Buying a 5D MII: What L series lens should I buy?

What is the best all-around wide to med L seies zoom for a 5D MII? I have heard great things about the 24070 2.8 qand also the 24-105 IS.

Is there another Canon zoom I should consider for the 5D MII? I have heard that some 24-70 2.8s are not great... and getting a good one is the luck of the draw. This true?

I'd suggest you get the kit with the 24-105 IS, and use that as a walk-around lens. In addition, though, you would benefit from a fast lens, such as a 50 1.4 or 85 1.8 for times when you are light-challenged.

The 5D/24-105 should be a fine combo for "normal" use.

I'd save a few $$$ and buy the kit with the 24-105 included.

I love my 5D with my 24-105 - it is an excellent combination.

tonylong wrote in post #6410955
I'd suggest you get the kit with the 24-105 IS, and use that as a walk-around lens. In addition, though, you would benefit from a fast lens, such as a 50 1.4 or 85 1.8 for times when you are light-challenged.

The 5D/24-105 should be a fine combo for "normal" use.

Agreed, a 24-105 and 50 f/1.4 would be a great 2 lens kit for a 5D!

All of 'em!

24-105 IS and then supplement with the 70-200 2.8L IS. You'll mostly be set.

You said "best all-around". I'd say thye 24-105.

In terms of the 24-70 being luck of the draw... well... I'd personally agree. I'm on my 6th.

24-105L, go for it! And it's cheaper in the kit too.

I was going to say all of them.

Doesn't anyone think $2700 is a crap load of money to spend on a camera and not know exactly what lens you want/need?

Conversely even the cheapest L's are pushing $1000 or just below in some cases not exactly glass you buy without knowing you really want it.

And maybe I've hung around in here for too long, but the subjects and type of photographs you like making should determine what lens to buy - not what a bunch of gear heads like use think.

I think the 24-70L paranoia is out of proportion. My 24-70L was dead bang out of the box - so was my buddies, mine was later bounced off my kitchen table and broken on my hard wood floor by a cat that now only has 8 of its 9 lives. The lens was repaired by Canon and still works just fine and is sharp. This lens is just simply put very large and heavy. It's not the easiest lens on earth to hand hold at 24mm wide open even on the best of days. This lens at 24mm rivals many consumer telephotos in size. Which is likely the reason Canon introduced the 24-105mmL, clearly not everyone needs an L level normal zoom that weighs this much, especially if they don't shoot f/2.8 a lot. If you want a zoom capable of f/2.8 go for the 24-70.

Sure is but don't you like to spend other people's money?

picturecrazy wrote in post #6412839
You said "best all-around". I'd say thye 24-105.

In terms of the 24-70 being luck of the draw... well... I'd personally agree. I'm on my 6th.

Wow, did they front focus, back focus or are they just not sharp?

I know your an accomplished photog and Im not questioning wheather they were bad or not as Im sure you did proper testing. Just wondering how they were bad

Without hesitation at all, i'd go 800mm.

Since this, in essence, a lens question, it's getting moved to the lens forum. In doing so, let me post my answer as well. The 24-105 f/4 L IS and the 24-70 f/2.8 L are both great lenses, but it's not the camera that determines your lens need, but rather your subject matter (within certain parameters since the 5D can't use EF-S lenses). You need to figure out what you primarily plan to shoot with your camera before you decide on the lens.

I would agree absolutely with Mark. It's the kind of photography that is important. I have decided that one of the best lenses for me is the EF100-400 L IS but I like to shoot people, animals and other subjects without gettinng too close and I always carry a tripod with me. For walk-around use I have EF24-105 L IS but this has barel distortion at the sides which makes it a little awkward for architectural of precision images. For Landscape work I use either my EF20mm or Sigma 12-24.