HELP: 24-70mm 2.8L Or what?

I need a normal focal length lens.

10-22mm (Plan to sell)
70-200mm 2.8L IS (<3)
50mm 1.8 (dont use it much)
28-135mm USM IS (Just sold)

I plan on selling the 10-22mm because i am getting a 5DMarkII real soon. It was more of a creative lens, and i plan on getting the 16-35mm 2.8 later this year. I love f2.8 lens due to the shallow DOF i can create and for the extra stop of light (Compared to say a f4 lens).

Ive been reading about how not so sharp the 24-70mm 2.8L can be. Sharpness is pretty important to me, ive even considered primes (just cant afford all the ones i want). I know i can get a Kit and have the 24-105 f4, but even with the better ISO performance i would still like the f2.8. But i might consider just dealing with an f4 lens.

So..

Whats a SHARP! normal focal lens recommendation?

The only 2 Normal focal length zooms i can think of are..
24-70mm f2.8
24-105mm f4

I should just put the money towards the 5D Mark II Kit (i think i just answered my own question lol)

Opinion?

TomTomTuning wrote in post #7038152
Ive been reading about how not so sharp the 24-70mm 2.8L can be.

No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!

and

NO !


Please read the topics where this was discussed. This is one of them.
To sum up: well under 1% of copies have some problems; most are fixed by free calibration by Canon. It's not a general 24-70 issue.
And you know what?
Oftentimes even a faulty 24-70 is still a gem...

Rodinal wrote in post #7038163
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!
No!

and

NO !


Please read the topics where this was discussed. This is one of them.
To sum up: well under 1% of copies have some problems; most are fixed by free calibration by Canon. It's not a general 24-70 issue.
And you know what?
Oftentimes even a faulty 24-70 is still a gem...

Ahhhh.. Very nice!

I appreciate that!

Yeah,
if you have the money and need it, just don't hesitate... go go, go! now. (maybe you can still catch a 2008 Canon rebate from some dealer). as for problems, if any, you'll see afterwards. If you want that sharpness, that contrast and that overall "punch" in a under-100 zoom, no, there isn't any alternative to the 24-70.

24-70 vs. 24-105 was discusted recently.

If you are looking for DOF, from what I understand, you will get a similar DOF with an f4 on a FF camera that you get with 2.8 on your crop...

PS, doesnt the 24-105 have IS too, while the 24-70 doesnt? Just another thing to consider...

I think the 24-105 is the perfect every day lens for the FF body.

TomTomTuning wrote in post #7038152
Sharpness is pretty important to me, ive even considered primes (just cant afford all the ones i want).

well reconsider the 28mm, 50 1.4 and 85 1.8... They weigh about what the 24-70 does when added up and the cost about the same to. But it sounds like you've already decided which Lenses you want.

I say just get the 5D Mark II with the kit lens.

darktiger wrote in post #7038423
I say just get the 5D Mark II with the kit lens.

That's anti-photographic.
Golden rule is: always spend more on glass than on bodies

Rodinal wrote in post #7038568
That's anti-photographic.
Golden rule is: always spend more on glass than on bodies

Coming from the guy who has 2 1D mkII bodies lol

I love the 24-70, as I do not find f/4 fast enough for me in my shooting style. I tested 4 total copies, and all were sharp at 2.8. The "softness/QA" of the 24-70 is greatly exaggerated.

If you're willing to wait, Sigma will also soon be releasing a 24-70 f/2.8 HSM soon

TaDa wrote in post #7038635
I love the 24-70, as I do not find f/4 fast enough for me in my shooting style. I tested 4 total copies, and all were sharp at 2.8. The "softness/QA" of the 24-70 is greatly exaggerated.

If you're willing to wait, Sigma will also soon be releasing a 24-70 f/2.8 HSM soon

I'm not sure why but i like having Canon lenses.. dont ask my why because i really dont know..

A friend of mine has a 5DMarkII already and i hope i can check it out this week and just get an idea of how much better the ISO performance will be.
This will help with determinding if i need/want the extra stop of light.

I think i will get the Kit and if i dont like the 24-105 then i can just sell it and put that money towards the 24-70

Once i have the 16-35, 24-70 i will be set considering i have the 70-200 2.8IS already.

Then it's time to save up for some primes..
24 1.4
50 1.2
85 1.2

Ok,Ok maybe i'm dreaming but who doesnt lol..

Can't go wrong with the 24-70 IF you get a good copy. For me it took about 4 Copies to find a good one. Sure you can send it in for calibration, but thats like buying a new car and having to take it in for a 2 week service after it leaves the lot.

Two Canon lens that are infamous for having focusing issues is the 24-70 and the 50L aka, Shifty Fifty LOL

M Powered wrote in post #7039373
Can't go wrong with the 24-70 IF you get a good copy. For me it took about 4 Copies to find a good one. Sure you can send it in for calibration, but thats like buying a new car and having to take it in for a 2 week service after it leaves the lot.

Two Canon lens that are infamous for having focusing issues is the 24-70 and the 50L aka, Shifty Fifty LOL

When people tell their ordeals with lenses... I also like to hear what were their expectations. I have to say that's very rare. Could be fun to tell us more by how much, if measured, those 3 first copies were off. A whole lot of shooters out there are just insanely picky for no reason. I hope you're not one of them. See? This is how people get scared and this is how people start topics like this one. "I had lotsa problems" but nobody knows exactly what

Rodinal wrote in post #7039459
When people tell their ordeals with lenses... I also like to hear what were their expectations. I have to say that's very rare. Could be fun to tell us more by how much, if measured, those 3 first copies were off. A whole lot of shooters out there are just insanely picky for no reason. I hope you're not one of them. See? This is how people get scared and this is how people start topics like this one. "I had lotsa problems" but nobody knows exactly what

True and I agree.

As you can see from my links in my sig I take modeling photos. My first copy the lens would front focus on the telephoto end. So I would use Micro adjustment to compensate. Then on the wide side it would back focus... Sold bought another. This time it was less drastic but bad enough for me to be pissed. Returned picked up another copy. Tele photo side was okay, but severely front focused on the wide side... which was weird. I threw a fit asked around for other 24-70 owners and many concluded that I should send it in for calibration.

Last resort was to exchange for another copy, but was afraid this next one could be worst. I took my chances.... and it paid off. This latest copy I have only requires +1 Microadjustment where the previous copies required +10-14. This copy now focuses fine on tele and wide angle, like it SHOULD.

So yea. Don' read everything you see on the Internet, go out there and see for yourself! Rumors don't start for no reason