24mm over 35mm for general purpose?

draculr wrote in post #16777011
I've spent ages comparing 24L and 24-70Lii images back to back now.

I might have to put the 24-70 on the list if only for one reason... 18 point stars. I miss those from my old Zeiss ZE shooting days.

Being that the lenses are close in price, I have to weigh up whether or not I can deal with f2.8. I've been spoiled by super fast primes!

If you consistently use your primes wide-open for speed and DOF, I think you will be disappointed in the 24-70L performance.
But it is a great lens and it is the only zoom I would consider getting myself. Mainly for it's convenience of taking only one lens.

InfiniteDivide wrote in post #16778227
If you consistently use your primes wide-open for speed and DOF, I think you will be disappointed in the 24-70L performance.
But it is a great lens and it is the only zoom I would consider getting myself. Mainly for it's convenience of taking only one lens.

Couldn't agree with this statement more. The zoom is convenient and versatile, but otherwise falls far short of the primes in low-light and rendering of images. There's a reason the primes in this range cost nearly 2/3 the price of the zoom

Well, I did it... I purchased the 24-70ii!

Funny because I started the thread specifically saying I wasn't interested in that very lens. I'm yet to try anything landscapey as it's quite dark out but I did a test shot @ 70mm and I must say this lens has some punch to it. Very nice colours and micro contrast that let me push the edit hard.

I think what I'm going to do is keep my Sigma 35mm, Canon 85LII and this 24-70LII.

First test (heavily edited of course, but no lighting used):

I prefer 35mm over 24mm for a low-light prime... But for overall focal length, I like 24mm.

This is why my 24-70 II and 35L combo work well together. I generally will choose the 24-70 II over the 35L, but of course, for any low-light stuff the prime comes out and does really well.

This is one reason I may not be in a rush to upgrade to the 35L II when/if it does come. My 24-70 II generally gets priority anyway, with my 35L only being used when I am shooting at f/1.4 at ISO 3200+ at lower shutter speeds... Resolution is not exactly that important at those ISO's

The only thing I don't like about the 35L is the bokeh fringing... That would be ideal for my commercial event shooting with strong backlights... Was a pain in some shots to edit (the 24-70 II did not show the same issue).

Anywho, sorry for my tangent!

Invertalon wrote in post #16781768
The only thing I don't like about the 35L is the bokeh fringing... That would be ideal for my commercial event shooting with strong backlights... Was a pain in some shots to edit (the 24-70 II did not show the same issue).

That's funny because it was for exactly that reason I decided to hold onto the Sigma 35 over the 35L. I thought It'd be an acceptable trade of better AF for a little less resolution, but I've never seen so much CA! Masses of green and purple to the point where removing it is very difficult without creating halos around the subject.

This has been an interesting thread, as recently I have been wavering on my 35mm.

I took it out with me friday night, and was the only lens I used.
http://www.flickr.com …2/sets/72157642​729053605/

Always been happy with 85mm, but feeling better about the 35mm now.

dancook wrote in post #16784453
This has been an interesting thread, as recently I have been wavering on my 35mm.

I took it out with me friday night, and was the only lens I used.
http://www.flickr.com …2/sets/72157642​729053605/

Always been happy with 85mm, but feeling better about the 35mm now.

That Zeiss 35 you got there has quite some punch to it. I'd definitely hold on to it!

There's something about the micro-contrast and colours of the Zeiss lenses that doesn't show up in lens tests. It's all that T* coating I think.

draculr wrote in post #16784760
That Zeiss 35 you got there has quite some punch to it. I'd definitely hold on to it!

There's something about the micro-contrast and colours of the Zeiss lenses that doesn't show up in lens tests. It's all that T* coating I think.

thanks for the affirmation.

I worry about not having AF sometimes, but in such dim lighting - it's not always reliable anyway.

MalVeauX wrote in post #16776472
Heya,

The moment you get the 135L, you'll probably never use the 85 again. That is, unless, you are talking about the 85mm F1.4 (Sigma) or one of the `L's by Canon.

I think the 24L is nice, wide, and great for that width. But for a wedding? I'd go with a 35mm, and just back up. If you don't use it a lot, then consider simply going with the 35 F2 IS instead. It's sharper than the 35L anyways. You're not going to do a group shot less than F2 probably anyways at a wedding most likely.

Then again, this exactly why people use the 24-70 F2.8.

I really like the 35 / 85 / 200 setup.

Very best,

I second the 135L. The focus is fast, very sharp even at F/2, bokeh is creamy. If you have steady hands then you will be ok.

draculr wrote in post #16781687
Well, I did it... I purchased the 24-70ii!

Funny because I started the thread specifically saying I wasn't interested in that very lens. I'm yet to try anything landscapey as it's quite dark out but I did a test shot @ 70mm and I must say this lens has some punch to it. Very nice colours and micro contrast that let me push the edit hard.

That is what I love about the 24-70mm II, it is a very high contrast lens with some serious punch. It's famous for the sharpness, but what I really like is the contrast and colours. It is a zoom with an almost Zeiss like quality to it.

draculr wrote in post #16781687
Well, I did it... I purchased the 24-70ii!

Funny because I started the thread specifically saying I wasn't interested in that very lens. I'm yet to try anything landscapey as it's quite dark out but I did a test shot @ 70mm and I must say this lens has some punch to it. Very nice colours and micro contrast that let me push the edit hard.

I think what I'm going to do is keep my Sigma 35mm, Canon 85LII and this 24-70LII.

First test (heavily edited of course, but no lighting used):

Congrats on the new lens!

Mornnb wrote in post #16789719
It is a zoom with an almost Zeiss like quality to it.

I bought the 24-70 II last year and recently sold it (I'm just not a zoomer), but I agree that it is impressively Zeiss-like in it's rendering. It is an excellent lens.

David Arbogast wrote in post #16790358
I bought the 24-70 II last year and recently sold it (I'm just not a zoomer), but I agree that it is impressively Zeiss-like in it's rendering. It is an excellent lens.

First proper shoot with it. I am impressed. When you properly light the scene the f2.8 becomes much more manageable. I'll still use my primes for more uncontrolled situations where I'd find f2.8 quite irritating, but this was handled almost like a studio shoot with multiple speedlites going off.

The absolutely insane thing however, is that IF you are shooting at f2.8 and above I think although the primes might edge it out slightly on pure sharpness, the 24-70ii delivers a noticeable amount more contrast which makes it appear to be sharper.

I'll post a link to the full set as soon as it's done.

draculr wrote in post #16792109
First proper shoot with it. I am impressed. When you properly light the scene the f2.8 becomes much more manageable. I'll still use my primes for more uncontrolled situations where I'd find f2.8 quite irritating, but this was handled almost like a studio shoot with multiple speedlites going off.

The absolutely insane thing however, is that IF you are shooting at f2.8 and above I think although the primes might edge it out slightly on pure sharpness, the 24-70ii delivers a noticeable amount more contrast which makes it appear to be sharper.

Compared to 24L II.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=0​&APIComp=4

And Sigma 35.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=0​&APIComp=3


It is slightly sharper than these primes. but in the real world probably not enough to notice as the difference is slim. The contrast and colour rendering is the real advantage of this lens.