5d mkII and the 24-105L? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

07/28/2009 03:13:55 AM · #1

hey there,

how does this lens perform on the 5d2? I'm stuck between the 24-70 2.8L and the 24-105L.

Basically, which takes the best pictures and focusses most consistently. I'm gonna be using one of these two lenses for weddings and general purpose stuff and was thinking the high ISO 5d2 would counteract the f/4... but any opinions are appreciated.

Simms

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/28/2009 04:30:22 AM · #2

Originally posted by Tez:

I was going to say without a doubt the 24-70 due to it being faster, but your argument regarding the low noise/high iso on the 5Dm2 is pretty valid - but then one can imagine shooting at f2.8 at that higher ISO, would be great in a dark church or venue.... but then I am thinking that the 24-105 has IS, which will also help. but then I am thinking the 24-70 is incredibly sharp wide open - but then I am thinking so is the 24-105...

then I gave up.

edit - doesnt the 5dm2 require f2.8 for the central cross sensor to work effectively? that would certainly help with low light focussing.

Message edited by author 2009-07-28 04:31:23.

PaulE

07/28/2009 06:41:19 AM · #3

I own the 24-105, and I've shot with a friends 24-70 loads.

While I love my 24-105 I have to say I wish I had got the 24-70. In my experience I find mysef wanting either the extra light or the smaller DoF that 2.8 offers mroe often then I am enjoying the extra reach of the 105. This could just be a case of the grass is always greener on the other side - not appreciating what I have, and wanting what I don't have.

Go for the 24-70.

LVicari

Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux M MF - Chrome

07/28/2009 07:43:27 AM · #4

I have done a few weddings and in my experience and looking at the lenses you have, I would go for the 24-105. Strap that on your 5D and strap the 85mm on your 40d. You will need reach and you are right about the high ISO performance. I usually have the 70-200 on one camera and I used to have the 17-40 f4L on the other.

I am trying to get my hands on the 24-70 just because I will have the 24-200 range covered in two lenses.

Of course your style of shooting will also factor in on your decision.

If you are not planning on getting another lens go for the reach.. you already have an excellent low light lens.

IMO

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

07/28/2009 07:57:44 AM · #5

Weddings in particular are a struggle for adequate light, especially if existing light shooting is desired or mandated. So yes, the high-ISO capability of the camera is a positive, but that doesn't erase the full-stop advantage of the 24-70, it just augments it. Over the 24-70 range, IS is unimportant for photos of people, because it's usually not feasible to shoot much slower than about 1/50s and avoid subject movement. At 1/50, with good technique you should be able to shoot steadily over most if not all of the range of the lens.
The 24-70 has less distortion on the wide end as well. Both lenses are quite sharp, but the 24-70 has the advantage in narrow DoF. If I were shooting weddings professionally, I'd take the 24-70 in a heartbeat, even given the additional weight.

signal2noise

Leica M9

07/28/2009 08:50:39 AM · #6

I made the switch from the 24-105 to the 24-70. I was happy with the 24-105 but I had a friend who was interested in a trade as he wanted the extra length. I tried his 24-70 for a week and got hooked. That extra stop made a huge difference. The caveat is that I also have the 70-200 f4L IS, so I wasn't losing anything.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

07/28/2009 10:05:38 AM · #7

here's a good article comparing the 2.

//luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/28-105.shtml

I perfer the 24-105L, I think it is a better performer optically. Plus, sometimes I want to take just one lens with me and the 24-105 range on the full frame 5D II is a perfect "walk around" lens.

I read somewhere that the 24-105L is the only Canon zoom lens that has enough resolving power to take full advantage of the 21MP sensor, the other lenses that made the cut were all prime. I'm looking for the article but haven't found it so far.

The differences are probably in the esoteric realm. The 24-105 range is what makes it work for me.

ben4345

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/28/2009 10:48:41 AM · #8

24-105L is great, just make sure you get one that focuses properly. I have seen a few pro photogs finished photos and look really bad when they're out of focus.
24-70L is an awesome lens for weddings, just make sure you get a good copy. Your 5D2 will really show flaws of a bad one.
It does blow away the 24-105 for bokeh.

I use my 24-70mm 96% of the time, my primes are just collecting dust on my desk since I got mine.

Message edited by author 2009-07-28 10:51:15.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

07/28/2009 01:29:07 PM · #9

Originally posted by scarbrd:

here's a good article comparing the 2.

//luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/28-105.shtml

The Luminous Landscape review is a good one, and I think his conclusions and choice is very valid, given what he shoots. For weddings, however, that f/2.8 is damn important. It gives a full stop advantage in light gathering, which is huge. It enables high-precision focusing with the cross-type focus points, which again is huge. It gives somewhat better DoF control, which for wedding work is often desirable. It gives a brighter viewfinder image.
The optical quality of the two lenses is so close that it is probably within sample variation.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

07/28/2009 02:32:24 PM · #10

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by scarbrd:
here's a good article comparing the 2.

//luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/28-105.shtml

The Luminous Landscape review is a good one, and I think his conclusions and choice is very valid, given what he shoots. For weddings, however, that f/2.8 is damn important. It gives a full stop advantage in light gathering, which is huge. It enables high-precision focusing with the cross-type focus points, which again is huge. It gives somewhat better DoF control, which for wedding work is often desirable. It gives a brighter viewfinder image.
The optical quality of the two lenses is so close that it is probably within sample variation.

I had missed the wedding part of the OP. I agree, for weddings, the 2.8 is better.

roba

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/28/2009 02:39:20 PM · #11

I love my 24-105, but... I shot a wedding this past weekend, and rented a 24-70. Damn glad that I did. Not for the wedding itself, but for the reception - which was VERY dim light. It was a struggle to focus, even with the 24-70 wide open. I fear the 24-105 might have been completely useless for that particular venue.

As a walk-around, general purpose lens, the 24-105 is hard to beat. For weddings, the 24-70 is a staple.

My 2c :O)

LVicari

07/28/2009 03:39:40 PM · #12

Originally posted by roba:

For the reception, have you tried setting up a speedlight on a tripod and pointing it toward the ceiling? It really helps out a lot! During a reception and dinner I used my 70-200 f4L with the sppedlight set up with no problems at all.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/28/2009 03:51:11 PM · #13

The 24-105 is sold as a kit lens with that camera for a reason: it's a great match. You already have the terrific 85mm f/1.8 for really dim light, and the 24-105 gives you more reach and IS for brighter situations. FWIW, a 24-105 lens PLUS a 50mm f/1.4 or Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 is only a little more than the the 24-70 alone.

Message edited by author 2009-07-28 15:54:50.

roba

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/28/2009 05:11:03 PM · #14

Originally posted by LVicari:

LOL - unfortunately the "ceiling" was a bit high.
Pretty hard to bounce off of the stars (outdoor patio reception) ;O)

ben4345

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/28/2009 05:19:07 PM · #15

Originally posted by roba:

Originally posted by LVicari:
For the reception, have you tried setting up a speedlight on a tripod and pointing it toward the ceiling? It really helps out a lot! During a reception and dinner I used my 70-200 f4L with the sppedlight set up with no problems at all.

LOL - unfortunately the "ceiling" was a bit high.
Pretty hard to bounce off of the stars (outdoor patio reception) ;O)

you get like 5 speed lights, set in each corner up high (13' stands) use a master flash to set them all off wirelessly (is that a word?)

zxaar

07/28/2009 05:21:27 PM · #16

Originally posted by roba:

sometimes if you are lucky Lightning does strike and if you timed properly ....

Message edited by author 2009-07-28 17:24:26.

LVicari

07/28/2009 06:41:35 PM · #17

Originally posted by roba:

HA! Ya pretty hard.

Tez

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

07/28/2009 09:30:12 PM · #18

well, thanks for the replies!

Basically, i'm gonna be getting this:

5d mk2
24-70 L
70-200 2.8 IS L
50 1.4
580 x

and still have the 17-40, 85 1.8 and the 40d, so im covered from 17-200mm with no gaps.

Plan is to have the 24-70 on the 5d and the 70-200 on the 40d. Apart from weddings, this should give me a comprehensive system for almost all events- the only one I can think of being limited in is either distant wildlife or warzone stuff.

Thanks for all your input and while I have no doubt that 24-105 is a great lens in itself, when push comes to shove and i'm in a low light environment, I think i could do with the 2.8 aperture, for bokeh reasons as well as focusing, viewfinder brightness etc etc. I could afford both but don't really see the point.

At this point I have about $10k to spend on getting everything together for the business i'm moving out there, and that buys me the above equipment, a website and the alien bees lights im looking at.

So thanks for your input! And I checked out other forums and spoke to some ppl online about certain things but I think I have the right idea now :)

roba

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/28/2009 11:01:40 PM · #19

Originally posted by Tez:

Basically, i'm gonna be getting this:

5d mk2
24-70 L
70-200 2.8 IS L
50 1.4
580 x

and still have the 17-40, 85 1.8 and the 40d, so im covered from 17-200mm with no gaps.

That's a killer line-up. :O)

AdrlnJunkie11