asiafish Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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Its a good lens, but not a particularly great one. What is great is that it is very cheap as a bundle or white box used, has an extremely useful range, fairly light weight and good build quality with weather-sealing. Image quality is good enough for most uses, but not spectacular like the lens it is usually compared to, the 24-70mm f/2.8 mk II, which is a spectacular lens in terms of image quality.
Canon tried to replace it with the 24-70mm f/4, which is optically much better (especially at 24mm), not to mention enough smaller and lighter to really notice and has the macro mode (pretty good, actually) and better IS. Of course, that lens was initially released at an overly high price, and it gives up 35mm of reach compared to the cheaper and almost as sharp 24-105.
The new 24-105/4 mk II is about to hit the market, comes at a good price ($100 more than the old one) and given Canon's recent lens designs, is likely to be as good or better than the 24-70mm f/4 and perhaps as good as the 24-70mm f/2.8 mk II, which would be impressive indeed. Sadly, the new lens is also quite a bit larger than its predecessor and much heavier as well. The new lens, in fact, is within spitting distance of the 24-70mm f/2.8 mk II in both size and weight, and that is a lens that many people love for its optics, but hate to carry around all day.
Canon's lineup as of the end of this month is actually quite diverse and attractive, and if the new 24-105 is as good as I suspect it will be, really gives three very distinct options at three clearly defined price points.
$900 gets the 24-70/4, which is also the smallest, lightest and the only with serious macro magnification capabilities. This will be the cheap kit lens for 5D4 and 6D2 kits and will likely be the best option for traveling light.
$1100 gets the new 24-105/4 while $1800 gets the fast 24-70/2.8. Get the f/4 if you need IS and the longer range, or the f/2.8 if you need the extra stop. Both are about the same size and weight, and will be more of an event or studio option.
I've had a few copies of the old 24-105/4 and liked it enough, but never loved it. I tried the 24-70/4 and loved it in terms of size, weight and image quality, but really wished it would zoom to 105mm. Still, I like to travel, so the 24-70/4 is the best one for me. When I want better optical quality (doesn't give up much) or more often a faster aperture, I have a nice set of Canon L primes.
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