After a month with my 24-105 f/4L

Genome wrote in post #10399232
Failing that use your 50mm prime or you will find your self broke rather fast

Thanks for the advice. I've already found myself broke though

muusers wrote in post #10399805
Or fit the entire empire statebuilding in one frame, or zoom in to the flag planted on the moon...

We all want a 10-1200mm f1.2L IS USM II under $1k and less heavy than a feather. But that isnt going to happen.

Good thing about your dSLR though, you can change lenses! . Every lens has it's purpose.

If it's really about good isolation of your subjects, i would recomend a fast prime >85mm. Not to replace, but to complement your 24-105.

Thanks for the advice and thank you for keeping the thread on topic I've had my eyes set on the 135L, so that may be a nice third lens for me Not now though, I'm broke.

yourdoinitwrong wrote in post #10399841
A few months after getting my 24-105 I started having second thoughts about it as well. My issue was a little different, instead of DOF I was more concerned with f/4 not being fast enough indoors. I considered getting a 24-70 but decided against it for several reasons: much more expensive, losing 35mm on the long end, gaining nothing on the short end, only one stop better, no IS, and my 24-105 is very sharp. I decided adding primes was a better alternative for me. The 24-70 is only going to give you a one stop difference, which WILL do better on the separation but not nearly as much as a fast prime. Maybe you could try renting a 24-70 to see if it gives you what you are looking for. An f/2 zoom sure would be nice but the price would be even nicer!

I can agree with this. Although I knew before I bought the 24-105 that it was going to be too slow indoors. Even then, I would prefer to work with primes in low light.

ofafeather wrote in post #10400064
I would like to get a better walk around lens, maybe get rid of my 17-40 and 28-75 and get a 24-105.

I love the focal length on a crop sensor.

After getting rid of my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, I went for Canon 24-105mm f/4L AND Sigma 30mm f/1.4.
What that gave me is the shallow DoF of f/1.4 aperture, as well as IS/versatility of the 24-105.

I believe that the 24-105 is a great vacation lens given its: range/IS/weather sealing/light weight/IQ. However, it does lack the f/2.8 aperture. That's where the primes come in useful to give you that nice bokeh.

Add a prime and you won't be disappointed.

In fact, I just saw that you already have a 50 f/1.4. It's a great prime. Consider adding 30 f/1.4 as well - it'll give you nicer range on a crop body.
Personally, I found 50 to be too long to be used indoors, where 30 is perfect.

aboss3 wrote in post #10402180
In fact, I just saw that you already have a 50 f/1.4. It's a great prime. Consider adding 30 f/1.4 as well - it'll give you nicer range on a crop body.
Personally, I found 50 to be too long to be used indoors, where 30 is perfect.

I agree with that. But the 50 on crop is great for losely cropped head and shoulder portraits.

Add a fast prime to compliment the zoom.

Having spent a lot more time with this lens on the camera, things are starting to turn around. Its a nice daily carry, like I intended it to be. Image quality is awesome, fixed f/4 is not bad, zoom range is awesome, and the image stabilizer amazing.

I've grown to accept that this lens is not designed for total subject separation, but thats why I carry my 50 with me. Hopefully I can expand my prime collection with a 135L in the near future.

Here's some work I did with the 24-105. Please check it out and post your thoughts.

lmao 24-105 f2 IS?

ahahahaha i think it would cost much more then 3-4k if it's ever built, highly doubt they would tho...

But it doesn't some nice....

Have you tried Sigma 50-150 f/2.8 or Tokina 50-135 f/2.8? No IS though.

yep, you want a FF sensor if you want less DOF at f4. I'm very satisfied with 24-105 so far but I would love to own 24-70 as well. DOF on FF at f4 is enough for walk around purposes for me. Here are two pics at f4.0 and 24mm.

The faster 24-70 lens is overstated in my opinion.

At 2.8 shooting anything more than one object in the frames means unless you are dead on both subject plane one is out of focus.
A lot of people use this lens for weddings, but as most photographers in the church are rarely bang in front of the bride and groom you get a load of shots where the bride or groom is out of focus.

Considering the 24-105's extra reach it's the better option. If you're worried about lighting get a 5D2 that has a couple of stops low light advantage over most Canon's.

For those that don't have full frame but want more depth of field, move closer to the subject you wish to isolate and go wider.

Agreed, I think going full frame will be something I would do instead of selling the 24-105 for a 24-70. At 105mm f4, the background separation can be pretty blurry.

+1 for adding a full frame body.

The 24-105 shine on FF, but it cannot compete with my 35L and 135L... Unfortunately, this great lens does not see much use anymore...

Flexibility of focal length is nice, flexibility of aperture is nice as well. Too bad it's one or the other. Try a fast prime and see how you like it.

Find out what aperture you shoot the most at, or close to. Then get the prime that has the focal length closest to that most used by you.

-David

aboss3 wrote in post #10402173
I believe that the 24-105 is a great vacation lens given its: range/IS/weather sealing/light weight/IQ.

Add a prime and you won't be disappointed.

jrscls wrote in post #10403373
Add a fast prime to compliment the zoom.

Having had the 24-70 and now the 24-105, I can confidently say that the 2.8 vs. 4.0 makes little difference indoors/ low light. Both are too slow, you need a prime. Save cash, get the 24-105 for more versatility. The Sigma 50mm 1.4 is perfect for that task due to its cost.

sebr wrote in post #10479204
The 24-105 shine on FF, but it cannot compete with my 35L and 135L... Unfortunately, this great lens does not see much use anymore...

Going all primes is great, but constantly switching lenses just got annoying (I had the Trinity). If getting the shot is paramount, you can't beat a versatile zoom. Compliment with a fast prime for the indoor/night shots, you have a great kit.