Another 24-70mm vs. 24-105mm Thread....

Headshotzx wrote in post #11361819
Hi, I'm 17 and turning 18 next month.

I'm blessed to be able to have parents and jobs that can afford me the gear in my sig list over three years.

Like you, I started off with a rebel body, and "planned to move to FF". That didn't come for 2.5 years though (1.3 crop came in exactly 2 years, followed by FF later on), and I definitely wished I had gotten the 17-55 then instead of the 17-40L.

Since you're on a crop, I highly recommend the 17-55mm like the others have said. I definitely know how difficult it is to muster the cash for higher end lenses, and not getting a lens that is badged as "L" for the same price might be getting to you. But trust me, the 17-55 is easily the best standard zoom lens out there for crop, and is easily sold without much loss in the second hand market.

And talking about second hand markets, why not take a look there?

All the best,
Another 17yo shooter (:

Couldn't have said it better.... pretty much everything you said is exactly what is going through my head. Seems like everyone has pretty much ended my contemplations between the two 'L' lenses, which is a relief. And happy early birthday! My 18th is in February...

Also, in regards to upgrading to FF, y'all are right. College will get in the way and I'll probably just forget about upgrading. I do hope to take some type of photography class while I'm there though, maybe get some experience with different bodies and lenses.

slapshot36227 wrote in post #11361676
I do plan on upgrading to FF at some point... not the next few months but hopefully by the end of next year.

Thanks for all the help so far!

At 17 what's the rush to have "the best of the best" (of anything)?

Photography isn't about the equipment.

You'd get a FAR better return on money spent taking photography workshops. They can be very expensive - a 4 day workshop with a top photographer will cost more than a brand new 5DMk2 - but the value of the investment will be greater over the long run. Not that I would suggest either.

At 17, unless you have very generous and well to do parents, it takes a long time to accumulate over $2000. - In a few years you could be able to accumulate that much in a week...maybe less than a day. . But it takes dedication to an education to give you a better chance to get to that point.

Most of use get that chance just once. Now's the time to focus on on an education that will last a lifetime, not toys that will be obsolete in a year or two at the most.

Besides, the "best of the best" and zoom lenses seem kind of incompatible.

My 24-105 had horrible distortion of lines near the edges of the frame at 24mm, I felt it was usless at anything wider than 35mm. I sold it to get the 24-70L and have never looked back. For me it is a much better lens that produces nicer images all around.

Delija wrote in post #11361885
Most of use get that chance just once. Now's the time to focus on on an education that will last a lifetime, not toys that will be obsolete in a year or two at the most.

Very, very wise words.

Now if you'll excuse I'm going to do some research on my next awesome toy to supplement my education.

Both of my 105s have been better than both of my bricks. As I always say in these threads, I've never been in a situation where going from f4 to f2.8 would gain me what I need for light. There is a reason there are fast primes.

I must admit I always have to look when I see a 24-105/24-70 debate. IMO the 105 is a more travel take everywhere lens and the 70 is a more professional lens. I had both and even though I thought the 105 was sharper I kept the 70. Its just a nicer people lens and I agree about the distortion. The 24 end is much nicer on the 24-70. Still both are really nice very capable lenses and the 105 is a bit cheaper so it may be something to consider.

With the wonderful Camera Corrections in Lightroom 3, it just might clean up all of the wide angle distortion and corner darkening on the 24-105, it's pretty amazing software. The 24-105 focal length should make it the ideal lens - had I liked mine better I'd probably hardly shoot anything else in that range - but it wasn't and I don't.