Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Nice work.

Yeah, very nice, Steve..!

No problems at all with outer AF points! I use them all with perfect results.

That is the main reason I upgraded. Finally - outer points you can depend on.

I'm liking the last few samples. Thanks guys.

beautiful shots Steve, you're making me want one and I don't even use the 24-70 range at all!! LOL

Thanks!

I was worried that the 70mm max focal length may be a bit short compared to the 24-105 I have been using for years, but given the high resolving power of this lens you can easily crop quite heavily and keep plenty of detail. Paired with the 70-200 I have a nice range covered with just two lenses. I have my Samyang 14mm for my ultra-wide stuff, but is not really a normally used lens. I have used the 24-70 II more in the past week than the 24-105 in the past few years probably... Well not quite, but it will get there very quickly! Just more fun to use with the f/2.8 aperture and the sharpness and colors and all that. I really don't miss the IS at all like I thought I would. I have been requiring higher shutter speeds anyway to freeze motion more than stationary stuff.

A few more examples taken that night... The first two had to be shot at ISO 51,200... It was that dark and needed the shutter speeds to freeze the motion of the characters. AF nailed basically every shot. The 24-70 locks right on, even in terrible lighting conditions. But that also heavily is the 5D3 as well I suppose!

Not exactly the best examples again, but just showing what the 5D3+24-70 combo can do in more challenging situations.

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^Nice Steve! Looks great except all that onion bokeh. I'm kidding of course, but seriously have you seen any onion bokeh yet?

Nope, I have not seen any "oniony" blobs! I have looked, trust me! The effect does not even bother me really, so I would have no problem saying if this lens had it or not. But honestly I have not, and I have plenty of prime examples that should show it.

The worst I would have is what is shown in that first image on my last post... The purple highlight. I was shooting at ISO 51,200 though and I would not expect perfect results at such an ISO. In normal conditions, everything has looked perfect as far as that goes.

Here’s one at 70mm, taken wide open -

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Invertalon wrote in post #15065349
I really don't miss the IS at all like I thought I would. I have been requiring higher shutter speeds anyway to freeze motion more than stationary stuff.

This is also why I'm not that concerned about the lack of IS. If I really need longer exposure times than I can handhold, I'm using a tripod.

Exactly ^ I thought IS was required for me but after using this lens it has changed my mind. I still hand-hold down to 1/20 or so with great results. Sure I may have been able to do 1/10 or so reliably with the 24-105L at 24mm, but beyond that 1 or 1.5 stops, it was hit and miss. IS is generally good for a stop or two for me though, even with the 4-stop IS of the 70-200 II... Most of time I try to limit my 200mm shooting to 1/100 or 1/50 at worst. I have done less, but keeper rate drops a bunch after that point.

A few more I just uploaded:

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Fantastic imagery Prat and Steve! Love that misty one Steve.

Prat, I think you should go ahead and order the Zeiss 2/35 and compare it to the 24-70mm and see what you think. I wouldn't be shocked if the 24-70mm II isn't a better lens (sharper/better corrected, etc.). If so, you can send the Zeiss back for a full refund (minus shipping). But, I'd love to learn what you think.

I keep talking myself out of this lens, but you and Steve are making some powerfully compelling arguments.

^ Thanks, David.

As far as making compelling arguments for 24-70 II, Steve is to blame, for the most part.

ZE 35/2 is where I am leaning as well. But first, I have to sell my Sigma 105.

p360 wrote in post #15067777
As far as making compelling arguments for 24-70 II, Steve is to blame, for the most part.

In a weird, sick way... I enjoyed making you spend your money on the 24-70!