canon 24-105mm f4 L or canon 50mm prime L (Page 5): The 40mm pancake f/2.8 is a great lens for the price. I own the 100mm f/2.8 macro, and the 85mm f/1.8. Both are awesome lenses. Now...

pigpen

The 40mm pancake f/2.8 is a great lens for the price. I own the 100mm f/2.8 macro, and the 85mm f/1.8. Both are awesome lenses.

Now, to the 50mm. I have watched several tutorials sponsored by B&H. Many were about portrait work. I've seen at least two of these pros suggest the Canon 50mm f/1.4. They have claimed it's a fantastic lens, sharper than the f/1.2 L, and a fraction of the cost.

The f/1.4 is currently $400, and the f/1.2 is just under $1,500.

Underwaterant

Joelbarton87 wrote:

Hi everyone I need some help to choose im buying my first L series lens I mainly shoot portraits but cant deside between the canon 24-105mm f4 L or canon 50mm prime L any segestions would be appreciated.
Regards.
Joe

I have both. 24-105 is better for all round
but if you're mainly doing portraits and
confined in nightclubs then go for 50mm,
If you want a small lens.
Otherwise, the 24-105 is better all round.
I used it 90% of the time of a week
in New Zealand. Rarely used any other.
Great lens.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

cheineck wrote:

Yes, it's IS... what do you mean "JR"? Don't know the term.

Is the body a 5 D 2?
Is the old lens 28-135?
Is the 24-105 f/4 (IS) as in image stabilization?

My name is JR

Underwaterant

Joelbarton87 wrote:

Hi everyone I need some help to choose im buying my first L series lens I mainly shoot portraits but cant deside between the canon 24-105mm f4 L or canon 50mm prime L any segestions would be appreciated.
Regards.
Joe

Also, 24-105 is image stabilised
so, with zoom is perfect for practicing
with video.

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

Gifted One wrote:

Is the body a 5 D 2?
Is the old lens 28-135?
Is the 24-105 f/4 (IS) as in image stabilization?

My name is JR

Yes my 24-105 came bundled with the 5D MarkII. It really is a great combo. That lens is on my camera 90% of the time. That's because it's a wonderful lens and, I'm often too lazy to change lenses!

bw3 Loc: Vermillion, SD

Joelbarton87 wrote:

Hi everyone I need some help to choose im buying my first L series lens I mainly shoot portraits but cant deside between the canon 24-105mm f4 L or canon 50mm prime L any segestions would be appreciated.
Regards.
Joe

There will be a bunch of opinions on this. I used the 24-105 f4L for a lot of years. Sharp, easy to use -- any focal length you need between the short and long on this lens.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

chrisscholbe wrote:

Just for my own edification.......what is the definition of a kit lense?

It does not say anything about the quality of a lens, even though the manufacturers usually don't offer their top glass in a kit, but that is all it takes, if Canon would offer the 1Dx with the 800/5.6 or the new 200-400 in a "wild-life-kit, those two lenses then would be kit lenses, simple as that.
Popular photography tested the 24-105 in 2008 and highly regarded it. Even they named it the best kit lens from Canon ever.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

speters wrote:

It does not say anything about the quality of a lens, even though the manufacturers usually don't offer their top glass in a kit, but that is all it takes, if Canon would offer the 1Dx with the 800/5.6 or the new 200-400 in a "wild-life-kit, those two lenses then would be kit lenses, simple as that.
Popular photography tested the 24-105 in 2008 and highly regarded it. Even they named it the best kit lens from Canon ever.

Well what ever our friends from Canon puts out they will not call it a kit. Bundle. They call it Bundle. The X and 200-400 will be a bundle. Kit has taken out a negative connotation. This lens is on my shopping list. "JR"

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

Gifted One wrote:

Well what ever our friends from Canon puts out they will not call it a kit. Bundle. They call it Bundle. The X and 200-400 will be a bundle. Kit has taken out a negative connotation. This lens is on my shopping list. "JR"

OK "JR"... if that really is your name, get that lens. You will not regret it. Back to the beer now.

GaryS1964 Loc: Northern California

Ok. I didn't read all five pages of this thread so this might have already been said.

People have reported that the 24-105 does not work well on a crop body like your 60D. I used it on a 7D and was less than impressed with the results. Now I use it on my 5D3 and it's great. Do a search and see if you can find people using it on a 60D and see if they are happy with the results. Or take your camera to a camera store and ask to try one. Or rent one.

You already have a 50mm lens which takes pretty good pics. Why spend the money to duplicate what you have for a probably small increase in IQ which you probably won't notice unless you pixel peep? I have the 100 f/2.8 L macro and it takes good portraits. Some will prefer the 85mm L lens.

Save your money and get some good quality EF-S primes unless you are planning to upgrade to FF.

11dale Loc: Texas

Gifted One wrote:

Which body are you using? Which lens were you using? Is the 24-105 L an IS? "JR"

I guess you do need more information. I have a Canon 24-105 L IS USM and use it on my Canon T3i.

I'm waiting for my new Canon 100-400 L IS USM to arrive any day now.

pigpen

Don't think that you can't get great glass that isn't "L", you can. The 100mm & 85mm, non "L", are wonderful. I own both.

I know you are asking about two specific lenses, but I'd like to mention another. I never thought that I'd suggest a Sigma lens (had bad luck), but there is one to look at. I don't know first hand, but it is getting some great reviews. Here is the link to B&H.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/853533-REG/Sigma_692_101_50_150mm_f_2_8_EX_DC.html " rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/853533-REG/Sigma_692_101_50_150mm_f_2_8_EX_DC.html

chrisscholbe Loc: Kansas City, MO

I've noticed that I'm not able to get my 24-105 lower than the 35mm mark.

Is there a "trick" that I forgot to get it to the 24mm mark?

Am I malfunctioning or is my lense?