It’s hard to find negative reviews of this lens, but I will try to add some in my next post.

Review Source: Amazon.com Reviews
Title: A great general-purpose lens

I’ve owned the 24-70mm for almost a year now. This lens has been a favorite of many since it replaced its well-regarded predecessor, the 28-70mm. It shoots images that are very sharp and have excellent contrast and saturation. It’s sharp wide open and only gets better when stopping down. The USM (Ultrasonic Motor) focuses very fast, and full-time manual focusing is allowed. I’ve thought about buying a 50mm f/1.4, but the results from this lens are so good, I’m having a hard time justifying the purchase. I’ve been nothing but pleased with the pictures I get from the 24-70mm. The constant f/2.8 aperture is great for shooting indoors and produces a very nice bokeh (background blur) when shooting portraits. This lens is much heavier than comparable consumer-grade zooms, but I don’t object to the weight. I actually like the heft and feel of this lens on my 20D. The only feature I wish it had is IS (image stabilization).

The one thing preventing an unqualified recommendation is the recent release of the Canon 24-105mm f/4.0L IS. The latter lens costs about the same and has some noteworthy advantages. It is .7″ shorter, .2mm narrower and .6 lbs. lighter. It has 3rd generation IS that gives you a 3-stop shutter speed advantage when shooting handheld. I know from my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS that image stabilization is a very welcome feature when shooting handheld at slow shutter speeds. And, obviously, the 24-105mm adds an extra 35mm of focal length on the long end.

The 24-70mm bests the 24-105mm in one way: It’s a faster lens. That translates into the following advantages: At f/4.0, the 24-105mm cannot stop subject motion blur as well in low-light situations where the 24-70mm’s f/2.8 can give you a shutter speed that is twice as fast. Note that IS does not have any impact at all on subject motion blur, only on camera shake on your end. If bokeh (background blur) is important to you, the 24-70mm will have a slight advantage over the 24-105mm given its wider aperture. A wider aperture also helps a camera focus a little better in low light.

The first run of the 24-105mm had a flare problem (see Canon’s Web site for more info), and the early production models have been recalled. But the problem has now been fixed. You’ll have to consider your photography priorities when deciding which of these two excellent lenses best suits your needs. You would be well served by either.

Update 5-17-10: It’s been 4 1/2 years since I wrote this review, and I continue to use and enjoy my 24-70mm, which is now paired with a Canon 7D. Anyone considering buying this lens today, however, should know that a major Canon rumors Web site is reporting Canon is getting ready to update this lens in 2010. There are reports that the mark II is currently being field tested, and the new version is rumored to have image stabilization. No doubt, a mark II with IS would cost significantly more than the current version. FWIW, Canon updated their 70-200mm f/2.8 IS earlier this year; the mark II version of that lens brought improved optics and the latest generation of IS, but it was priced $500 (MSRP) more than its predecessor. A mark II version of the 24-70mm would be adding IS to a lens that doesn’t currently have that feature, so the increase in price could be even more than $500. Just something to consider as you plan your purchases.

Read 200 Customer Reviews of the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L Lens Here

Click Here For More Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Sample Photos

Buy The Canon 24-70mm for $1349 from Amazon With Free Shipping Here
Buy The Canon 24-105mm for $1058 from Amazon With Free Shipping Here

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L vs Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS

Both the 24-70mm and the 24-105mm are L-series lenses that produce very high quality pictures, so the primary deciding factor in this case is what you intend using the lens for and to a lesser extent what type of kit you already have. So let’s take a look at some of the important things to consider in this debate.

Canon 24-105mm IS vs Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Aperture

This is certainly one of the most debated points when it comes to these two lenses. The IS adds up to 3 stops advantage and is great for reducing camera shake in low light, but it won’t freeze motion. To do that you need fast shutter speed and to get fast shutter speed in low light conditions you need wide aperture. This is an important consideration if you plan to shoot at events like weddings where you frequently want to freeze the action to capture moments like the toast, throwing of the boquet etc. The f/2.8 aperture of the Canon 24-70mm allows you to shoot at shutter speeds where you shouldn’t have to worry too much about camera shake, which is probably one of the reasons why this lens is not equiped with IS. So in the IS versus f/2.8 debate, my vote goes to the 24-70mm f/2.8L .

The Extra Reach of the Canon 24-105mm f/4L Lens

When looking at focal length it is important to consider other lenses you plan to purchase or already have. Canon’s 70-200mm L lenses for example are incredibly popular and if you already own or plan to purchase any of the four 70-200mm models in the future, the 24-70mm will be the perfect compliment to complete your set. This will give you L-series quality all the way from 24mm to 200mm and if you have the 70-200mm f/2.8 you will have wide aperture across this entire range of focal lengths. In general, if you plan to buy any mid-range zoom lens, the 24-70mm is probably a better option than the 24-105mm.

On the other hand, if you don’t plan to get additional zoom lenses, the 24-105mm could be a better choice because of the extra range it provides. Many people don’t like switching between lenses and just want one L-series lens that provides a lot of versatility with some  zoom and the benefit of Image Stabilization . In this case the 24-105mm offers great value.

Conclusion – The 24-70mm f/2.8L vs the 24-105mm f/4L IS

If you plan to own just one L-series lens and you are looking for the ultimate walkabout lens that takes professional quality photos, with a fairly wide zoom range and the added benefit of Imaze Stabilization, then the 24-105mm is the way to go. However, if you plan to own multiple lenses (especially mid range zoom lenses like the 70-200mm range) or if you plan to shoot indoor events like weddings in low light conditions, the 24-70mm f/2.8L is definitely the way to go. Never underestimate the benefit of the wide aperture, it is one of the most important features that professionals look for in a lens.

Click Here to Visit the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM  at Amazon.com
Click Here to Visit the Canon 24-105mm f/4L USM at Amazon.com

The Canon 24-700mm f/2.8L USM Lens was developed to replace the popular 28-70mm f/2.8L and it has since become one of the most popular general purpose lenses that Canon has to offer. The 24-70mm f/2.8L effectively replaced an entire range of three fixed focal length lenses, because it offers the same professional image quality as well as the extra benefit of versatility.

The 24-70mm f/2.8 is arguably the most popular Canon lens for wedding photography, photo journalism and general every day use due to its fast aperture and high quality images. It’s ideal for portraits and group photos and the build quality is as good as you would expect from an L series lens. The AF (Autofocus) system on this lens is very accurate and as zoom lenses go it delivers the sharpest images possible. Another reason why this lens is so popular with professionals is the wide 8-blade aperture, produces a high quality, smooth background blur (“bokeh”) when isolating a subject.

Compare Prices on 24-70mm Lenses from Various Suppliers Here

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Specifications

• Model Number: 8014A002
• Type of Lens: Standard Zoom
• Focal length: 24-70mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Optics: 16 Elements in 13 Groups
• Fast & Accurate Autofocus via USM
• Filter Size: 77mm
• Canon EF Mount
• Weight: 950g

What Users Like About the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

The Canon 24-70mm is one of the most popular general purposes lenses among professional and amateur photographers alike. Most users agree that this lens has excellent build quality and that it produces very sharp images with excellent color, contrast and saturation. Another features that photographers generally like about the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM is the fact that the Autofocus is very accurate, especially at close range. The overall consensus is that the 24-70mm produces professional quality images that are unmatched by other standard zoom lenses.

What Users Don’t Like About the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

The 24-70mm f/2.8L USM is one of Canon’s most popular lenses, so finding negative reviews about it is definitely not easy. The only things that photographers generally don’t like about this lens are that it is quite expensive and that it can be quite heavy for general-purpose use. There are a few users who complain about the lack of Image Stabilization (IS), but most people don’t see this as an issue at all.

Read 200 Customer Reviews of the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L Lens Here

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Video Review

In this 4 minute video review the photographer from DigitalRevTV walks around taking shots at night (without a flash), discussing some of the major advantages and disadvantages of the 24-70mm lens. This is definitely an interesting review to watch.

Recommended Suppliers of the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens

My preferred suppliers of the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM are Amazon.com, B&H Photo and Adorama. They are authorized resellers of all major brands, they offer free shipping on many products and they are the most trusted online photography suppliers today.

Conclusion

The Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM is the bread and butter lens for most professional wedding photographers. The 24-70mm focal length allows for close-up shots of the bride or for large group shots without the need for a lens change. The fixed maximum aperture of f/2.8 makes it as fast as any Canon zoom lense and ideal for shooting indoors or in low light conditions. This lens is also a great choice for photojournalism, indoor sports and general family photos or every-day use. On a full frame body the 24-70mm f/2.8L USM also makes a good landscape lens and since it also has some Macro features this lens is truly one of the most versatile zoom lenses that Canon has to offer.

Click Here to Visit the Canon 27-70mm f/2.8L USM at Amazon.com