Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens v ?

[Craigie]

At the moment my kit consists of Canon 6D, Canon 1100D, EF-S 10-18mm 1: f3.5-5.6, EF-S 18-55mm 1: f4.5-5.6, EF 70-300mm 1:f4-5.6, EF macro 100mm 1:f2.8.
Is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens the best option to fill the gap I have in FL for my 6D.
This would be a big outlay for me so the Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L is not an option (sadly).

[Shadowman]

I think you already have the range covered, it's rare that such a small range will limit your ability to capture a particular subject. In fact you could probably cover the 55-70mm range just be leaning forward/backward.

[dje]

At the moment my kit consists of Canon 6D, Canon 1100D, EF-S 10-18mm 1: f3.5-5.6, EF-S 18-55mm 1: f4.5-5.6, EF 70-300mm 1:f4-5.6, EF macro 100mm 1:f2.8.
Is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens the best option to fill the gap I have in FL for my 6D.
This would be a big outlay for me so the Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L is not an option (sadly).

Hi Gary

I'm a bit out of touch with Canon gear having switched to Nikon a few years ago. However I would think that the 24-70mm f/4L would do a pretty good job as a general purpose zoom on the 6D and it certainly fills the gap in your focal length coverage for the 6D. (I dare say you are aware you can't use the EFS lenses on the 6D).

Other alternatives would be

Sigma 24-70 f/2.8

Canon 24-105 f/4L (new model about to come out)
Canon 24-105 f/3.5-f/5.6 ( a cheaper model than the f/4)

I'm not sure that the extra focal length range of the 24-105's is all that useful though.

In the end it probably comes down to how much you want to spend.

Hopefully someone else here might have some hands on experience with some of these lenses.
Dave

[Rent]

Gary Can I suggest that you put the 18 to 55mm lens on your camera and only use that one lens for at least a month, possibly two. Find out what one lens is capable of. Then do the same with each other lens
Roy

[mknittle]

I like this Idea and think Everybody should do it at least once. maybe once with each lens you own.

[Geoff F]

When I was looking for a lens in this size range, after discarding my Canon 24-105, I eventually opted for the Tamron 24-70 which I have found to be an excellent 2.8 stabilised lens.

For me, it has proved much better than the Canon 24-105 although admittedly I sometiomes miss that little bit extra at the long end if I don't have my Canon 70-200 with me.

[Craigie]

The problem is John, I do not have all the FL covered for my Canon 6D (full frame), the only lens that fit are the EF range of lens ( macro EF 100mm and EF 70-300mm).
All the lens I have fit the 1100D (crop sensor).

[Craigie]

Hi Gary

I'm a bit out of touch with Canon gear having switched to Nikon a few years ago. However I would think that the 24-70mm f/4L would do a pretty good job as a general purpose zoom on the 6D and it certainly fills the gap in your focal length coverage for the 6D. (I dare say you are aware you can't use the EFS lenses on the 6D).

Other alternatives would be

Sigma 24-70 f/2.8

Canon 24-105 f/4L (new model about to come out)
Canon 24-105 f/3.5-f/5.6 ( a cheaper model than the f/4)

I'm not sure that the extra focal length range of the 24-105's is all that useful though.

In the end it probably comes down to how much you want to spend.

Hopefully someone else here might have some hands on experience with some of these lenses.
Dave

Thanks Dave I will look into the type of lenses you mentioned.

[Craigie]

Gary Can I suggest that you put the 18 to 55mm lens on your camera and only use that one lens for at least a month, possibly two. Find out what one lens is capable of. Then do the same with each other lens
Roy

Hello Roy I have had my 18-55mm lens for three years.
The problem is, it does not fit onto my Canon 6D (full frame).

[Craigie]

When I was looking for a lens in this size range, after discarding my Canon 24-105, I eventually opted for the Tamron 24-70 which I have found to be an excellent 2.8 stabilised lens.

For me, it has proved much better than the Canon 24-105 although admittedly I sometiomes miss that little bit extra at the long end if I don't have my Canon 70-200 with me.

Thanks Geoff I will check out the Tamron 24-70.

[DanK]

I'm the odd one out: my walk-around on a full frame is the 24-105, and I find that I use the range between 70 and 105mm a great deal. It's the reason I have stuck with that rather than an optically superior 24-70, either the Canon II or the Tamron. It depends on what you shoot. For candids of people, the majority of shots with that lens are at >70mm.

[Shadowman]

The problem is John, I do not have all the FL covered for my Canon 6D (full frame), the only lens that fit are the EF range of lens ( macro EF 100mm and EF 70-300mm).
All the lens I have fit the 1100D (crop sensor).

Gary,

I see your dilemma now, I'm facing similar situation having only 50, 85, 70-300mm covered for my FF, have the other end covered for my crop camera. I've thought about just getting a prime but with two cameras I feel everything is covered. Also, I do have a m 4/3rds as additional resource.

[loosecanon]

Must admit bthat as a walkabout lens the 24 - 105 is very versitile. I use mine more than the 24-70 2.8 Mk1 I have.

the f4 24=70 has the advantage of modern stablisation and close focusing.

There will be lots of the 24-105 available second hand as guys uograde to the new model.

[rpcrowe]

I had a 24-70mm f/2.8L lens which I used on my crop cameras but, it was neither quite wide enough nor quite long enough for my style of shooting. I switched to a combination of 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and 70-200mm f/4L IS lenses on a pair of 7D cameras. This combination works quite well for me. In actuality, the weight and cost of the two camera - two lens system (using the 70-200mm f/4L IS) is quite close to using a single camera with 17-55mm and 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lenses...

Of course, the 17-55mm doesn't work on full-frame cameras.

If I were only shooting with my 5D Mark II, full-frame camera, I would select a 24-105mm focal length for general purpose shooting.

However, an f/4 aperture is a bit small for a general purpose lens.

The 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens is one of the big reasons that I enjoy my 7D crop cameras.

[loosecanon]

with the new 24-105 soon out there will be lots of mark I about.
If money is tight look for a good example second hand = ideally from a shop so you can see it and handle it, make sure it was looked after.
I find the 24-105 is the lens I keep on camera and use a lot, in preference to my 24-70 f2.8 mark I, the extra reach is very handy and IS helps in poor light.

[Grandpappy]

Hi Gary,
I've just joined the ' Canon brotherhood', in that I've just bought the EF 24mm-105mm f4L IS USM and a Canon EOS 5Dr four days ago and find the camera baffling!
I was a Fuji man!
So I've joined a camera club and look forward to every Thursday night with anticipation and full of questions. Everyone is telling me that the new lens is 'quite good'!!!
I'll wait for more comments on this site.
Cheers
Grandpappy