p.1 #1 · 24-105 f/4L IS vs. 17-40 f/4L + 70-200mm f/4L
I'm faced with a touch choice and would like to hear some advise. I'm buying for my wife and need to choose between the 24-105mm f/4L IS or getting both the 17-40mm f/4L and the 70-200mm f/4L. She does probably 80% candid family shots. But we do travel and would sometimes need more reach than the 105mm can provide. She is using a EOS 350D. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
p.1 #2 · 24-105 f/4L IS vs. 17-40 f/4L + 70-200mm f/4L
Get the 17-40 f/4L + 70-200mm. Its a far better choice for the 350D as it covers a wider range than the 24-105 f/4L IS which IMO is more suited and useful on a full framed camera.
p.1 #3 · 24-105 f/4L IS vs. 17-40 f/4L + 70-200mm f/4L
My 17-40 is a little short for candids. Great for group shots but short for individual shots. There's a lot of mixed reviews on the 24-105, but my guess is it will work
best with the 1.6x sensors. I would choose the 24-105.
p.1 #5 · 24-105 f/4L IS vs. 17-40 f/4L + 70-200mm f/4L
This is not an easy choice.
I also use a 350D. I currently use the 17-40 and the 70-200 (plus the 50mm f1.4) and I like the lenses a great deal. The 50mm, by the way, is a great lens for "people pictures," being a slight telephoto. The 17-40 is a great "normal" lens, and the 70-200mm is an excellent length for telephoto shots on the 350D. The downsides of this setup are: the need to change lenses more frequently, no image stabilization, more (and larger) stuff to carry around.
From all accounts the 24-105 is an excellent lens also, and it covers a wider range than either of the other two lenses - though less range than the two together. The IS will be very useful for those candid shots since I doubt she will be using a tripod. On the downside: 24mm is not very wide on the 350D, and she may well miss the wider end of the 17-40.
One additional question may be significant here. Is your wife the kind of photographer who is happy to switch lenses frequently? Or is she the sort who is more likely to find this frustrating and a bother - and end up not taking the picture or just "making do" with the wrong lens? This may ultimately be a more significant issue than the purely photographic questions.
If she is going to find lens switching to be a bother, consider the 17-85mm EF-S lens. You can read other comments on it in the forums here. It is a great lens for someone who wants to stick a lens on the camera and leave it there. It provides enough range for the majority of shots, it gives you the 17mm wide end, and it has image stabilization. I own this lens and sometimes prefer it over the 17-40mm plus 70-200mm combination for certain subjects... such as the candid shots you mention in your post.
One other thought: Perhaps the combination of the 17-85mm EF-S and the 70-300 f4 zoom would cover the same range and require fewer lens changes. The cost would be similar.
p.1 #7 · 24-105 f/4L IS vs. 17-40 f/4L + 70-200mm f/4L
My suggestion (owning a 10D) is get the 17-40, 50F1.4, and 70-200F4. Then if she wants something in the middle for grab shots, either get the 24-85 (or is it 90) or the 28-135, my reasoning is the 24-105 isn't wide enough on a 1.6 body nor is it long enough. BTW the difference between 24-105 and 28-135 isn't that big as far as sharpness, the L has the edge in contrast however.
p.1 #8 · 24-105 f/4L IS vs. 17-40 f/4L + 70-200mm f/4L
For family candid picture 50F1.4 is a sweet lens especially when used indoor. For travel I would go with either 17-40L or 17-85IS though. I pick 17-40L since one day I may go FF however if this is not a concern 17-85IS definitely has the reach and convenience.
p.1 #9 · 24-105 f/4L IS vs. 17-40 f/4L + 70-200mm f/4L
Thanks for the replies. After hearing all the comments, I went with the 24-105mm. She loves it! Mostly, I decided on this one due to the IS for low light pictures and since she really is the type to just make due with the wrong lens instead of changing lenses.
