I know this forum would be completely jammed if we all posted questions every time we were thinking about buying a new piece of equipment, but I'm really stuck on what lens to upgrade to. Right now I have a Canon 70-200 2.8, a Canon 50 1.4, and a Sigma 20 1.8. I'm most interested right now in a general zoom lens, such as the Canon 24-70 2.8. Unfortunately, I would probably have to sell my Sigma 20 1.8 in order to afford it. I'm worried that a wide lens at 2.8 wouldn't be fast enough for a reception though. I could afford the Sigma version of the 24-70 2.8 and then I wouldn't have to sell my Sigma 20 1.8, but I'm not sure how much I'd be sacrificing in image quality. Most of the reviews I see online are for photography, and I thought since so many people here use the Canon 24-70, I'd get your feedback first.

On a side note (possibly hijacking my own thread), I'm also interested in selling my glidetrack and getting a pocketslider (motorized/timelapse), but can't find many reviews besides what's on their website. Anyone else using a similarly priced ($700-$800) and/or similar functioning dolly?

Without knowing which camera you have it's a little difficult to offer advice. If you have a Canon 5DII then an F/2.8 zoom will be fine for shooting in low light as you can bump the ISO up to 3200 if necessary without noticeable noise. I own both the 16-35mm & the 24-70mm but rarely use the latter as I prefer the wider angle lens & the 24-70mm doesn't seem anything special unlike the super sharp 24-105mm F/4L or 70-200mm F/2.8L Mk II lenses. If you have one of the APS-C sensor cameras then you probably don't want to use anything over ISO 800-1600 so your options are more limited for low light although the EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8L IS is a really good sharp lens & the stabilisation is a nice bonus.

For video we tend to stay away from zooms. As absurd as it sounds, it generally works out much better to (and we generally do) use the 50mm 1.4 on our 7D with a shoulder mount or monopod, and the 24-70L on the 5D shooting stills and some video.

With full frame, the 24-70L is a great lens (you get the added stop of iso as well to deal with 2.8), but on a crop sensor it's a little awkward. Not quite wide enough, not quite fast enough.

Ok, that's what I feared. I use a T3i, so it'd be a crop sensor. Thanks for the feedback.

Ive always found that lens to be super underwhelming to shoot video with, Ive never enjoyed it.

Ive always found that lens to be super underwhelming to shoot video with, Ive never enjoyed it.

That's exactly it. It's a lens I almost always shoot photos on 24mm with a 5D vertically, and I love it. Shooting video it just doesn't do it for me. It's weird, but I'd look into another focal length for video on a crop sensor.

Michael
if you shoot 5D,
24-70 is an all around lens. match it with 70-200, these two can shoot weddings sufficiently.
youll never regret getting 24-70.


mytwocents

Ive always found that lens to be super underwhelming to shoot video with, Ive never enjoyed it.

That's exactly it. It's a lens I almost always shoot photos on 24mm with a 5D vertically, and I love it. Shooting video it just doesn't do it for me. It's weird, but I'd look into another focal length for video on a crop sensor.I 100% agree with you guys that the 24-70mm F2.8L is a very indifferent lens. The 24-105mm F4L is a fantastic lens. So sharp, with a longer reach & with IS as well. It's just a shame that it loses a stop compared to the 24-70mm. I prefer this lens for photos & video if the light is good enough. I have an ongoing love affair with the 16-35mm F/2.8L as I adore using this at the wide end. For shooting weddings I pair this with the 70-200mm F/2.8L II & just use my feet to compensate for the missing 35-70mm range.

the Canon 16-105mm 2.8L IS UMS is the best all around lens that one could ever hope to buy...
(still hoping).

the Canon 16-105mm 2.8L IS UMS is the best all around lens that one could ever hope to buy...
(still hoping).

They day that one comes out I will buy it.....

17-55mm by Canon works great. Not my favorite to use during low light receptions but it works. They are releasing a new 24-70 very soon and I plan on getting it for my 5D mk3 when that comes out as well.

I'd get the 17-55mm for your t3i. The zoom on it is a bit rough but it's your best option for using during preps and the reception.

17-55mm by Canon works great. Not my favorite to use during low light receptions but it works. They are releasing a new 24-70 very soon and I plan on getting it for my 5D mk3 when that comes out as well.

I'd get the 17-55mm for your t3i. The zoom on it is a bit rough but it's your best option for using during preps and the reception.

That's the one that stays on my 7D pretty much all the time these days.

Hi, I have a question about this. since i was thinking on getting this 24-70 lens.

what is it that you don't like about it that much on a crop censor?
the f-stop?
the sharpness?
the focal plane?
or what?

I have a 5D and T2i, so I was gonna use it on both.

thanks.

Please....

I believe that lens doesn't have OIS. You should try shooting with OIS turned off to see if you like the result.

Thanks Taky.

Ok, so for you the down side is no OIS?

I shoot with the 85mm with no OIS, and yes...have to be carefull with it..but on monopod gets it done if you have a steady hand..hehehe.

what will be a better choice for you?

thanks again

If you have no problem with no having OIS, then that lens would be great with such a common range. For me, I like it better with OIS. My current choice is Canon 18-55mm on T3i. It's because I can set the 3X crop zoom on to turn the lens into 54-165mm with 2 buttons click.

I keep hearing there is a new version of the 24-70mm 2.8L with OIS. I will get one for sure if it's really available =)