Should I have bought two 24-105mm f4 L lenses

I think you should buy 2 more 24-105 F4Ls then give her one and give me the other.

Relatively humorless, aren't you? My wife read this thread and laughed, and I wouldn't hesitate to show it to my youngest daughter She'd just write it off to silly men.

Mark

Lighten up malcolm..... A bit of harmless humour.

Your comment takes it to a different level.......

Now it could be that time of the month to go for a red stripe.

I read this title and it made me wish I purchased two 24-70L I wouldn't be down a lens right now. Totally off topic I know, I wish a I had a 24-105L as a hold over instead of my Sigma.

Now would that level be reality?

Yes these are just silly comments and not meant to be nasty, but if you can't see how they can be construed as condescending then I suggest that it's not my comments that are the problem, but perhaps your view on "humour/humor". Benny Hill fans obviously...

I'm not offended by the comments. But as I stated, the the tone of this forum is generally very supportive; this thread has not been at the usual standard. It's not that subtle guys -- grow a ball.

Hey Malcolm, now you have brought Benny Hill into it

The OP did include this phrase "Should I buy another one, or should I get a Sigma 18-200mm DC for my wife. I'm sure she'll be very happy with the extra length."

This was a bit of a loaded question. There were a couple of answers that picked up on the phrasing a little. I still think he got his answer though. It may have had a little 'carry on' in there, but I can strongly say that women take an active role in this forum and their sex is irrelevant. My view is just add to the positive, which far outways any negative.

Christmas greetings to all.

Graham

Fnar, Fnar ... It's the Finbar Saunders meets Beavis and Butthead thread!

Let's bring this back to what OP should get since his wife's using the 24-105, before I start hacking away at extraneous posts (and maybe handing out yellow cards).

Don't duplicate your lens choices, ADD to them. Get a different lens. 70-200, 16-35, or both.

You never know, she might like the way the shorter lens handles better...or how much more the longer lens gives her...

sorry...couldn't resist...temptation...

Come guys, its not how long it is, its how you use it!

(sat here chuckling at the quality humour) See, this is a problem associated with being brits, no-one really gets the humour on the right level.

Marc, does your wife like the 24-105 for it's size & quality, or is it because of the range it covers? Equally importantly, do you miss the 24-105?
I'm sure that will help in your decision

Otherwise, if she would like to go wider, then maybe she would like the 17-85 - significantly cheaper than the 24-105 and significantly better than the Sigma 18-200. Or, if she's happy with 24mm at the wide end, if she can sacrifice another 4mm, how about the 28-135mm IS?

With regards to the jokey male chauvinism - women need something to do when they've finished the washing up, and don't yet need to start cooking the dinner (THIS IS A JOKE PEOPLE, as was the thread that was going a while ago, as to how to hide new lens purchases from the mrs - all of us who are married love and respect our wives - this is a bit of harmless banter).

Having had a good laugh reading your replies, I realise that I should have known that this innocent question would bring out the chauvenistic thoughts in you! Apologies for this long follow-up on my dilemma, but I'll try and spice it up with some loaded sentences.

After considering the serious replies, I have come to the conclusion that our dilemma is not that simple.

Lynn (my wife) was extremely happy with the 24-105mm f4 L IS on her EOS 30 film camera during our last holiday. After giving her a test ride of the 24-105mm L IS on her SLR instead of her 24-85mm USM, it was never of her camera until we got home.

After seeing the quality in terms of sharpness and colour of the Velvia slides on the big screen (while cuddling up in front of our open fire), she is completely smitten on the lens and suggested she keeps the new lens and sell her 24-85mm USM on eBay.

She has already stated that we have to get a 2nd DSLR before our next holiday, probably in February/March 2006, and also sell her EOS 30 on eBay. Although I still love my Nikon FE, we're only considering Canon DSLRs which gives us three choices:

Canon 20D - duplicates what we have, but by far the cheapest at about £850 (or second hand for about £600). Or is there a chance for a 10mp or 12mp successor early next year?

Canon 5D - Gives the versatility of FF as well as the 1.6x crop of our 20D. Compact and light. More expensive at about £1,900 for the body.

Canon 1Ds Mk II - too bulky, too heavy (for Lynn) and too expensive at £4,600. Got the 45 point AF I still love on my EOS 3. My dream buy though.

Lynn does not want the flimsy 350D and we don't need the speed for action photography of the big and bulky 1D Mk II (N).

Combine these three with our (remaining) lenses, the 17-40mm f4 L, Lynn's 24-105mm f4 L IS, the 100mm f2.8 USM Macro and the 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS, then another lens is a must, as we need two bodies and two 'walk-about' lenses. What is your opinion of the following combinations:

17-85mm IS USM or Sigma 18-200mm DG with a 2nd 20D (cheap and cheerful, or 'furr coat nae knickers' as we would say here, but sacrificing quality)
24-105mm f4 L IS or 24-70mm f2.8 L with a 5D (preference is with the 24-105 as it gives extra range and has IS but having two the same lenses?)
24-105mm f4 L IS or 24-70mm f2.8 L with a 1Ds Mk II (too expensive, too heavy, needs whole new set of spare batteries, etc.)

I've owned the 28-135mm IS USM, and do not consider buying this again as it is definitaley not wide enough on the 20D.

I've owned the 70-200mm f4 L lens, but sold this to afford buying the 24-105mm f4 L IS and the 100-400mm L IS. I have the 70-200mm f2.8 L IS on my wish list. However, it will only be in it's useful range on FF, and more worrying, there have been test reports stating that this lens does not provide the anywhere near the resolving power the 1Ds Mk II needs.

I may be posting another thread in 6 months time entitled 'should I have bought two 5D's?' as my guess is that Lynn will be claiming the 5D and 24-105mm L IS lens, leaving me with the 20D.

Finally, before you ask, our main passions are landscape, travel and wildlife photography. Check my website for some examples.

Cheers.

P.S. I'll have to buy her a little red dress for Xmas to go with the red stripe!

OK - on the 20D the 24-105 will behave more like a 35-160; she might find the 17-85 on that would be preferable (28-135 FF equiv). It still has IS. That would set you up to get the 17-85 now, pick up the 5D or a second 20D/successor later and pass the 20D/17-85 on to her at that time, reclaiming the 24-105 yourself. You could order the 5D with grip, thus making it look bigger and less attractive to her ;{)#

Get the Sigma, paint a red line on it and swap it with the 24-105. She will never notice ... I hope it for you ...