Canon 24-105mm f/4 L or something else?

Just Be wrote in post #6393565
I find the 24 is plenty wide for how I shoot with my Xti. Being able to shoot up to 105 is so much nicer than just 55.

for the XTi, you might also consider a Tamron SP 24-135. i have one that i've used on my 30D and 40D with great results; my most successful image (see it here) was taken with that lens and my 30D. it may not be quite up to the 24-105 in terms of optical quality, and doesn't have IS, but it's a third the price, and that counts for a lot when you're saving up for a new camera body. it provides excellent image quality on a crop body, and also gives you a bit more on the long end than the 24-105...

I had a Tammy 17-50 which was nice and sharp, but I felt it was lacking on the long end. Sold it and got the 24-105, I definetly like 24-105's range alot better. It really depends on what/how you shoot. I would rather lose alittle on the short end and gain alot on the long end than vice versa.

I'll add to the kudos for the 24-105. It's range is great for general purpose "walk around" work, and the quality and build are terrific. If I were restricted to one single lens, it'd be this'n. I can even reliably hand-hold it at 1/15th or so if I need to do so.

Regards!
Don

Digital Means wrote in post #6393650
I had a Tammy 17-50 which was nice and sharp, but I felt it was lacking on the long end. Sold it and got the 24-105, I definetly like 24-105's range alot better. It really depends on what/how you shoot. I would rather lose alittle on the short end and gain alot on the long end than vice versa.

I did this exact same thing.

I'm thinking about doing the same thing; selling the Tamron 17-50 but hesitant because of going from 2.8 to f4 but the range on the long end is perfect...decisions decisions..

I am looking to get 24-70L or 24-105L.

I really struggled with the Tamron 17-50 and Canon 24-105 IS decision. The Canon is a very nice lens, 24 proved not to be wide enough on more than one occasion. Sometimes there is no more room to back up. I find that I lose less shots if I have to move forward to my subject. The Tamron is wicked sharp, produces wonderful colors and is $500 cheaper. I now have the Tamron 17-50 2.8 and Canon 70-200 2.8, next up is either a cheap telephoto 55-250IS or a fast prime 135L...Any suggestions?

Treaks

For a crop camera, the 17-55 IS is the best lens. I had the 24-70 and there will be times where 24mm on a crop just simply is not wide enough. With the 17-55, you can more than likely zoom in with your feet. With the 24-105, you can only back up so much before hitting a wall.

I really like the 24-105L and wish I had bought one earlier. I find it to be a great walk-about lens despite the crop factor on my 40D. It is really sharp (even compared with my 135L and EFS 60) and the image stabiliser helps tremendously in low light conditions.

From my experience, if you are shooting events the best 2 lenses will be 17-55IS and 70-200IS 2.8.
For travelling, 24-105 is great for the flexibility.

I think that your question should be a little more "detailed"... What will be the main purpose of the lens? where? The 24-105 is a great Lens, you can' go wrong with it, but what if you need the extra stop? Think of it as it seems to me this lens will be your "bread and butter". Sarel.

Wow, first off thanks to all of you for your opinions. I was pretty set on getting the 24-105 that I didn't think of the wide aspect.

I'm pretty much going to have this lens as my main lens. I won't be purchasing any more lenses for a while. I'll have the 50mm prime and the 24-105. The f4 is one of the other things that's making me think twice regarding the lens. That's why I wanted to get opinions on sigma and Tamron lenses. They are much less and if they work as well as the Canon, then it would be a better choice.

ThaLaM wrote in post #6403193
if they work as well as the Canon, then it would be a better choice.

If they worked as well as the canon, canon would stop making lenses.

ThaLaM wrote in post #6403193
.... I was pretty set on getting the 24-105 that I didn't think of the wide aspect. ....I'm pretty much going to have this lens as my main lens. I won't be purchasing any more lenses for a while. I'll have the 50mm prime and the 24-105. ...

Just make sure that 24mm is wide enough for you on a 1.6X crop; it wouldn't be for me.

I have it as my 'walk around' lens on my 50D. Awesome lens!