I just purchased a converted 24-85 and I am in the process of testing verses the 24-105.
The early results testing at f5.6 are quite surprising to me. The Contax is way better than the Canon at 24-35. I mean not even close. This was a surprise to me as I always thought the 28-35mm range was where the 24-105 was at it's best. At 50 mm it is a tough call. Contax a little better in center, Canon in corners. At 70mm and 85mm Canon is better. I will do more testing at 50-85mm at f8 and see if that makes any difference.
I have both lenses and can do tests but from my memory, the major improvement in the contax was less distortion especially a the wide end. For sharpness, I thought they were rather close.
I think my latest 24-105 may be sharper and contrastier than my N24-85. I have a hunch that Canon has quietly improved tolerances on the 24-105 to satisfy the 5D2. Considering the wider aperture at long end, IS, better hood, and full use of DPP lens correction of vignette and distortion, I am starting to use my 24-105 more and more. I still dislike the size/shape though.
Comparing to my 24-70mm f2.8 I don't see much difference in sharpness at 24mm and 50mm (didn't compare 70mm). However, canon seems to be 'improving' contrast and contax 24-85 shows more colors and a little bit more details in dark areas. I tried to sharpen the picutres a lot and I have noticed that contax handless sharpening better before getting unrealistic effects on the edges. So to me it looks like that (don't shoot me if you don't aggree, it's just my opinon)
canon 24-70:
+ f2.8
+ fast AF
-24mm is closer to 25mm (contax is wider)
~ flare handling - normal
?more contrast which gives sharp image
-big and heavy
+rain sealed
contax 24-85:
+ I like the colors
+ more details in dark ares and light areas (nicer sky)
+ better handles sharpening and seems to have more details
-slower and less accurate AF
+smaller
+24mm
- out of producation (service, parts)
? it's just nice lens
(didn't test flare handling)
- front cap impossible to take off with hood - need replacement
Selling my 24-70 and one N24-85 on LL forum, keeping the other N24-85 for now.
My brother Has the 24-70 L and with the cr8p weather here
in Ireland I must to an imdoor test against my 24-85.
I have been using this lens on the 5D for the past 6 months
and is constantly on, I shoot mostly scape pictures and
I dont have many issues with distortion with some of the
Architectural work I do @ 24mm.
There does seem to be some CA in the extreme corners
for some images but not always, there are shots where the
image shows no sign of red/blue CA.
I love this lens over the previous 28-70 f2.8 I had, it is lighter
and smaller and always gets other photographers scratching
their heads . . .
brainiac wrote:
I think my latest 24-105 may be sharper and contrastier than my N24-85. I have a hunch that Canon has quietly improved tolerances on the 24-105 to satisfy the 5D2. Considering the wider aperture at long end, IS, better hood, and full use of DPP lens correction of vignette and distortion, I am starting to use my 24-105 more and more. I still dislike the size/shape though.
The 24-105 focus is extremely fast. The Contax 24-85 is much slower, but it was fast enough for me. The Contax is head and shoulders better than the Canon in my book.
)