markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Hi Bud,
I have the Canon: EF 70 - 200 f/2.8 USM IS II and EF 24 - 70 f/2.8 II. Amazing lenses. You can probably find them refurbished at Canon USA and save a few dollars. I think the III versions (new) are also available. Expensive, but worth every dollar. I mount them on my 7D MII and 5D MIII.
Mark

MountainDave

It all depends on what focal lengths are really important to you. If wide end is a concern, I recommend the 16-35 F4. It is my "go to" when I take my crop frame hiking and climbing. It covers the most important landscape focal lengths and I found it is also really good for macro, i.e. flowers. If you read tests and reviews, you'll find it is one of the best. But it ain't cheap. I will normally carry another lens with it, either 70-200 F4 IS or 100 F2.8 IS macro. For my uses, I don't often miss the 35-70 lengths with this combo but you may be different. Note the 70-200 has just been updated so the original will likely decline in price going forward, especially used.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Hi Bud,

The EF 28-80L is a very old design and likely would not be repairable if anything was ever needed. It was one of the first EF lenses, introduced in 1989... and it was superseded by an improved 28-70/2.8L in 1993, so will be at least 25 years old.

The 24-70/4L IS USM is a much newer design, intro'd in 2012 and still in production. It's also got Image Stabilization, which none of the other Canon 24-70s have. The f/4L is considered almost as good as the 24-70/2.8L II... the best of the bunch (but twice the price). A really cool feature of this lens is it's close focusing ability... it's macro mode allows up to 0.70X magnification... nearly 3/4 life size. Other similar lenses only provide about 1/4 life size or less... 0.21X to 0.24X is fairly common.

You have an EF-S lens now, so you must have an APS-C/crop sensor camera. That being the case.... frankly, better choices for you would be:

1. EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM which rivals any L for image quality... It has BOTH f/2.8 aperture AND IS... New it costs about the same as the EF 24-70/4L IS USM or less than the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM II. The EF 17-40L USM is less expensive... but doesn't have as good image quality, isn't f/2.8 and doesn't have IS.

The original 24-105L also is now discontinued, but can be found used for less... has IS, but isn't f/2.8 and doesn't have as good image quality as the 17-55mm. The original 24-105L also has some durability "issues" (the even less expensive EF 28-135mm IS USM is just as good lens in most respects, but also is now discontinued.)

2. EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is a wider ranging, more versatile lens if you don't need f/2.8 aperture (if, for example, you have some fast primes too, such as 28/1.8, 35/3, 50/1.8 etc.) It also has very good image quality. Might be a good choice if you don't have an ultrawide like an EF-S 10-22mm USM or EF-S 10-18mm IS STM.

Both those EF-S lenses are still in production. The 17-55 was intro'd in 2006 and the 15-85 in 2009.

If you're shopping used, with the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 watch out for copies with a lot of dust inside. Early production didn't seem to be well sealed around the front elements. Complaints were common. It's a fairly easy fix, but can be avoided by buying a later copy of the lens. Canon themselves appears to have made some changes to the lens, perhaps added a seal to it, because after the first couple years there were no longer complaints about this relatively minor problem.

Check out the reviews of those lenses. They can be found many places... I always find the reviews thorough and the sample shots, tests and comparisons helpful at The-Digital-Picture.com.

Canon L-series are nice... but not always the best answer... particularly if you're using an APS-C lens and therefore can also use EF-S lenses. By definition, an EF-S lens can never be an L-series... even if it's got better image quality and performance. Canon's own criteria says to qualify for a red stripe a lens must be high quality, advanced design and it must utilize exotic lens elements. Both those EF-S lenses meet these requirements. But Canon also says an L must work with all EOS cameras past, present and future. EF-S lenses are only usable on APS-C crop cameras like yours... so no matter how good one might be, it will never be an L.

If you were using both an APS-C camera and a full frame, I'd recommend the 24-70/4L IS USM for use on both.... but if you don't have a full frame camera, if you're using a Canon APS-C, it makes more sense to take advantage of the EF-S 17-55/2.8 or EF-S 15-85mm.

anotherview Loc: California

Before you do, you may wish to consider this review of the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens: https://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/17-85-is.htm

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

If you have a crop sensor body, I would highly recommend the 15-85 EFS lens, not an L lens but very good and gives you what you need on the wide side and a very good overall range. I had one and loved it. Very sharp, one of Canon's best non-L lenses. If you have full frame, I would recommend the 24-105L, I or II.

DanCulleton

The Canon 28-80 2.8 L lens is a classic.
(That means old).
But still a great lens, especially for the money!

zzzynick Loc: Colorado

I have talked with quite a few other photographers, Unless you really need a 2.8, most of the people I talked to, who have the 24-70 mm L, wish they would have bought the 24-105 mm L instead. For one simple reason, the reach. I don't recall if the 24-70 has IS, but I do know the 24-105 sure does.

anotherview Loc: California

Sigma makes a 24-105mm lens worth considering.

marycar53 Loc: Tuscumbia Al

I bought a 24-105mm 4L when I wore out a used lens about same range only 3.5-4.5. I'm very disappointed with it, doesn't do well in low light like music events and such. I purchased a 24-70mm 2.8L to do a wedding and it has become my all purpose lens. I also have a 70-200 2.8L that I use for events. I have one on my 7D MII and other on the 5D MIV when shooting events. I keep the 24-105 under the seat in my truck in case I need something shorter that the 100-400mm when birding.

Travelin' Bud Loc: New Mexico, Central Ohio & Eastern Kentucky

I already have a 17-85 ef-s. I think maybe I've worked through the GAS symptoms and am going to be happy with what I already have. That lens, my 70-200 f4 and my T6i crop.

anotherview Loc: California

Your adult consciousness appears to have corralled your urge to buy another lens: "I think maybe I've worked through the GAS symptoms and am going to be happy with what I already have."

I own and use the Canon 17-85mm lens, mounted on my Canon T7i, as my general-purpose, walking-around camera and lens, with very good results.

Good luck.