Suggestions for a 24-70mm Canon substitute?

Sovern wrote:

I'd go with three primes. The 28 1.8 or 35f2, 50 1.4 or 50 1.8, and the 85 1.8. All three of those lenses will be sharper and faster than the 24-70 II and it should cost you a total of about $900 if you get all of them new.

Sharper? I don't think so. Faster? From max aperture it's but I don't think AF speeed at f/2.8 and beyound as 24-70L II has much better and quicker AF motor inside. Check MTF and Photozone lab you will know. Canon 24-70L II is the sharpest zoom, and even sharper than 70-200L/2.8 IS II as Canon claims, is as sharp as respective L prime at the same F stops no mention those non-L prime lenses you quoted here. 50/1.4 or 50/1.8 is shaper? LOL. Even My tiny 40/2.8 STM pancake beats either 50's easily at f/2.8.

The 85 1.8 will be vastly superior to the 70mm end of the 24-70 and shooting with all primes will give your photos a distinct look to them and allows you to isolate your subjects more and shoot in lower light.

I will not say vastly. Check this review. At f/2.8 their centers are about the same, 24-70L II maybe even better in mid-range while 85/1.8 is slightly better in corners/edges. 70mm is relative weak focus length of this zoom. Its 24mm, 28mm, 35 and 50mm are better than those primes you named if you check.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=787&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=4&API=0&LensComp=106&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

at 85mm or even 70mm or entire 70-200mm I will pull out another Canon excellent zoom 70-200L/2.8 IS II.  Now a different story

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=687&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=106&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2