Some (more) lens questions (Canon)..

[ajf]

Some of you may have seen my earlier thread anout replacing a Sigma 24-70mm for something with better image quality and ideally reach.

Still deciding what to do but a couple of ideas have popped up. Could really do qith some feedback on the relative merits of each lens in terms of quality etc.
They will be used on a crop body and i am happy with the focal lengths!

First option. Directly replace the Sigma 24-70mm with the ORIGINAL Canon 24-70mm.
Improves the image quality but not reach, but maybe i can just crop more.
Despite the newer version, I assume the original is still highly regarded?
I can get a used one for around £850.

Sigma 24-105mm-f4-dg-os-hsm |A
I gather this is one of the new 'Art' series which are getting good reviews, although I not found any reviews of this specific lens yet.
From what little I have found suggests it is better than the Canon equivelant, although imwas surprised on the negtaive comments on that one.
Extra reach, but is it enough to be useful. Hopefuly improves image quality. Loses F2.8. Have used this a lot for DOF on static photos so how much difference does dropping to f4 make here?

Downside is it's Sigma. Nothing against third party lenses but they do seem to be a bit hit and miss, from both experience and reviews.

 

[a1ex2001]

Some of you may have seen my earlier thread anout replacing a Sigma 24-70mm for something with better image quality and ideally reach.

Still deciding what to do but a couple of ideas have popped up. Could really do qith some feedback on the relative merits of each lens in terms of quality etc.
They will be used on a crop body and i am happy with the focal lengths!

First option. Directly replace the Sigma 24-70mm with the ORIGINAL Canon 24-70mm.
Improves the image quality but not reach, but maybe i can just crop more.
Despite the newer version, I assume the original is still highly regarded?
I can get a used one for around £850.

Sigma 24-105mm-f4-dg-os-hsm |A
I gather this is one of the new 'Art' series which are getting good reviews, although I not found any reviews of this specific lens yet.
From what little I have found suggests it is better than the Canon equivelant, although imwas surprised on the negtaive comments on that one.
Extra reach, but is it enough to be useful. Hopefuly improves image quality. Loses F2.8. Have used this a lot for DOF on static photos so how much difference does dropping to f4 make here?

Downside is it's Sigma. Nothing against third party lenses but they do seem to be a bit hit and miss, from both experience and reviews.

The origional Canon 24-70mm f2.8 is a great lens but be prepared for a big heavy experience as there is no getting away from it! It also has a reverse zoom with the lens being longest at 24mm and shortest at 70mm which isn't an issue just might take a little getting used to. When I first went full frame I picked up the 28-70mm f2.8 L and after a couple of days decided the size and weight was too much for every day use!

I've recently shifted my main walk about lens from a Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 over to a Canon 24-105mm F4L and I'm just back from my first trip with the lens. It really perfromed well I missed the 2.8 occasionally when inside or in the evening but had a 35mm f2 prime in the bag just in case. The extra width, IS and increased length were real bonuses and I think my pictures from this trip are better than previous ones. The 24-105mm gets some mixed feedback but you should expect that it's a multi purpose lens so of course people are going to find it's limitations but as a compromise I'm happy with it.

From what I've read about the sigma 24-120 F4 A lens it looks like a real good lens but there just isn't enough review material out there for me to commit to it.

 

[ajf]

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, i had read the original 24-70 is a bit of a beast. I also have the 100-400 so as long as it isn't heavier than that i am happy.
It would be on a lightish crop body anyway so that helps a bit. FF maybe next year, IF I can afford it, but lenses more important for now.

 

[RussD]

Problem on a Crop Body is that 24 is going to be near 38mm..For a wider angle I had to buy a Sigma 17-70mm f2.8/4 for my 7D. So that 17 became near 28mm still not wide enough for landscapes. If you going to replace your Sigma 24-70mm and you don't need wider, then go for the 24-105mm f4 it is a SHARP lens. A Cracker of a lens..Or if you got cash, buy a 10-20mm & keep your 24-70mm and also buy the 70-200mmf4. If you just want a walk around lens then the 24-105 is NOT really a walk around lens on a crop body.