Suggestions for a 24-70mm Canon substitute?

qianp2k wrote:

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

The 85mm 1.8 is one of Canons fastest focusing lenses..... definitely focuses faster than the 24-70L II. The rest of the primes should focus just as fast the 24-70II and by faster I wasn't necessarily talking about AF speed I was talking aperture low light wise. The 24-70 can't do f1.4 or f1.8 which is 2 stops faster and 1 & 1/3rd of a stop faster respectfully than the 24-70 at it's fastest aperture. That's the difference between using iso 800 vs 3200 in the case of the 50 1.4 and using iso 1600 vs 3200 in the case of the 85 1.8.

The 50 1.4 will be sharper than the 24-70II with both lenses set to 2.8 at 50mm.

I don't care for charts I wan't to see real world examples. According to those charts the Tamron 17-50 that I just sold is better than the 50 1.8 II that I had prior to that which is bogus. In real world usage the primes will have better micro contrast, saturation and image quality. A black and white chart shot from different distances won't show this.

2.8 also might not give you enough subject isolation when needed.

Zooms are a major compromise as they need a lot more glass/groups while primes are amazing at what they do at their respected focal length. In my opinion the 24-70 II is overpriced anyways. I'd rather just have 3 fast primes or a zoom that extends further like the 24-105F4L.

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