24 - 105 L or...?

I'm looking at buying into some proper glass in the near future and have had my eyes set on the Canon 24 - 105L for a while. I borrowed a friends and absolutely loved it for a couple of reasons. The IQ is brilliant, it has a good every day range for portraits, landscapes etc and just enough zoom for the odd bit of wildlife or what not. It's built very well as well IMO.

Now, I'm just wondering if there are any other lenses people would recommend? Whether it be faster or for any other reasons!

Budgetting for about about the £500 - 700 mark!

Cheers

What camera? Its a great lens for full frame, but its not the best option for a crop camera.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15528003
What camera? Its a great lens for full frame, but its not the best option for a crop camera.

Yeah, a lot of people have said that, although i still loved it on a crop! I've got a 650D so what else would you recommend?

Brelly wrote in post #15528085
Yeah, a lot of people have said that, although i still loved it on a crop! I've got a 650D so what else would you recommend?

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS, Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS.

Brelly wrote in post #15528085
Yeah, a lot of people have said that, although i still loved it on a crop! I've got a 650D so what else would you recommend?

Canon 17-55mm F2.8 Is. The best general purpose lens on a crop body.

Scott M wrote in post #15528116
Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS, Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS.

jason118 wrote in post #15528119
Canon 17-55mm F2.8 Is. The best general purpose lens on a crop body.

Thanks. What about anything with a some extra reach? I've got a zoom lens but don't necessarily always have it with me!

Brelly wrote in post #15528129
Thanks. What about anything with a some extra reach? I've got a zoom lens but don't necessarily always have it with me!

The thing is most users will probably use the wide end more than you would take advantage of what little extra reach you get from the 105. Its still not long enough to make it a proper tele.

Used 15-85 AND a used 135l would be in your price range. I have the sigma 24mm f1.8, and having the additional 9mm is very convenient.... Not to mention the excellent IQ on the 15-85. You may regret purchasing the 24-105.... I was sold on this lens after tons of research, until trying the 15-85mm.

It would be worth it to rent both for 2 days and see what you like better.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15528130
The thing is most users will probably use the wide end more than you would take advantage of what little extra reach you get from the 105. Its still not long enough to make it a proper tele.

No, I know it's not. I just wanted a bit of extra reach without having to take out an extra lens really, unless I know I'm going to need it.

Dawicka2 wrote in post #15528154
Used 15-85 AND a used 135l would be in your price range. I have the sigma 24mm f1.8, and having the additional 9mm is very convenient.... Not to mention the excellent IQ on the 15-85. You may regret purchasing the 24-105.... I was sold on this lens after tons of research, until trying the 15-85mm.

It would be worth it to rent both for 2 days and see what you like better.

Well I'm picking up the 10 - 22 as well as an ultra-wide lens as well, so I'd have a few extra mm with that as well. And potentially looking at getting the 100mm L macro as well becasue that can be used for portraits etc too, and trying my hand with that, would that be another suitable alternative instead of the 135?

Brelly wrote in post #15528129
Thanks. What about anything with a some extra reach? I've got a zoom lens but don't necessarily always have it with me!

There is the new EF-S 18-135 STM. As a general rule, though, the larger focal range your zoom covers, the lower the image quality. The EF-S 15-85mm is probably the best compromise, as it still has excellent IQ while providing a very nice focal range. And you are probably not going to notice much difference between 85mm and 105mm on the long end compared with the 24-105L, but the difference between 15mm and 24mm is huge at the wide end.

If a longer focal length is important to you, personally I would consider the 18-135mm before the 24-105L on a crop.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15528130
The thing is most users will probably use the wide end more than you would take advantage of what little extra reach you get from the 105. Its still not long enough to make it a proper tele.

Some may use the wide end more, but not all. On my T1i, I spend far more time beyond 200mm on my 18-270 than I do under 50mm, and I'd go even longer if I could.

archer1960 wrote in post #15528301
Some may use the wide end more, but not all. On my T1i, I spend far more time beyond 200mm on my 18-270 than I do under 50mm, and I'd go even longer if I could.

Yes. But thats an actual telephoto zoom, where 200 actually gets you some reach and change in perspective control. My point is if you really want tele, get a telephoto lens and not a walkaround zoom. You've opted for a superzoom which have their strengths, but more weaknesses than I can agree to.

Brelly wrote in post #15528244
Well I'm picking up the 10 - 22 as well as an ultra-wide lens as well, so I'd have a few extra mm with that as well. And potentially looking at getting the 100mm L macro as well becasue that can be used for portraits etc too, and trying my hand with that, would that be another suitable alternative instead of the 135?

Yeah, minus 1 stop of light. IQ should be similar.

If you have the 10-22, then a 24-70/24-105 would be a good investment in my opinion. You probably won't only have the 650D forever. You'll have all focal "normal" lengths covered,

Do you want the 100L for macro? I'd consider the 50/85/135 combo eventually, get the 50/85 first and that would be a good setup. (50+85)*1.6 = 80mm + 136mm

Well youve gotten the luxury of trying before buying - you like the range - go for it! Despite many naysayers - I think it's one of the best all around lenses, even on a crop, it's been my preferred one lens solution for travel photography for a number of years and yielded lots of great pics in great places!

I have not used them but if I was in your shoes I'd first check out the 15-85 and 18-135 before I made my final decision. But if you buy an L lens used you can pretty much resell it for the same amount you payed 99% of the time. So if you decide it's not right for you - free rental more or less!