Suggestions for a 24-70mm Canon substitute?

qianp2k wrote:

http://www.kaycephotography.com/blog-entries/canon-ef-24-70mm-f2-8l-mark-ii-review/

You jumped your own conclusion too quickly on traditional prime vs zoom stereotype. This new version is nothing similar to the old mark I version. It's very new but you will see more and more photos from pro. Seriously it's not competing to those non-L primes (and I don't think those non L primes you mentioned are better in IQ on reviews), it's competing to L prime at f/2.8 and beyond but much more versatile in various fields from portraiture, landscape to sports. I’d suggest wait and see…and I will do some tests as I said in this weekend.

I agree most cannot justify on this zoom but they are many others can if you use it seriously.

I agree with you on the most part and respect your opinion. If you have the money the 24-70L II is great. If you don't have the money and are like me and don't find the zoom range really that significant with these zoom lenses than go get yourself a set of primes and save money.

I found out after using a 2.8 zoom for a month coming from a 50mm prime that I was using only the 50mm and 35mm end and craving a longer zoom length all the time. I found the zoom range very small for the price of the lens, the speed you lose coming from a prime (2.8), and in the case of my zoom the image quality that you lose using the zoom compared to a nice prime.

I respect and agree that these top quality zooms are great but I also think that primes offer more bang for the buck and will always be faster and give you more capability's due to you being able to blow out backgrounds more when needed or when shooting in low light.

For what I personally shoot (portraiture) I found 2.8 to not be fast enough wide open.