>Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2007 14:19:31 -0700 >From: "Francis Zhou" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: EOS 24-105/4 IS or 24/70/2.8 > >Hi list: > >For some reason, I have a 17-35/2.8L and a 70-200/2.8L (non >IS) but only >50/1.8 Mk1 in between. I would like to fill the gap with a >"medium range" zoom. I am struggling between 24-105/4L IS and >24-70/2.8L. I like the former's range, IS and "digital >readiness", I like the latter's 2.8. >What is your experience regarding these two? I will use it >mostly for travel, people and architecture kind of stuff. >Appreciate your thought on this. > >Thanks, > >Francis
I have both lenses. The 24-105 replaced the 24-70 as my most used lens shortly after I got it, but there are some trade-offs. The bokeh isn't as nice as the 24-70, and obviously you can't get quite as much background blur at f4 as you can at f2.8. My aging eyes like as much light in the viewfinder as I can get, so f4 isn't as good as f2.8. In good light there's not an issue with AF speed, but in really low light conditions the 24-105 is pretty good, while the 24-70 is superb. On the other hand, IS on the 24-105 makes for better hand-held images in those same fringe lighting conditions. The extra 35mm at the long end increases the options for composition and reduces the number of lens changes in fast-changing and walk-around shooting typical of travel. Under many circumstances, I will comfortably walk around with only the 24-105 lens, without feeling nearly as naked as I do with just the 24-70. So, for walk-around travel and street shooting, and most other circumstances, the lens on the camera is the 24-105. The 24-70 is the better of the two for set portraiture and such, but I rarely do that kind of shooting. If I am expecting to shoot people in motion under low natural light conditions, I still lean toward the 24-70 for the faster AF. Recently, though, I've gone to using the 24-105 under these circumstances, with a flash mounted to assist AF, and it's not bad at all. So, all that said, and particularly if your people shots are more street and candid than studio, sounds to me like the 24-105 would serve you better. Paul Wasserman * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
