foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

what version??? v l ????

dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

I'm still trying to make a decision on a RF24-105 f4 or RF24-70 f2.8 - on a R5. In terms of IQ.
Any real-world comparisons out there? I'm on a wait list - like a number of others.

Thanks...

bleirer

Some real world pictures here https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-RF-24-70mm-F2.8-L-IS-USM-Lens.aspx

williejoha

The Canon 24-70 f2:8 II is head and shoulder above anything else as far as I am concerned. It stays on my 5 III at all times.
WJH

LarryD Loc: Mojave Desert

If you shoot full-frame, it's a wide angle to normal lens. Make sure that this lens fits in to your photo style and needs before you spend the kind of money they demand.

John Hicks Loc: Sible Hedinham North Essex England

Personally i prefer Canon lenses for Canon cameras as the other names have to be reverse engineered to produce the lens, likewise I would prefer Nikon lenses for Nikon cameras

hrblaine

Gee, I must have a dozen lens in a drawer in my office but not that one. Guess I could have saved a lot by buying one and forgetting all those under 100mm. Probably improved my images too! Oh well.... Harry

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I don't agree that a 24-70mm f/2.8 is "indispensable". Yes, I have one. Yes, it's a good lens. But, no, it's not necessary for everyone. In fact, I don't use mine a lot.

It's a relatively large and heavy lens.

Wedding photographers love to use a 24-70mm. But I don't shoot weddings and find 70mm just a little too short for portraiture on full frame cameras (such as most wedding pros use). I DO like it for portraits on an APS-C camera. Specifically, it's one of my "go to" lenses for portraits of kids and pets, where the zoom can be very helpful. But, again, it's relatively large and heavy.... not to mention pricey.

The photo below was shot with Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM at 70mm and f/2.8 (on full frame)...



I use an old 28-135mm lens a lot more often. It's smaller, lighter, waaaaayyyyyy less expensive, has virtually as good image quality and is just as fast focusing, plus has a lot of additional telephoto range, is only slightly less wide angle, and it has image stabilization that the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8s lack. The 28-135mm isn't an f/2.8 lens, though. It has a variable f.3.5-5.6 aperture. That works fine for a lot of things, though, such as the following image... Canon 28-135mm at 117mm and f/7.1 (on APS-C camera)...



The 28-135mm also isn't an L-series so it doesn't have the build quality and dust/weather resistant sealing of the 24-70s. And, unfortunately, Canon discontinued the EF 28-135mm IS USM lens a couple years ago. It can still be found used, often for $200 or less, but watch out for heavily used, worn out ones. That likely won't be a problem because over the years there were tons of these lenses sold. It dates from the film era and was even the kit lens offered with many Canon DSLRs and SLRs. It's a low-cost, but quite capable "sleeper" lens, if you don't need f/2.8.

There are also a number of third party 24-70mm f/2.8s available for considerably less $ than the Canon. In fact, the "big three" third party manufacturers... Sigma, Tokina and Tamron... all offer one for Canon EF/EF-S mount cameras. I only have some passing experience with the Tamron "G2" and it's a good lens. I don't know the Tokina or the Sigma at all. The Sigma and the Tamron both have image stabilization, which the Canon and Tokina lack. I'd wager the Tokina, which is the least expensive of the bunch, also uses their rather unusual "focus clutch" mechanism, as found on all their lenses, AFAIK. This doesn't allow for full time manual override of focus. You must first "shift" the lens out of AF into MF mode. This is probably done to protect the micro motor focus drive that Tokina uses in their lenses. Tamron, Sigma and Canon all use ultrasonic focus drive, which is fast and allows you to override AF without first switching it off. This is handy in a number of shooting situations.

Based upon the price you cited, I know you aren't looking at the Canon RF lens for the R-series mirrorless cameras, Canon's newest 24-70mm f/2.8. The RF 24-70mm f/2.8 sells for about $2300. Seems like a very nice lens, though. In comparison, the superb Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM II sells for $1899. (I don't know where you're seeing this lens for $1699 and can't help but wonder if it's gray market or some bait 'n' switch scheme... be careful!)

If you don't really need f/2.8, you might want to consider the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM instead. It's $1000 less expensive at $899 (and $200 less expensive than the Sigma or Tamron). Plus it has image stabilization. Plus it's a lot smaller and light than the f/2.8 lenses: 600 grams compared to 800-1000 grams. Plus it is nearly "macro capable", can render as high as 0.70X magnification... almost 3/4 life size. The f/2.8 lenses all are limited to around 0.21X or approx. 1/5 life size.

The image below was shot with my 24-70mm at 63mm (@f/8 with C-Pol filter, on full frame) very near it's minimum focus distance...



The following image (rain drops on oil on a parking lot) was shot with the same 24-70mm at 63mm (@f/5.6 on APS-C camera) very near it's min. focus distance...



I may make the EF 24-70mm f/4 one of my next lenses, in part because with it I won't need to carry a macro lens a lot of the time, saving even more weight (more and more of a concern, as I get older ). It's got top image quality too. And f/4 is fine for most of my uses.

In the meantime, I use the original Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L that dates from the early 2000s. It's a great lens, but I agree with previous responses that if you decide you need f/2.8 and want the Canon, don't get the old discontinued version (which is now only avail. used anyway). Get the current "II". It has even better image quality... often called "a bag full of primes", it's so sharp. It also is better built internally than the original version, which can get out of calibration over time and with use. I've had good luck with mine, but a lot of people have had to have their first version 24-70mm f/2.8s "tuned up" occasionally. Lensrentals.com saw that as a common problem with the many copies of the first version zoom they had in their inventory, and applauded the improvements Canon made to the "II" version.

Here are the current 24-70s for EF/EF-S mount cameras: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Canon_EF_24-70mm_f_2.8L_II_USM_Lens_vs_Sigma_24-70mm_f_2.8_DG_OS_HSM_Art_Lens_for_Canon_EF_vs_Canon_EF_24-70mm_f_4L_IS_USM_Lens_vs_Tamron_SP_24-70mm_f_2.8_Di_VC_USD_G2_Lens_for_Canon_EF/BHitems/843008-USA_1321309-REG_898652-USA_1345957-REG

Except for the Tokina (because that B&H comparison page can only display four lenses): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1084636-REG/tokina_at_x_24_70mm_f_2_8_pro.html/specs.

Another thing, note that all the current 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses also use 82mm filters. One of the advantages of the 24-70mm f/4 (and my older version f/2.8), is that it uses smaller, less expensive 77mm filters (and shares that size with other lenses I carry... none of which use 82mm).

Have fun shopping!

MountainDave

Version I is a very good lens but it is not in the same league as version II. Just google reviews and you'll find a huge improvement in sharpness as well as AF performance which is now among the best of all lenses. Version II has sharpness rivaling the primes in its range. Version I is not even close. At least one pro called it "the zoom all other zooms will be judged by." The weight is about identical to the 24-105 f/4 II.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Thedigitalpicture.com has tons of good reviews the OP may want to
look at also...

Haydon

If you look over at the Canon USA site under the refurbished category, they apparently have 3 at $1519.

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/ef-24-70mm-f-28l-ii-usm-refurbished.

On October 2nd, they had a 10% off sale with a coupon code for the 24-70 2.8L II refurbished bringing the price down to $1383.09.

I'd recommend subscribing to CanonPriceWatch and get a notification on the lens. It will likely be on sale again with discounts before the end of the year. Around Thanksgiving gives the best discounts generally.

I've owned one since 2014 and have nothing but praise for it. It's one lens that I seldom have to sharpen in post at any aperture. It's that sharp.

mrchunko

Well, I found out that if it's dropped, it's toast. . . .so much for that investment.

mrchunko

I have never sold any photos.