I have shot with the original "brick" many times, so I am familiar with it. I have rented it on at least a half-dozen occasions. (Thanks LensRentals.com!) But this new 24-70 2.8L II is a new monster.
What does it "feel" like to use?
1. Seems to focus as faster or faster than my 135 F2L.
2. Focus just seems more accurate. It just locks on with greater "umph" and precision than any other lens I have used. You can feel it in your finger tips and it's just magic. But it does its magic with great speed.
3. It is a zoomable prime. I am getting better results with it than any 35L I have rented before. Entire zoom range is sharp. Vignetting is a non-issue. CA is not an issue.
4. It's not that heavy at all by comparison to the brick.
5. It finally does to the 5D (II in my case) what the 17-55 F2.8 IS did for my 20D. But it's much better built and is not a dust magnet. It is an amazing walkaround lens on full-frame!
As someone who also owned the Tamron 24-70 VC, the Canon lacks the warmer tones of the Tamron but offers better, faster, more accurate AF as well as better bokeh, far less vignetting, and weighs less.
Is it worth the asking price? Only you can decide that.
Have you been looking for that "17-55 IS" replacement for FF? Is your 24-70 2.8L offering 95% of what you need and you want that edge? If so, Canon has produced an answer for you.
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