Lens Question: Hello everyone. This is my first post on the hog. I actually use the Hog as a learning tool. Photography is a hobby that is turning into something I enjoy greatly so I...

Mr. K Loc: VA

Hello everyone. This is my first post on the hog. I actually use the Hog as a learning tool. Photography is a hobby that is turning into something I enjoy greatly so I could use some advice on a lens. I currently have two cameras, a Canon 7D and a and a Rebel Xsi along wth a Canon 18-55mm kit lens, a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 LD XR Di SP IF Macro, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM. I'm thinking about purchasing a refurbished Canon 24-105mm f/4 L lens and selling the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. I enjoy landscape/outdoor, portrait, and sports photogtraphy. Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

What do you use the Tammy for now and what do you think you want to do with the Canon? In short what do you loose and what do you gain in the switch?

Didereaux Loc: Swamps of E TX

I too have a 7D (and a 6D) We, the wife and I shoot outdoors alot, birds, critters, some scenes. One of the most used lens's is the venerable Canon 24-105mm F4 L IS USM.

In my opinion the most versatile lens made for Canons. Excellent image quality and very decent focus speed. I recommend the F4 over the 2.8 because with todays sensors you don't need that extra stop of light and double the weight and COST.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

4 to 2.8 is a full stop.

Didereaux Loc: Swamps of E TX

dsmeltz wrote:

4 to 2.8 is a full stop.

editted Thank you...low caffeine levels this AM lol

Mr. K Loc: VA

It hanks for your reply. I currently use the Tammy for my all around, indoor and outdoor lens. My concern is will the loss of 1 full stop be worth the better glass in the L lens.

Mr. K Loc: VA

:thumbup:

Mr. K Loc: VA

Thanks for the reply.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Didereaux wrote:

I too have a 7D (and a 6D) We, the wife and I shoot outdoors alot, birds, critters, some scenes. One of the most used lens's is the venerable Canon 24-105mm F4 L IS USM.

In my opinion the most versatile lens made for Canons. Excellent image quality and very decent focus speed. I recommend the F4 over the 2.8 because with todays sensors you don't need that extra stop of light and double the weight and COST.

You very well might need the extra stop in low light situations. Even with today's sensors there is still a limit to how far you can raise ISO without introducing significant noise. Most of the better sensors today may provide acceptable results at ISO 6400, but start to degrade rapidly higher than that.A few bodies can even capture relatively clean images with a couple of extra stops of ISO, but these are high end bodies. But aside from that, wider apertures are not just about letting in more light, they are about control of Depth of Field. And when it comes to background blur, an f/2.8 aperture will generally be more desirable to an f/4 aperture, all other things being equal.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Maybe trade in the 18-55 for $100 or so or ebay it for a bit more, if you can cover the rest of the cost of the 24-105. Do you have the new sigma 50 1.4 Art or the old one? If you have the new one, keep it. If the old, one trade it or sell it too. On a crop the 50 1.4 is not as useful as on a FF but the Sigma 1.4 Art is a keeper. You really need to keep the low light capability the Tammy gives you. How much can you kick in beyond trade in?

Obviously I thing the 24-105mm f/4 L is a great lens. I have borrowed it and want it myself.

Mr. K Loc: VA

...thus the dilemma. The image quality of my Canon L lens is better than the image quality of the Tamron. The Tamron 2.8 gets me shots that otherwise I couldn't get. However the Canon 24-105 f/4 L would give me better image quality but probably would not get some of the shots I'm accustomed to capturing indoors or just after sunset with the Tamron 2.8. Sounds like it's going to cost a few bucks more bucks than I anticipated.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Mr. K wrote:

...thus the dilemma. The image quality of my Canon L lens is better than the image quality of the Tamron. The Tamron 2.8 gets me shots that otherwise I couldn't get. However the Canon 24-105 f/4 L would give me better image quality but probably would not get some of the shots I'm accustomed to capturing indoors or just after sunset with the Tamron 2.8. Sounds like it's going to cost a few bucks more bucks than I anticipated.

Unfortunately there are always trade offs. On my Canon 60D I use the Canon 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6. The IQ is not quite at good as the 24-105mm, but 15mm is very wide on a crop and serves me better for landscape use than the not terribly wide 24mm. Since for landscapes I generally stop down to f/8 or f/11, the wider aperture of the 24-105 wouldn't give me much. For indoors I use my Sigma 30mm f/1.4 or my Sigma 18 - 35mm f/1.8.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Mr. K wrote:

Hello everyone. This is my first post on the hog. ... (show quote)

Once you get started with this, you just want to keep going and keep improving. Refurbished gear is a good way to get better quality for a lower price. I would prefer an f/2.8 to an f/4, but of course, the quality of the lenses themselves would make a difference. You can click on the links below and do comparisons.

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/lenses
http://lenshero.com/lens-comparison
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx
http://www.lenstip.com/lenses.html
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare

Mr. K Loc: VA

Thanks for all the input guys. You've provided me with plenty of info to ponder. Seems I may lighten my gear bag a bit for better quality all-around toys. The image quality of the L lens has given me GAS. :shock:

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

mwsilvers wrote:

You very well might need the extra stop in low lig... (show quote)

I have the 24-105mm f/4 L also and agree it does have this limitation which has been the cause of a lot of frustration for me.
On the other hand, that said, I've found it to be a pretty good general purpose "walking around" lens.