Anything better than Canon 24-70 2.8 II

texkam wrote in post #18523038
..... on a 5D IV for studio table top, to a bit larger, merchandise shooting? For the most part, nothing will be printed larger than catalog/magazine size. Is there anything out there significantly better, and would I be wasting my money for my needs?

Why would you want a zoom for tabletop? Pick a prime; they're all better than the zoom.

texkam wrote in post #18523045
Money is not an issue (within reason), as long as I feel it's money well spent. Probably will not be doing very small items like rings or coins.

A 24 on a table top means you need a very wide sweep. 50 to 70 is nothing. Get a 50 or 100 and consider a macro— they aren't just for macro and are outstanding studio lenses.

JeffreyG wrote in post #18529499
I use Blurb for my books, since 2007. I've been happy with them.

Cool, thanks.

JeffreyG wrote in post #18529499
I use Blurb for my books, since 2007. I've been happy with them.

I, too, can vouch for Blurb. . In fact, I recently printed a photo submission on a Blurb "magazine" layout, instead of on the typical contact sheet. . When it arrived at the publisher, he sent me an email saying that it is the most impressive photo submission that he has ever received. . And he is in the magazine printing/publishing business, so his opinion carries some weight.

.

This would be purchased with corporate money and the Canon 24-70 2.8 has already been proposed. 2.8 because there would also be some environmental stuff shot from time to time where 2.8 would be preferred. I agree with the 70-200 focal length comment. It sounds like there is no other brand choice that outshines this lens when it comes to the combination of versatility and IQ in a single lens. I'll have to do more studying on a tilt-shift option.

texkam wrote in post #18529514
This would be purchased with corporate money and the Canon 24-70 2.8 has already been proposed. 2.8 because there would also be some environmental stuff shot from time to time where 2.8 would be preferred.

Might as well get the 24-70 then

Check this blog out at LensRentals. The recommendation is for primes.
https://www.lensrental​s.com …d-in-product-photography/

I love my 70-200 ii for product shots...

That product shot I posted earlier was shot with a 70-200L f4 at 200mm. Set up was in my garage and I was shooting from the driveway.
: )

To my mind, any of the 85mm offerings from canon would work well assuming you have some room to move back and forth for framing.

I am biased towards the 85 1.2 v2, the control over dof is amazing and works well for product shots where a particular feature deserves emphasis.

Just my 10 penneth.

rantercsr wrote in post #18529349
for in studio (I'm assuming that's how the op will photograph items ), I don't think there is anything better than the 24-70 mkii.. equally useful? maybe .. but not better..

I had the lens .. loved it .
...

BUT.,.. it can be a bit boring

I hear this term from time to time, but I never understood it. What is "boring"? How can a shot taken with this lens at, let's say, 70 mm and F/4, is more (or less for that matter) boring than that taken with a 70-200 at 70 mm and F/4, or with an 85 mm at F/4? Can somebody explain it to me, please?

Lbsimon wrote in post #18532617
I hear this term from time to time, but I never understood it. What is "boring"? How can a shot taken with this lens at, let's say, 70 mm and F/4, is more (or less for that matter) boring than that taken with a 70-200 at 70 mm and F/4, or with an 85 mm at F/4? Can somebody explain it to me, please?

well i'll tell you what i mean by it..

for the most part its a dof issue..

I Cant always get the amount of subject isolation that i want ..
so when i want to use shallow dof to get a bit creative , i'm not always able to ..
and that for the most part is what i mean by boring ..

we've all seen it i guesss?

a portrait for example , where the background (which is sometimes a bland/boring background )has been melted away by a 135 f2 or 200 f2.. giving a very pleasant photo.

rantercsr wrote in post #18532682
well i'll tell you what i mean by it..
we've all seen it i guesss?

a portrait for example , where the background (which is sometimes a bland/boring background )has been melted away by a 135 f2 or 200 f2.. giving a very pleasant photo.

Yeah, we've all seen it about a million times.

Not to be too contrarian, but I'd have to say that while a tight telephoto shot with razor thin DOF and a background that is just a color smear may be pleasing, it's most certainly also boring. There isn't much creative or new about a portrait in front of a smear of color.

I'm not saying a shot with thin DOF is always boring - sometimes wide + thin DOF can create an almost impressionist type rendering of a scene that is quite interesting. But it's going to be a rare shot that is long and has thin DOF that is interesting.

If I had to guess, Lbsimon was probably asking about this specifically. Perhaps it would be better if we were to say "I often find I need faster than f/2.8 for my photography" than "This lens is boring." Thin DOF is a tool, but not intrinsically interesting. I'd venture the most interesting photos are often at f/11, or use tilt-shift lenses for extreme DOF.

JeffreyG wrote in post #18532712
Yeah, we've all seen it about a million times.

Not to be too contrarian, but I'd have to say that while a tight telephoto shot with razor thin DOF and a background that is just a color smear may be pleasing, it's most certainly also boring. There isn't much creative or new about a portrait in front of a smear of color.

I'm not saying a shot with thin DOF is always boring - sometimes wide + thin DOF can create an almost impressionist type rendering of a scene that is quite interesting. But it's going to be a rare shot that is long and has thin DOF that is interesting.

I had the lens. for about 2 years (regret selling it )

i certainly wasn't saying that every photo with a totally blurred out back ground is interesting .. boring is everywhere.. how many more string of lights wrapped around a girl do we need to see on Instagram before that get boring ?(apparently a lot more)

its the lack of option with the 24-70 2.8 that becomes boring...( for me..) ,, not that every photo taken by it suddenly becomes boring..

lately i'm shooting more often with a wider DOF for portraits, .. eventually i'll get bored of that and want to shoot everything at 1.4 again.. until i get bored with that .. the good thing for me is having the option

for the OP and his intended use of the lens.. i doubt this will be an issue

rantercsr wrote in post #18532717
...
lately i'm shooting more often with a wider DOF for portraits, .. eventually i'll get bored of that and want to shoot everything at 1.4 again.. until i get bored with that .. the good thing for me is having the option
...

In my college days I spent a summer working on a sturgeon fish farm where they were processing beluga caviar. Boy, at one point eating that caviar became so boring! And I am not kidding!!!