Canon 24-70. f2.8 II I've just bit the bullet

dnme

I've been looking at that lens for the past year. Dipping in and out of bouts of internet window shopping. Comparing some fella on ebay with some other fella in the grey market trying to save a few quid.

Today something flipped inside me. I have no idea what or why, but I clicked the order button on a fairly respected vendor in the UK. Full warranty, Canon recognised etc. €1800. Mother of god! I know not what I do.

I've been landscaping for the past few years and I keep finding myself longing for that focal range. My 10-20 is great but sometimes too wide. I'm hoping this new renowned lens with give my photography something new and help bring me to the next step.

Tiriel

I'm jealous I'm sure it will be nice to get it out there - you just need to get back into setting the alarm clock now that sunrises mean rising at an ungodly hour of the morning!

flyingsnail

I bought the mk 1 version years ago, trust me when you have it in you hand and see the image quality you wont regret it for a second

pixbyjohn

Best of luck with your new 24-70, you won't want to take it off your camera

Effects

Where did you order it from?

dnme

Effects wrote: »

Where did you order it from?

Richmond Cameras in the UK
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/richmondcameras

greasychips

What's the difference between v1 and v2?

fret_wimp2

Brilliant lens no doubt but its also a beast to carry around for the day, especially when stuck to a brick of a 5D!

dnme

Arrived. Its like a heavy rolls royce. Rattled off a few quick images on my 70D. Nothing very sharp whan I view the images in Lightroom. May have to owrk on technique. I find auto focus on my 70D a little soft sometimes. I'll I'm using back button focus and AI Servo on the 70D. I may try a few using manual focus / liveview.

Effects

greasychips wrote: »

What's the difference between v1 and v2?

Completely different lens. Vastly better optics.

Effects

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Brilliant lens no doubt but its also a beast to carry around for the day, especially when stuck to a brick of a 5D!

That's why Canon released the 40mm pancake lens!

dnme

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Brilliant lens no doubt but its also a beast to carry around for the day, especially when stuck to a brick of a 5D!

I use the Cotton Carrier Carrier strap shot. I'd recommend it to all hikers and walkers. If you have a backpack, it makes luggin around a camera / heavy lens very easy and stable.

dnme

Oh my god I am falling in love with this lense. I've had it out Friday evening alomg the Shannon Estuary, and today atop Keeper Hill. Sharp, clean, majestic. Different class!

kelly1

dnme wrote: »

Oh my god I am falling in love with this lense. I've had it out Friday evening alomg the Shannon Estuary, and today atop Keeper Hill. Sharp, clean, majestic. Different class!

Hi, I would have thought a 24-70 is a bit wide on a cropped sensor camera (70D), no?

Btw, do you normally use AI servo focus for static subjects?

dnme

kelly1 wrote: »

Hi, I would have thought a 24-70 is a bit wide on a cropped sensor camera (70D), no?

Btw, do you normally use AI servo focus for static subjects?

1. I have wide angle covered with my Sigma 10-20mm.
2. I use back button focus and usually leave it in AI Servo. With static subjects, I just tap the back button once to get focus. With moving subjects, I then have the option of keeping the back button pressed to track focus.

AnimalRights

Effects wrote: »

Completely different lens. Vastly better optics.

And the MK II is lighter.
I own this lens and use it for gigs and normal use....as someone else pointed out if you are prepared to use your feet the 40mm Pancake is superb too.

nothrowaway

kelly1 wrote: »

Hi, I would have thought a 24-70 is a bit wide on a cropped sensor camera (70D), no?

Btw, do you normally use AI servo focus for static subjects?

24mm is equivalent to ~38mm on a cropped lens, so less wide.

kelly1

dnme wrote: »

1. I have wide angle covered with my Sigma 10-20mm.
2. I use back button focus and usually leave it in AI Servo. With static subjects, I just tap the back button once to get focus. With moving subjects, I then have the option of keeping the back button pressed to track focus.

ok, my comment was based on this "I've been landscaping for the past few years and I keep finding myself longing for that focal range. My 10-20 is great but sometimes too wide." So IMO, 24mm on cropped isn't wide enough for a lot of landscape work.

And I asked about your focus mode since you said some of your images were soft. Maybe servo isn't as accurate as one-time focus?

dnme

kelly1 wrote: »

ok, my comment was based on this "I've been landscaping for the past few years and I keep finding myself longing for that focal range. My 10-20 is great but sometimes too wide." So IMO, 24mm on cropped isn't wide enough for a lot of landscape work.

And I asked about your focus mode since you said some of your images were soft. Maybe servo isn't as accurate as one-time focus?

I have wide angle covered as I say with my Sigma. And I have wanted to cover the mid range zoom for a while now. I shoot a lot of landscapes, across the entire focal range but also other types of photos. (My next purchase will be the 70-200 maybe next year).

My focussing with the new lense was a bit soft on the first go. Once I got myself sorted and took it out for a proper drive, I was blown away. Sharpness, qulaity across all focal lengths. Wonderful to be able to get a few beautiful shots in the mid focal range.

My focussing technique is the business. It covers all the bases and rarely lets me down.

Shot at 59mm. (Wouldn't be suitable for wide angle at all).

Effects

AnimalRights wrote: »

And the MK II is lighter.
I own this lens and use it for gigs and normal use....as someone else pointed out if you are prepared to use your feet the 40mm Pancake is superb too.

I thought you bought a 24-105 f4 for the gigs after the 24-70 took a tumble?

the_monkey

Enjoy it, the 24-70 mk II is the best piece of glass ive ever had ... its sharpness rivals prime lenses .. its incredible.

Myksyk

the_monkey wrote: »

Enjoy it, the 24-70 mk II is the best piece of glass ive ever had ... its sharpness rivals prime lenses .. its incredible.

On hols ... Weak moment ... Upgraded to a 24-70 and 16-35 ... Both f2.8ii

Ouch ... And yum! ... Coz we're worth it.

Zascar

Would you not have considered the 24-105? Still a great lens and a fraction of the cost. I doubt you'd need 2.8 for landscape. I actually found 24mm not wide enough on a crop - but I got a 6D and its perfect on a full frame.
Anyway congrats - enjoy it and post some pix!

Myksyk

Zascar wrote: »

Would you not have considered the 24-105? Still a great lens and a fraction of the cost. I doubt you'd need 2.8 for landscape. I actually found 24mm not wide enough on a crop - but I got a 6D and its perfect on a full frame.
Anyway congrats - enjoy it and post some pix!

Traded the 24-105 which I had. Great lens but not the same ballpark as the 24-70 tbh. On the 16-35 the 2.8 is for star and night sky shots which I'm interested in.