Michaelparris wrote:
Thats what i am afraid I will do
+ 1 for me. I liked it ok, just did not grab it much. After getting the Tamron 24 70 I used it even less. Normally if I was shooting that focal range I am indoors and the 2.8 is better. I know many like it for travel, but I like the 70 300L with the pancake in the bag.
I will say if I bought a new camera with the kit where I got it for 600, ( I think I saw it for 500 once) if I were on the fence, I would buy the kit, use the lens for 6 months and then decide. You can get your 600 back on resale.
The 24-105L is essentially my "default" lens. I use my other lenses only for specific tasks --- shallower depth of field, macro, different focal length, etc. But unless I have a specific composition in mind, the 24-105L stays mounted on my camera 24/7.
It's the perfect lens for full frame. For APS-C... not so much.
I had it and sold it twice. It's a solid, but boring lens. Great range, but not wide enough, long enough or fast enough...for me. Basically it's great at making snapshots. YMMV.
I bought it maybe six months after it was introduced, and have used it constantly since then. I have a slew of primes and zooms for all kinds of special purposes, but for a lot of situations that I encounter, the 24-105 not only suffices, it is the best tool for the job. The range of focal lengths is really useful, and the IS makes it hand-holdable even when stopped down to increase DOF. Yeah, I understand how it can seem like a boring lens, and when I feel a need to be inspired by "sexy" gear, I'll work with an 85 L or something, but when the subject itself is inspirational, the 24-105 can make the workflow smooth.
jasonpatrick wrote:
I had it and sold it twice. It's a solid, but boring lens. Great range, but not wide enough, long enough or fast enough...for me. Basically it's great at making snapshots. YMMV.
Good point...
When I'm not birding, it's my canonical lens, so to speak, on my 5DIII. To some it may not be long enough, wide enough, fast enough, sharp enough, light enough, small enough, but its enough for me and its versatility and utility can't be beat. The zoom creep does drive me nuts sometimes though.
Note that I wouldn't apply my versatility theory to the 18-200mm although I don't own it.
