
One review stated that the adapter would allow you to calibrate and adjust focus settings so I imagine as long as the software isn't nerfed that we will be able to customise how quick we want the lenses to focus and other things.

Perhaps a modding community could emerge whereby "custom firmwares" are uploaded and shared around to do various things.

My mouth is watering already and it's the only real reason I've held off the 85mm 1.4 SIgma purchase as I really really want to get the 35mm then possibly sell the 50mm 1.4 and use that to buy the 85.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom