Help me with my lens choice...24-105mm L????

Hello everyone........I am new to this forum so forgive me if I am asking an "already beat up" question. I have a EOS 30D and am in need of an excellent all around lens. I will mainly be shooting pics of family get togethers, portarits, cars, and an occasional wedding (just family stuff, not professional). I have read about the 24-105mm L series lens, and am leaning towards purchasing this lens. What do you guys think about this lens as my main lens. I mean this would be my only lens. I am on the right track? Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
Brian

The 24-105 is a great lens - no question about that. There are a lot of well-documented aspects to this lens.

The questions I think you need to ask are:

1) Is 24 wide enough on a crop camera? It wouldn't be for me - might be fine for you though.
2) If you are shooting a lot indoors, will f4 be fast enough (unless you plan to use a lot of flash.

The EF-S 17-55 was designed specifically for the crop camera covering moderately wide to a moderate tele. It's also f2.8 - so a full stop faster than the 24-105. I know it's not an L, but it's a very good lens. You might consider it.

Just me thoughts...

Oh - and welcome to the forum. It's a pretty cool place to hang out.

Ahhh, the old 24-105 vs 17-5x decision...

A tough one for sure.

Regardless of the type of shooting he wants to do, I think it's easier to crop a wide angle photo than it is to miss that wide angle shot because your lens isn't wide enough. I.E. he can shoot at 55mm and crop the photo to achieve his desired composition, but he can't always step back if he's limited to 24mm wide angle. Sometimes a wall/ledge/tree/etc. keeps us from being able to compensate for 24mm x 1.6 magnification factor. 24-105 is a great lens, but 24mm isn't wide enough to me on a crop body. Heck, 17mm is barely cutting it for me.

Get the 17-55.. or maybe the 17-85 + 100mm macro + 50/f1.8. You still can get some handy portraits with the 100mm, and you'll have a DECENT wide angle zoom to play around with, AND a great low light lens... all for about the same $$$. You can always make most of your money back by selling the lenses down the road. You know, as well as all of us do, that you aren't going to only have one lens.

If you have to have only one lens, then I think the 17-55 will be more useful. Indoors, f/4 isn't going to cut it w/o flash.

If I am right in assuming that you already have the kit lens, I would recommend the 24-105 however keep the 18-55 for the times you need wider than 24mm (and you will need it because 24mm isn't wide enough on the crop bodies ) Welcome to POTN and have fun buying that new glass.

sugarzebra wrote in post #4532356
If I am right in assuming that you already have the kit lens, I would recommend the 24-105 however keep the 18-55 for the times you need wider than 24mm (and you will need it because 24mm isn't wide enough on the crop bodies ) Welcome to POTN and have fun buying that new glass.

Forgot about that kit lens. In that case, I'd agree.

drPheta wrote in post #4532373
Forgot about that kit lens. In that case, I'd agree.

I learned this lesson the hard way as I sold my kit lens when I purchased the 24-105...and then had to buy a 10-22 to solve the problem There is always one more lens to buy

I think you will do great with the 24-105 its one of my favorites.. it stays on my 5D which is of little help to you as its full frame so all different. What is of help to you is that my 24-70 stays on my 40d and i rarely find that i want for wider than this. I rarely use my 17-40 on my 40d.

So i personally think 24mm is fine on a crop cam like the 30d. And like the others have said you will have your 17-55 for backup for the wide shots. The 17-55 2.8 IS is DEFINANTLY one for you to consider too - but for me - i like the bit of extra zoom to get in tight and crop my shots.

Thanks for all of your opinions thus far..........I currently dont have a lens so the lens that I purchase will be my only lens. The 17-55 sounds wonderful also........it also runs about the same price as the L series. One thing that I liked about the L series is that it seemed to be "heavy duty" as far as build goes. Does the 17-55 EFS lens compare in that aspect? Thanks..... Brian

Wow......I've been looking at some sample images from the EF-S 17-55 that you guys have posted and they are amazing! I think that you have moved me into this direction. Thanks for your help. Now..........I just have to find one...........any ideas? Ebay? Retailers?

I got my 24-105mm L and so far I love it. I am extremely impressed with the build quality. It feels "heavy duty" compared to my Tamron lens. That is what I was mainly looking for. I knew it would be heavier and it sure is. That doesnt bother me though. To me this lens looks fabulous! I will post some sample pics in the future. Thanks for all of your advice.

BKGInc wrote in post #4549808
I got my 24-105mm L and so far I love it. I am extremely impressed with the build quality. It feels "heavy duty" compared to my Tamron lens. That is what I was mainly looking for. I knew it would be heavier and it sure is. That doesnt bother me though.

If that's all you wanted, maybe the 24-70 was the way to go!

I also wanted the Image Stabilization. Maybe the 24-70 will be my next one.

Oh, I was just kidding.

So where are the pictures??