View Full Version : If not 24-105mm L series, then what?
I'm ready to make the giant leap out of kit lenses (except for the 50mm prime). I thought I had absolutely made up my mind on the 24-105mm L lens, until I read through a thread here. I was shocked by the number of people experiencing the exact same problem, one that Canon swears they know nothing about!! If I'm going to "invest" this much money, I shudder to think of paying the $300+ repair bill through no fault of my own.
The reason I settled on this lens as my first foray out of the kit lens wilderness is because of it's all-round usability. I've chat with a few auspho-folk and this is the lens (at least this length) that's been most often suggested. I'm a beginner, but I would like to start building a useable kit. At present I'm practicing portraits and shooting things reasonably close, using the 50mm.
I currently have: Canon 350D, 50mm 1.8, Canon EFS 18-55mm, Canon EF 75-300mm.
Where to from here?
There's simply no reason to buy any lens at the moment
Brian500au
14-09-2011, 9:12am
Hi Becs,
My interest also lays in doing a lot of people / portraiture / glamour type of photography. I have a few lens I use for this type of work but in truth there is no perfect lens. My favourite lens when I am working in the studio is the 24-70 f2.8. It is the perfect focal length for my 1.3x crop body. When outside I always use the 70-200 f2.8 - once again it just gives me the flexibility to zoom and of course the 2.8 gives me control over DOF.
For myself I also own a cheaper second body which I tend to arm up with a fixed focal length lens (50, 85, etc) just to give a different perspective to the shoot - but this is more as a back up if something should go wrong with my primary setup.
I also own the 24-105 lens but I never use it for portrature work - this is more my general walk around / travel lens (and it does an excellent job for that purpose).
With the strength of the AUD at the moment the 70-200 f2.8 is the cheapest I have ever seen it (and some great second hand bargains on ebay too). If you want any more information on my setup you are welcome to PM me.
Gemini2261
14-09-2011, 11:20am
Never had a problem with my 24-105mm L and I have used it quite allot. I would wait like Kiwi says and hone your skills first before out laying money. By that time you will know in which direction you are starting to lean and then be able to make an appropriate purchase according to need. :th3:
Art Vandelay
14-09-2011, 1:20pm
I wouldn't be too worried about the 24-105. Sure there's a few dropped dead here recently and evidence of others around the ridges, but considering the tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands ?) out there in use, it's not a deal breaker if that's the lens that suits you.
I frequent a large canon international forum and it hardly rates a mention.
JM Tran
14-09-2011, 1:25pm
+1 on the 24-105 buy, nothing wrong with them. I have been using them for a few yrs for travel photography and possibly in more environmentally worse conditions than most would use it at, I havent had a problem or heard of them until I saw it on AP.
ravynne
14-09-2011, 1:54pm
I only purchased one a few days ago ... so far, it's not been off my camera ... I love it, but then, I just purchased my first DSLR camera and lenses a few days ago so I am in a world of camera happy and know nothing yet about what can go wrong. That aside, the 24-105 has proven to be rather versatile for everything from close up portraits of animals, nature, and landscapes. I have a feeling it will - next to a macro lens - be the one that is on my camera the most.
Bennymiata
14-09-2011, 1:56pm
If you can afford it, buy it!
You won't regret it.
It is one of the most useful lenses around and takes superb photos.
Mine only comes off the camera when I need another, more specialised lens.
William
14-09-2011, 3:38pm
Nothing wrong with the 24-105 , Mine did suffer the ribbon problem, I've been told there was a fix in the design of the newer versions of the DPU unit , Great lens love it in It's rebirth , Sharp as , And great colour rendition :th3:
A good speedlght and tripod would be more useful Bec.
jjphoto
14-09-2011, 3:54pm
The 24-70/2.8 is an extremely good lens and holds it's own against many excellent primes. I've had one for close to 10 years and use it as my main lens.
JJ
I reckon the 24-105 holds up well with the FF as with the 1+ extra stop of ISO vs a crop, it's awesome. With a cropped body tho.. you might want to consider something a little faster like a 2.8. Even at 2.8 i'm having trouble keeping up during low light situations for some events and have to make use of an external flash as well.
wideangle
14-09-2011, 5:52pm
The problem with your conclusion that the 24-105 has a major problem is that you will only hear from the people who have had a problem with their lens, most people who have the lens and it's working fine are not all going to be posting how it's working fine. There are going to be 'duds' in anything consumer electronic, I would say if you had your mind set on this lens then go for it, the range is versatile.
Have you also considered the EFS 15-85? When I was shopping around to upgrade my 400D there was a lot on here who recommended that over the 24-105 as the focal lengths suited the crop frame sensor better. I ended up going this way along with a 7D and it makes a perfect all around lens
Damnnn, I'm in the same boat, desperately needing to replace my 28-135 with either the '24-70 f2.8' or the '24-105 f4'. This decision is hurting my brain. Mainly for my all purpose reasons + portrait and the odd low light shooting
24-105L will only come off my camera when i purchase the 100-400L:)...Mind you i have had the 24-70f2.8 a few times and it is a brilliant lens also far as i'm concerned..
gje38752
22-09-2011, 7:06pm
I am inclined to agree with the comment about the 15-85 its a far better lens than a lot of people realise and so versatile, that extra width is not to be ignored particularly on a crop camera 50D. I have a 70-200 L and on a recent trip around Oz I used both and honestly I find it difficult to tell the results apart. The 15-85 is well built, not as good as an L but how much do you need. Any comments ? .:efelant:
Damnnn, I'm in the same boat, desperately needing to replace my 28-135 with either the '24-70 f2.8' or the '24-105 f4'. This decision is hurting my brain. Mainly for my all purpose reasons + portrait and the odd low light shooting
I was wondering what the main problem is with the 28-135?
I too have been pondering whether to buy a versatile zoom in this middle range. I recently bought one of the "Photo Workshop" series of books on nature photography and many of the photos in it were taken with the 28-135. The author did say that his current travel lens was the 24-105, but it looked like the 28-135 wasn't too bad, so its got me thinking! I don't need the wider end as I have the 17-40 already.
Fixed aperture. L build quality. Weather Sealing. Better IQ and Contrast.
Need i say more?
unistudent1962
23-09-2011, 12:18pm
Better IQ and Contrast
Better IQ and contrast than what?
Assuming you are comparing it to the EF-S 15-85, the only real advantage it has is the fixed aperture, any reviews I've read say that the IQ and contrast are comparable.
L build quality is better than that of the EF-S lenses, but unless you are careless with your gear does little if anything other than to add weight.
What's the point of paying a premium for a weather sealed lens unless it's going on a weather sealed body?
I'd buy the 15-85 for the comparable optics, better range of focal lengths on a crop body, and put price difference into something else.
I was responding to the previous post of the 24-105 vs 28-135.
William W
24-09-2011, 7:04am
I'm ready to make the giant leap out of kit lenses (except for the 50mm prime).. . .The reason I settled on this lens [EF24 to 105F/4L] as my first foray out of the kit lens wilderness is because of it's all-round usability. . . I would like to start building a useable kit. At present I'm practicing portraits and shooting things reasonably close, using the 50mm. I currently have: Canon 350D, 50mm 1.8, Canon EFS 18-55mm, Canon EF 75-300mm. Where to from here?
Firstly there have been persistent reports about Error 01 and the 24 to 105/4L and the reports are more prevalent and more persistent than other “reports” which are often “whipped up”; and many have supporting evidence.
Secondly, negating the ribbon breakage / Error 01 issue which, SOME have, (unquantifiable small percentage and undefined pattern), there are a VAST NUMBER of 24 to 105 lenses in service and: the 24 to 105F/4L is a fantastic lens, in every manner.
Thirdly, if you are building a useable kit: the reason “because of [the 24 to 105F/4L] all-round usability” does not make sense to me.
I can understand “all round useability” if it were to be perched on a 5D; or is it were to be mated with an EF-S 10 to 22 with a 350D; or if it were for a 350D and the limit of tasks was Portraiture, generally. But it occurs to me that you want this lens as your “main working zoom” for “Generalist Photography” and in this regard 24mm is not wide enough.
I would encourage you to set your 18 to 55 at 24mm and stick a bit of removable tape on the zoom turret ring – and use that lens to take some landscapes and some interiors and some large groups of people and some market places and some urban street scenes . . . and decide if there are any limitations for what you want to do.
Lastly in building your “useable kit” I suggest you start with a blank sheet of paper and write down what the kit is you want to build with a defined use for each tool. Pretend that you have nothing, not even a camera.
The problem that many people have when “building a kit” is that as they develop as a Photographer, they “add-on” gear to what they already have – “adapting”; and this is not necessarily the best way to develop nor to make a useable kit.
WW
sdenness
26-09-2011, 9:40am
A few people have mentioned the 15-85 as a good lens. Given you're on a crop sensor, the 24-105 might feel not wide enough.
I highly recommend the 17-55 2.8 IS. I'd seriously consider replacing the 18-55 with it. On a crop, it gives you the equivalent focal length of the 24-70, and while it's not L construction, it's L optics. It's the lens that stays on my 40D most of the time.
A few people have mentioned the 15-85 as a good lens. Given you're on a crop sensor, the 24-105 might feel not wide enough.
I highly recommend the 17-55 2.8 IS. I'd seriously consider replacing the 18-55 with it. On a crop, it gives you the equivalent focal length of the 24-70, and while it's not L construction, it's L optics. It's the lens that stays on my 40D most of the time.
27-88mm npt 24-70mm.
Pfft! My 24-105 has been round the world with me, stayed on my camera the whole time without a case. Its been in rain, snow, dirt from 45C to below zero. Never had an issue with it. Its sharp, its got I.S., its tough as nails. Its a champion lens. To be honest though, I HATED it on my cropped sensor camera 500D, though I would rather have sold my camera than the lens, so I did, upgraded to a 1ds2, and its a match made in heaven. Rather than buy the 18-55 or the new (or soon to be released 15-85) I would get the 24-105 and a 5D classic. You can pick them up for $800 now.
unistudent1962
28-09-2011, 8:32am
Well Bec, any closer to a decision?
It would seem that the focal range of the 25-105 is more suited to full frame cameras, which makes sense since that's what it was designed for.
Any future plans to go full frame?
Pfft! My 24-105 has been round the world with me, stayed on my camera the whole time without a case. Its been in rain, snow, dirt from 45C to below zero. Never had an issue with it. Its sharp, its got I.S., its tough as nails. Its a champion lens. To be honest though, I HATED it on my cropped sensor camera 500D, though I would rather have sold my camera than the lens, so I did, upgraded to a 1ds2, and its a match made in heaven. Rather than buy the 18-55 or the new (or soon to be released 15-85) I would get the 24-105 and a 5D classic. You can pick them up for $800 now.
Them as in each for $800 not both. :P
For general purpose use the 24-105 is intended to be 'just right' on a 44mm sensor body. It doesn't really go wide enough on a 28mm sensor body like your 350D. For 28mm Canon make the 17-55 f2.8 and the 15-85 as a great one-lens solution for general use. I suggest one of them.
Analog6
02-10-2011, 5:09pm
No manufacturing process is perfect - think about all the lemon cars 'out there'. I owned the 24-105 lens which William had a problem with before him and I loved it. I would not hesitate to buy another one if I ever get another Canon kit. As a walk around for crop or full frame sensor it is perfect.
And as has been said - you only get to hear about the ones with problems.
As Becds has a Canon 350D, it will probably be a while before s/he upgrades to full frame.
The best all purpose lens for this camera, & the next upgrade to a better, but probably still a crop camera, is the 17 to 55 mm f2.8 lens.
Its almost glued onto my 40D [upgraded from a 350D some time ago]
would have to agree, unless you are into wildlife photography and want weathersealing, you may get more use out of the 15-85.
William
16-10-2011, 4:36pm
Just a couple to show from the 24-105 on a Crop Sensor Canon 30D , Pretty handy, This is taken after the Ribbon problem, Still my favourite lens :D
@35mm
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6244823321_cc2d782258_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57507865@N06/6244823321/)
"Wedding Photo's" (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57507865@N06/6244823321/) by sunrisechaser (http://www.flickr.com/people/57507865@N06/), on Flickr
@24mm
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6211/6244816371_4b9855ae85_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57507865@N06/6244816371/)
"Weird Sky" (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57507865@N06/6244816371/) by sunrisechaser (http://www.flickr.com/people/57507865@N06/), on Flickr
inplace
27-10-2011, 9:02am
no issues with my 24-105 either, on the 40D or EOS 30, as other posters note it could be a little wider at the wide end on a cropped body.
Bennymiata
27-10-2011, 10:14am
My brother-in-law has had his 24-105 for around 5 years, and has never had a problem with it.
It's taken thousands and thousands of shots, and the focus ring and zoom ring feel a little loose compared to my copy, but it still works perfectly.
Tannin
31-10-2011, 12:22pm
I poo-pooed the Error 01 posts here a while back, arguing (as others in this thread have done) that there are thousands upon thousands of Canon 24-105/4 IS lenses out there and a few failing is no cause for concern.
I was wrong, and my own words have come back to haunt me. My 24-105 died the other day with the exact same error, and it has not had a hard life by any means. It's only four years old.
So what do I do?
Pay through the nose for a repair and wait for it to happen again?
Buy a new one and hope for the best?
Or throw the baby out with the bathwater and buy a D3s and a Nikkor 24-120/4 VR instead?
I am seriously thinking about jumping ship to Nikon with this premature failure coming on top of the 1D X disaster.
BecdS - if you are happy with the APS-C format and not itching to go into a 5D II or similar, then Canon make a vastly superior lens for your purposes: the 15-85. It's cheaper, lighter, much wider and more useful at the short end, and still plenty long enough.
+1 on the 24-105 buy, nothing wrong with them. I have been using them for a few yrs for travel photography and possibly in more environmentally worse conditions than most would use it at, I havent had a problem or heard of them until I saw it on AP.
Ad my name to the long list - my 24-105 is the only lens I really use now, and I've taken it overseas and haven't had it off the camera for yonks! Great all purpose, sharp fantastic lens.
pod3009
04-11-2011, 5:15pm
I have had a 24-105mm lens for about 15 months now - maybe too short a time for any problems to emerge (touch wood). It is great. My wife got the 24-70 f2.8 at the same time. We have compared shots of similar things at similar times of day on the same subjects and find they are just about as sharp as each other. I was a little envious of her abilty to go to f2.8 for some shots and blur out the background, so at the same time I bought the Tammy 17-50 f2.8 non VC which is also really sharp. These two lenses were about the same price as her 24-70. I like the combo!
Old Skool
01-12-2011, 7:42am
Interesting that there are always a lot of 2nd hand 24-105L lenses for sale on EBay - wonder why so many people sell them if they are meant to be such a great lens - are there any other issues with them (distortion etc) that they find they can't live with??
One thing I learnt is never say never to camera upgrades! I do however agree that the 15-85 makes a whole lot more sense on a crop sensor than the 24-105. On a 5DII the 24-105 is perfect. Bec just needs to decide is she going to stay with a crop snesor, or maybe go FF. I said I'd never go FF and set myself up with a nice array of EF-S lenses, then went FF. Now I am buying EF L series lenses to suit it and have to decide do I sell all my EF-S gear and 50D to fund better glass for the 5DII, or keep both. I will say though that I certainly did not regret buying the 15-85 for the 50D, it really is a terrific walkaround and general purpose lens on a crop body.
My head hurts :confused013
William
01-12-2011, 12:56pm
I poo-pooed the Error 01 posts here a while back, arguing (as others in this thread have done) that there are thousands upon thousands of Canon 24-105/4 IS lenses out there and a few failing is no cause for concern.
I was wrong, and my own words have come back to haunt me. My 24-105 died the other day with the exact same error, and it has not had a hard life by any means. It's only four years old.
So what do I do?
Pay through the nose for a repair and wait for it to happen again?
Buy a new one and hope for the best?
Or throw the baby out with the bathwater and buy a D3s and a Nikkor 24-120/4 VR instead?
I am seriously thinking about jumping ship to Nikon with this premature failure coming on top of the 1D X disaster.
BecdS - if you are happy with the APS-C format and not itching to go into a 5D II or similar, then Canon make a vastly superior lens for your purposes: the 15-85. It's cheaper, lighter, much wider and more useful at the short end, and still plenty long enough.
Tony you can get them fixed and serviced in Brisbane for $300
PS : Look here : http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?87512-quot-My-24-105-f4-L-Died/page5
William
01-12-2011, 1:14pm
Forget about the link I gave Tony, Thought I'd check on his Web Site , "NOTHING" :eek: Thats not good
ameerat42
01-12-2011, 1:18pm
Look. This is about (memory??) the first time I've answered any thread on lenses, especially Canon lenses.
But I just want to go back to your original post, and you seem to want to check out the difference between the 28-105L and your 18-55 Canon kit lens.
Well, it may be a bit technical, but hey, it's out there, and as part of your guide have a look at the MTF charts for the two lenses.
I found one for the 28-105L at:
http://reithian.com/mtf.htm
(scroll till you find it.)
If you "Google Canon 18-55 MTF" you'll get to here as one of the first in the list.
http://photo.net/equipment/canon/efs18-55/
Edit: OK, Y my sudden interest? I'm looking for a "suitable lens" also.:)
William
01-12-2011, 1:19pm
Hang on I had a Google search , He's still there , Cause I rang him ;) He did'nt know his web site was down , Look here : http://www.whitepages.com.au/business/camera-tech/brisbane-qld/B%7cQ00W%7c3b51cb7%7cCamera+Tech
I own a 24-105 L have had no issues with it have it for the past one year. I have used it on my 7d and 5d 2 had no issues so far.
ElectricImages
06-12-2011, 3:38pm
I'd also like to recommend the 17-55 2.8 IS as a high quality walk-around lens for crop-sensor bodies; and the 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM for full-frame.
I have the latter setup, and it's a fantastic and capable lens - optically better than the 24-70mm f/2.8 USM (in particular, less optical distortion), and the 24-105mm is suited to low-light shooting in a different way to the absolute lens speed of the 24-70: you get an extra stop of shutter speed on the 24-70, but you get three stops of stabilisation on the 24-105. :)
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