17-55 or 24-105
 

I have this luxery problem that I don't know which one to choose for an allround lens..
I already have the 10-22, 50 1.8 and the 70-200 4.0.

Thanks for any input,
Siep Dijkstra

The 24-105mm could be used if you ever went to a full frame camera, the 17-55mm would not.

The 24-105mm is also an "L" series lens, probably sharper with superior weather sealing.

Hi Siep,

I just got the 24 - 105 L lens. The build is better, the focus ring is smooth, the zoom is pretty accurate and i think the glass quality is amazing. Plus, the constant F4 aperture helps to give a nice DOF look. Just my 2 cents worth :)

I own the 17-55 and it's quite nice but shot with the 24-105 the other week and think it's a great outdoor all-around lens. F4 can be fast enough for interiors but not always but I think it's the perfect range for an outdoor lens when wider is typically less necessary.

I've owned both lenses and the 17-55 was clearly the better lens for me on my 7D. The 24-105 is not nearly wide enough on a crop camera, I also found the 17-55 to be sharper overall throughout the range, plus I use 2.8 in many situations
Good luck!

I second Mark's observations. I just returned from shooting in Africa for two weeks and the 17-55 was the primary lens that I used.

The only advantage that I see with the 24-105 lens is the longer focal length.

Pick your poison!

Daniel Weber

Sounds like Santa came early...

24-105 is better for Interviews.
 

I have been shooting interviews with the 17-55mm. It is a little short in the tele range. You have to get the camera too close to the person to get a decent close-up. So I just bought the 24-105 as well. Should not be a problem doing interviews with this new lens as it has more range. Most of the time I have enough light for the F4 aperture.

BTW: I love the the 17-55 and plan on using it for Broll or wide shots.

If you *really* want close ups, consider the 100 Macro. :)

The only reason the 17-55 isn't "L" in my opinion is because it's APS-C. If it weren't for that, it's clearly in the class of an L zoom (and I say that as someone who owns a lot of L-glass and who at one point owned the 17-55mm). It's also f2.8 thru the zoom and IS, so that's awesome, and can't be underestimated. When I only had a crop camera, that was my main walk-around lens, it KICKED @SS as far as I'm concerned -- as good as my current 24-70 L (but maybe I just had a good copy). However, I did end up selling it when I moved to full frame despite keeping my cropped body because I just couldn't justify owning a lens that expensive that couldn't be used on everything (including my EOS 3, heh). Anyway, my main point is not being "L" is not relevant for this lens IMHO.

I use the 24-105 when outdoors. Its a little soft at 24mm and CA sometimes develops at 100-105. The IS is pretty good though and everything in between is pretty sharp. Solid lens for sure!

Considering the lenses you already have, it seems to me the 24-105 would be the best choice, or maybe the 24-70 f2.8, since you already have a lens starting at 70mm. I'd take the faster f-stop over the longer range.

Is
 

Agreed, Bill. But that IS system in the 24-105L sure is nice to have if you're shooting handheld stuff.

I keep hearing that a 24-70L with the new hybrid-IS system is coming, but nothing yet.

Yep, that'll be the best lens for interviews if and when it comes - the perfect range on a crop body 7D. I find my otherwise lovely Canon 17-55 F2.8 IS EF-S is sometimes just not long enough and looked hard at the 24-105 initially (but was put off by the F4 aspect).

Look at these charts and adjust the sliders for similar aperture and focal length:

24-105

17-55

It appears to me that the 24-105 doesn't maintain its sharpness past 50mm. I'd rather switch to one of these if I need more reach:

70-200