FF: Keep 24-105mm or ...

GF treated me to a 5d Mark II, with Kit Lens. My plan was to sell the kit lens, get a 17-40mm, as I loved my 10-22mm on crop (favorite lens until I got a 85mm, now it's a tie :lol. That would leave me with:

17-40mm
50mm (1.8 and 1.4 ...)
85mm 1.8

With the extra money from the sale, I'd maybe grab a 35/2, or Tamron 28-75mm, to replace some of the walkaround'ness of the 24-105mm. But boy am I torn. I'm holding this lens in my hand and half of me says just frigging use it already. Forget about the 17mm for now (as I'm a crop guy, it's like 11mm vs. 15mm, yes I'm visualizing this backwards), use the 24-105mm, it has IS, covers a very wide range of FL's, and dang it, I have it already.

If I really miss the 17, I can grab it later or sell this for maybe a slight but not large loss. I like to shoot a wide variety of things, but city, landscape and portraits (usually environmental) and of course parties and such. No sports, I tried shooting birds ... once. On crop and a 250mm FL and I still wasn't close enough. I'll give that up for now.

So what do you all think? I just want to hear opinions, what would you do type things and why. There might be something Im not thinking about.

Oh, and if it's at all relevant, I do plan on using the video feature a bit on vacations.

You know what you want. if you loved your 10-22, then I am sure you will love the 17-40! =)

Yes, I do! The IS and walkaroundabilitydooda​dd is what's pulling me back though.

And finally, is the IS quite important with video? I just read another thread that mentioned it.

IS is good with video although it's whirring comes up with the onboard mic.

I had the 10-22 on crop and then moved to the 24-105 on ff. I actually find that 15mm is plenty.

I'd suggest give the 24-105 a go for a month or two more before deciding, it's a stellar lens

IS is helpful for video =)

Stick with the 24-105L.
Its a great walk around lens, and the one that lives on my camera.
You wont lose much (if anything) even if you sell it in a years time.

Keep the 24-105.
If you are keeping your existing crop body, keep the 10-22 - you won't need the 17-40 at all.
If you are selling the crop body, sell the 10-22 as well, and you'll have enough for the 17-40.

although the 17-40 has less barrel distortion at the wide end, I much prefered the way the 24-105 rendered at 24mm than the 17-40 does.

I just got my 24-105 and it is *such* an amazing lens... Sharpness, color, contrast... Lovely.

Keep it...

I agree with those that say to keep it. It is a great lens, and I use it on a crop. It would be absolutely fantastic on a FF. If I were you, Id sell those two primes for the 17-40. If you need to hang onto the primes, at least keep the 24-105 too - you'll love it.

Dang, that's what I call a chorus.

MNUplander, I absolutely love the prime. If i Had to sell one, it would be the 85mm, because the 50/1.4 is actually not mine, it's my buddies, pro wedding photog, who has bag full of L primes (and one zoom just in case) and this was collecting dust. Literally, it came dusty as he had not used it in years. So he let me "use" it i.e. I can't sell it, but it's basically mine to use. I hope the AF doesn't break on it, I'm extra careful

And one of the things that got me excited was using the 85mm on the 5d. I saw one amazing photo where literally the top of a flower/rose was in focus then the stem blended into the OOF area and the rest of the shot was just milky. I'll never forget it and my goal is to attempt a shot similar to that for myself, and print it!

I guess I'll keep the dang thing. If I find myself on the primes more, and wanting wider, then I know what I have to do. Thanks everyone!

keep it--it's an awesome lens. there's a lot of hate online for it, but it really is a nice, convenient piece of equipment.

save up a bit for the 17-40 and just buy it in addition to your other lenses. right now i'm wondering if it's worth it to wait longer and buy a 16-35/2.8 even if the extra stop isn't that big of a deal to me. it's looking like the 17-40 will do everything i want for a more reasonable price

I think the bad "rep" of the 24-105 is because it is sold as a "kit lens". So people automatically assume it is inferior. If it was never sold with a kit I think people would appreciate it, or give it more of a chance more often.

I read how the IQ is not that good, that the USM is "slow", etc... But I find nothing but the total opposite. The USM is faster then my 70-200... The sharpness is just as good as my 70-200 as well. Colors are excellent, it is a great walk-around lens on crop OR full frame. I find 24mm on the wide end still, very versatile on my 7D. Build is also top notch on this lens, with a very nice solid, weighted feel (quality!).

That is my opinion though... People want to push it off because it is sold as a "kit" lens. It does not make it any less of a "L". That is for sure.

Yeah, keeping the 24-105mm would be my suggestion, too.

I use the 24-105mm on my 5D2, but when I first got the camera body I initially mounted my 17-40mm on it. I was pleased with the combo, but on a whim decided to use the 24-105mm on the camera. It has stayed on the camera since (over a year now). I think you're correct to consider the greater zoom range and IS as a walk-around bonus. That's been the case for the kind of shooting I've been doing with it.

An added benefit in keeping your GF's gift intact is the fact she can then feel like she got you exactly what you wanted. That can be important to a gift giver.

Have fun!

Dan

Well.. I after much debate and browsing through here I decided this will be the lens to mate with my 5d2 for a while.