24-70L vs 16-35L vs 35L

Hey all,

I´m looking at these three lens, and will have to decide which one to get in about six months. Heh. I don´t do budgets. I save up and buy what I want, as the craving for the best glass will always be there if not doing so in the first place. This applies for a lot of things to me - especially with snowboard equipment, will get to that later.

My guts tell me the 35L is the way to go, as I seldom go past 40mm on my 28-105mk2 anyways, and most shots are between 30-40mm, at the maximum, 50mm (although that´s taken care of by the Sigma in my signature - it rocks).

The only reason I´m considering the other two is because of their weather sealing - I know, my 20d is not weather sealed, but I might upgrade within the next two years to a 1dmk2, and so, weather sealing would be applicable. I need sharp shots at f/2.8 (mostly due to northern Norway´s natural light isn´t always the best), and my impression is that copies of 24-70L vary greatly at this aperture. I snowboard about 60-80 days each season, and if at least the glass was weather sealed, I imagine I´d take it out with me a lot more often. My friends are mostly ripping skiers, and I know a lot of their skiing belongs if not on magazine covers, then at least in stories. I could afford to replace the 20d, but not the glass right away, and it would really be a shame to kill a nice 35L with snow spray.

Could use some help with my planning here.
As you might´ve understood, I don´t need the zoom, but I do need weather sealing (in the future), and I absolutely need f/2.8.

Thanks all.

I´ll be back with some duck shots with the 200mm in my sig once they come back to our little part of the country.

I have the 35L and the 24-70L. If I had to get rid of one, the 24-70L would go first.

Thanks, I see myself in the not-so-near future owning both (or all three of the above mentioned), but for now, I won´t be able to justify getting all.. Hehe.

Have you had any dust or spray issues with the 35?

No, but I haven't taken into any adverse conditions. You can always get something cheap to cover the body/lens...like a plastic bag or an optech rainsleeve.

Great, never really thought of that, but that will be taken into consideration. Do you happen to use any filters with the 35L? Thinking mostly of a neutral UV-filter, simply for protection of the front element.

Opinions on the 16-35 are also very much welcome here!

Aren't those really wide for snowboard shots ? Unless I was snowboarding with them and shooting at the same time, I'd go with something longer or a zoom with more reach, no ?

Nope! The types of snowboarding and skiing photos I do, and want to do even more, need very little reach. 35mm is plenty, and I could actually go wider if the 28-105 I already own was up to the task, but the IQ at 28mm isn´t that great on my copy. 35 is great, though. I failed to mention earlier that I had an ftb back in the day with the "kit" 50mm attached to it, and I really liked the focal length and shots from this camera/lens setup. 35mm on my 20d is pretty close, and I zoom into this focal length very often.

Standing below a cliff or a wind lip, getting shots, require a wide angle, and there, the 16-35 would actually shine. Come to think of it, it´s getting more and more attractive as we speak.

For far-away shots, I´ve got the 200, and that certainly does its job well.

Damned decisions!

35 1.4L....

in that case, yeah, the 35L is a great lens. Wide enough in a crop camera ?

The 35L is fantastic and if you're sure that the length is enough, I can't recommend it enough. I find the 24-70L and 35L make a great pairing, but I think I lean to the 35 a bit more. The freedom of 1.4 is great.

I got rid of my 24-70L and just use the 35L for most of my daily stuff. The IQ is unbelievable, the focus us fast an extremely accurate, and the FL on a 40D is perfect for my needs.

I find that I do spend a little more time framing my shot properly, but don't putz around trying to get the "right zoom". All in all, better pictures.

I love this lens, love it love it love it.

arild8515 wrote in post #5229083
Great, never really thought of that, but that will be taken into consideration. Do you happen to use any filters with the 35L? Thinking mostly of a neutral UV-filter, simply for protection of the front element.

Since I use the 35L mostly outdoors, there's always a B+W Kaesemann CPL on the front of it. Fantastic filter. Here's a sample of what this lens/filter can do.

I don't have the 16-35, but I do have the 24-70 and the 35. I LOVE my 35 and it is the lens most often on my camera. I used the 24-70 on Spring Break and kept zooming with my feet out of habit -- I guess I'm just a prime girl at heart. The 35L is an AMAZING lens!

I don't have 35L but I do have 16-35 II and 24-70 L. Optically both are very good. I can't tell apart when just looking at the printed photos. My copy of 24-70L is slightly sharper when pixel peeping at 100%. I'd go with 16-35L if I were in your situation. Faster zoom may not make any difference in your situation. Zooms are generally more flexible when there is good light.