If you didn’t know, I won a MacBook Pro couple of weeks back.
After much consideration, I figured that I didn’t need a new notebook as my current Dell Vostro 1500 is still working just fine and I would have prefer an even higher specifications MacBook Pro instead of the RM3899 one. Most importantly, I needed wanted to replace my kit lens, EF 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS USM with something better.
I sold the MacBook Pro then.
Last Sunday, together with with a good friend whom we both always have totally opposite opinions, Robin Wong, we headed to Pavilion’s Pixels to check out two lenses, EF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM and EF 24-105mm F4L IS USM. Unfortunately, they only had the latter. The store assistant, Wen Da, recommended us to visit Key Color at Mid Valley as they have both lenses there and off we went.
I played around with the lenses, trying to make a decision on which to get as both lenses don’t come cheap and there were a lot of considerations to be factored in.
EF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM:
Pros:
- F2.8; extremely useful in almost any environment/condition.
- Minimum focusing distance is 0.38m.
- Huge; fits my huge hands better.Cons:
- Heavy; weighing at 950g.
- Long; 2cm longer than the other.
- Ridiculously huge lens hood; almost as big as a mug, mind you.
- 3x optical zoom; lack of range and flexibility.
- Lack of IS; the IS-version is rumoured to be released next year or 2012.
- Released in 2002, eight year old technology. (16 elements/13 groups.)
- 39% more expensive than the other.
EF 24-105mm F4L IS USM:
Pros:
- Light; weighing at 670g.
- Small lens hood; easier to keep and carry.
- 3-stop IS; effective in counter vibrations and shakes.
- Released in 2005, five year old technology. (18 elements/13 groups.)
- 5x optical zoom; extra range and flexibility. (It suits better for my day-to-day usage.)Cons:
- F4; slow.
- Minimum focusing distance is 0.45m.
All these while, I have been slanting towards the F4 as I did my research way back then. There’s a reason why the lens was in my wish list from the very beginning, just that, I kinda forgotten the reasons. A number of photographers told me to go for the F2.8 as it is a faster lens and would help in the long run. I was undecided but halfway through our drinks at a nearby kopitiam, I decided to make the jump and follow my heart.
I bought the F4.
Like most higher end lenses, the diameter is 77mm, which translates to expensive UV filter.
The (in)famous red ring.
It feels really solid, well built and sturdy, as expected from the L-series and for the amount of money I paid for. It doesn’t feel plastic-y like the silver ringed lens and a top notch better than the USM counterparts. The zoom ring, a tad smaller than the F2.8, is at the inner part of the lens and spins really smoothly.
While I didn’t do any intensive test, but based on my first few usage, I felt that focusing speed was a tad lot faster than my previous kit lens, EF-S 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS USM and snapped into range real quick.
Colour, contrast, saturation and sharpness are way better than my kit lens and I could very well skip post processing stage from now on. Awesome! As it is a fixed aperture lens, I love the F4′s shallow depth of field at 105mm. I would still able to retain that bokeh even after I zoomed in. However, I am not a huge bokeh fan but it is definitely a plus.
Unfortunately, the minimum focusing distance hit me a little bit as I was constantly trying to find the sweet spot/distance for focusing; which often ended up me pushing the food a little further from me. I am not sure how the 24mm (at widest) will hinder me yet as my previous kit lens is 17mm (at widest) but during my first walkabout, I wasn’t really bothered by it. YET.
These are some of the pictures I snapped and am still trying to familiar myself with the lens. It doesn’t tell much but that’s because I am a n00b but I could see and feel the difference myself when using the lens.
With this acquirement, my gears are now the E0S 40D, Battery Grip BG-E2N, Speedlite 580 EX II, EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM and EF 24-105mm F4L IS USM.
For a more in dept or technical report on the lens, visit The Digital Picture.
It is still too early to tell whether I have made the right choice in buying the F4 and not the F2.8 and hopefully, I did cause I am counting on “Canon, Delighting You Always.”
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