Which 24-70mm f/2.8 EF mount lens?

Mongrel wrote:

Pretty straight forward...I need a zoom in this range. If you *had* to pick one of the following, which one would it be? If you care to add "why" that would be helpful.

Note: the $1900 Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 II USM is NOT on the list...lol

I voted Canon because I have had the ef 24-70mm f2.8 almost since it first came out. I was extremely surprised how the image quality improved even with the ef-rf converter on the R5.

1. I thought image quality would drop esp. with the converter but Instead it went up. I rented the rf 24-70mm but returned it as the images were very close. The $2400 price also contributed and the desire for the 28-70mm rf.
2. So if it can almost match the rf 24-70mm IS, well that is a great reason.
3. The lens was designed and intended to be very tough for the use of pro photo journalists. Their cameras and gear are not babied or treated with kid gloves.

This ef lens had a massive accident when I left it on a high kitchen shelf a number of years ago.

My son managed to grab the camera strap and pulled it down hard onto a tile floor.

I still see it descending in slow motion as i leaped to try to catch it, but the noise and impact was such i knew it and the camera was toast. I could not bring myself to dismount the lens for a couple of days.

However the camera was fine since it landed on top of the lens.

The zoom barrel took most of the impact bending it where the zoom and auto focus would not reliably work. The ring for attaching a filter was bent and a filter would not attach.

Sent it to Midwest Camera who replaced the barrel and other parts but the glass elements remained as they were still perfect. Cost was very vert reasonable.

Comparing that to the too numerous stories of the internal lens glass elements cracking on too many rf100-500 for what seem to be unknown causes, i think i will keep and use it for another 20 years.

I have not tested the other 2 or used them, so I have no opinion on their qualities.

However I would buy another ef 24-70mm if it were stolen without hesitation.