Canon 24mm-85mm USM f3.5-4.5 lens ???

[JZaun]

I recently purchased my10D. The sales person demo'd on his camera until they received a new one for sale. He had the above lens. 24-85mm USM, f3.5-4.5. He loved his and talked me into one for my camers. Now I can find little information on this forum and I have read almost nothing good or bad. So far I am happy but I keep wondering is there a problem I am not aware of. No one seems to use this lens or at least they don't talk about it. Am I the only one with this lens? I posted my first printed pic a few days ago.. (Grey Cat)

Thanks for your input

JZaun

[torsten]

I don't own the lens, but you may be interested in reading these user comments (http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=6&sort=7&thecat=27).
There are a lot of user reviews of other lenses on that site too.

[dtrayers]

I do have this lens and it works quite well for me. I used to own a Canon G3 and the 24-85 on the 300D gives about the same zoom range. I did get the 18-55 kit lens with my 300D (not available for the 10D) and use it when I need a little wider angle (like indoor snapshots of the kids). Usually it's the 24-85 lens on the camera body.

Even though 67mm an unusual size, I like that it's the same filter size as my 70-200f/4. I also like that it's an internal focus lens. Not a lot of lenses in this price range are.

Philip Greenspun offers his opinion of this lens:

www.photo.net/equipment/canon/24-85.html

[GenEOS]

It has been my standard mounted lens on all of my cameras and has served me well. The 24 is just enough to give me a wide angle feel with the D60, even though it isn't. I would recommend it. It's the 28-105 that I can now do without. I have since bought the 70-200L and it has taken the place of the 28-105. Well, it actually didn't "take" the place, the 28-105 bowed out.

[EoSD30fReAk]

I do own one. it still serves me well. although i use the 28-135IS more.

[gudac]

It is on my 10D most of the time. Many feel that it is in the class of L lenses. Works really well with the built in flash on the 10D.

Joe

[Mark_Cohran]

The 24-85 is definitely a good lens, but it's no where near the class of an L lens. It's a decent consumer zoom but it lacks edge sharpness at 24mm and it's not nearly as contrasty as the 17-40mm f4 L, and it can't touch the 28-70mm f2.8 L. But then, you can bought it at about 1/2 the price of the first one and at about 1/4 the price of the 2nd.

[DAMphyne]

I just picked one of these lenses up. Seems to be working fine to me.
http://www.damphyne.com/gallery/albums/OK-Photos/IMG_0790.sized.jpg
http://www.damphyne.com/gallery/albums/OK-Photos/IMG_0786.sized.jpg
http://www.damphyne.com/gallery/albums/OK-Photos/IMG_0656.sized.jpg
http://www.damphyne.com/gallery/albums/OK-Photos/IMG_0655.sized.jpg

Thanks for the help FretNoMore.

[Anders Östberg]

:cry: I guess I don't know how to post a photo, sorry.

You just placed the img tags backwards, the one with the "/" goes at the end. Here you go! :)

http://www.damphyne.com/gallery/albums/OK-Photos/IMG_0790.sized.jpg

[Jim Larson]

Canon zoom lenses:

Basically, there are three grades:

Kit lenses: 18-55, 28-90, 28-80, 28-105/4.5-5.6 (plastic mounts, no USM, no distance feedback for E-TTL-II). Lower end optical quality. Cost: $100

Prosumer lenses: 24-85 ($330), 28-105/3.5-4.5 ($225), 28-135 IS ($425), all of the 70-300 lenses($120-$1300) (including the 70-300IS and 70-300DO-IS): Metal lens mounts, midling optical quality. Definately good lenses to have.

L Zooms: Creme de la creme. Good stuff. 2.8L zooms cost $1200+, 4.0L zooms $600-$700.

Moral of the story: You have a good lens. Logical choice for a 1.6 FOV camera, unless you have an extra $1000 burning a whole in your pocket.

Or you could what I did: Buy a few primes. . .

[Jim Larson]

Canon zoom lenses:

Basically, there are three grades:

Kit lenses: 18-55, 28-90, 28-80, 28-105/4.5-5.6 (plastic mounts, no USM, no distance feedback for E-TTL-II). Lower end optical quality. Cost: $100

Prosumer lenses: 24-85 ($330), 28-105/3.5-4.5 ($225), 28-135 IS ($425), all of the 70-300 lenses($120-$1300) (including the 70-300IS and 70-300DO-IS): Metal lens mounts, midling optical quality. Definately good lenses to have.

L Zooms: Creme de la creme. Good stuff. 2.8L zooms cost $1200+, 4.0L zooms $600-$700.

Moral of the story: You have a good lens. Logical choice for a 1.6 FOV camera, unless you have an extra $1000 burning a whole in your pocket.

Or you could what I did: Buy a few primes. . .

[JZaun]

Thanks for the input. I feel better now! I had read so little about this I thought I had purchased a lemon. Its good to know I made a good choice even if I didn't really know what I was doing! ha I am not ready for the (L) fevor yet. I still need other things like a 550 flash and a good macro.
Thanks again
JZaun

[boBquincy]

It's a good lens and can be very sharp at medium aperture settings. Mine has about three hard years use, it wobbles a little and tends to zoom out when I carry it face down, but it still works well.
It seems to have a fair amount of distortion at 24 but it is usually only noticeable when stitching panoramas

This lens takes the same filter size as the 70-200 f4 L, which is a good complement to the 24-85.


boB

[Tom W]

Thanks for the input. I feel better now! I had read so little about this I thought I had purchased a lemon. Its good to know I made a good choice even if I didn't really know what I was doing! ha I am not ready for the (L) fevor yet. I still need other things like a 550 flash and a good macro.
Thanks again
JZaun

You may consider one or a set of extension tubes for macro. Kenko makes a set that's pretty inexpensive. That would allow you to save up a bit more for the flash and some other glass in the future.

[Red Squirrel]

Fitted to my 10d, I have to say I am very unhappy with this combination.
I constantly front focusses.
I tried a brand new one in a shop today and found it was the same. This lens is only of use to me if I manually focus it.

And there's nothing wrong with my camera, as I've got a 17-40L and a budget 75-300 usm and they both focus fine.

I think I need to get canon to re-chip the 24-85 to work with my camera.

[Anders Östberg]

I constantly front focusses.

Interesting to hear, I've had lots of focusing problems with Tamron and Sigma lenses, but the only Canon lens I've tried that didn't work correctly was also a 24-85. I didn't investigate this as I had decided to return it for a 28-135 anyway.

-Anders