Lens for streetlife Canon 24-105 STM vs Canon 24-70/4L vs Tamron 24-70/2.8VC

I am currently using Canon 24-85 USM for my street photos (canon 6D) and I am actually happy with it. However, I still want the IQ to be improved a little bit. So I need IQ, lightweight and zoom range. Here are my photos so you can understand what I need: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dzunglv/

After a while of searching, I narrow down my options to 3 candidates:

Canon 24-105STM: lightweight, cheap and 105mm tele reach. Good IQ. However a bit slow at tele end (5.6).

Canon 24-70/4L: lightweight, great IQ. Great build for my eyes. Only reachs 70mm for tele and a bit expensive considering it is only 4.0 aperture maximum.

Tamron 24-70/2.8: VC, great IQ and 2.8 (I know I don't need 2.8 that much for street photos but It can be useful occasionally). However, the lens is a bit heavy. Also tele reachs only 70mm.

So, that is what I've found up to now. I also want to hear more comments from you guys about my decision, espescially from whom have used those 3 lenses.

Steve Balcombe wrote:

dzunglv wrote:

I am currently using Canon 24-85 USM for my street photos (canon 6D) and I am actually happy with it. However, I still want the IQ to be improved a little bit. So I need IQ, lightweight and zoom range. Here are my photos so you can understand what I need: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dzunglv/

After a while of searching, I narrow down my options to 3 candidates:

Canon 24-105STM: lightweight, cheap and 105mm tele reach. Good IQ. However a bit slow at tele end (5.6).

Canon 24-70/4L: lightweight, great IQ. Great build for my eyes. Only reachs 70mm for tele and a bit expensive considering it is only 4.0 aperture maximum.

Tamron 24-70/2.8: VC, great IQ and 2.8 (I know I don't need 2.8 that much for street photos but It can be useful occasionally). However, the lens is a bit heavy. Also tele reachs only 70mm.

So, that is what I've found up to now. I also want to hear more comments from you guys about my decision, espescially from whom have used those 3 lenses.

I'm surprised you haven't included the 24-105L in your shortlist. Sure it's not one of the latest models but it's a stop faster than the 24-105 STM and only slightly more expensive. 3-stop IS vs 4-stop is not likely to be an issue, and USM vs STM is possibly even a slight advantage. F/4 vs f/5.6 is a big benefit for throwing those backgrounds out of focus.

Sure! I don't know why I forgot it when I was typing this thread. Thank you. So I get 4 candidates.

I also heard that many street photographers out there were using Canon 24-105L. Maybe it is an older lens thereby have a lot of users.

dzunglv wrote:

I am currently using Canon 24-85 USM for my street photos (canon 6D) and I am actually happy with it. However, I still want the IQ to be improved a little bit. So I need IQ, lightweight and zoom range. Here are my photos so you can understand what I need: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dzunglv/

After a while of searching, I narrow down my options to 3 candidates:

Canon 24-105STM: lightweight, cheap and 105mm tele reach. Good IQ. However a bit slow at tele end (5.6).

Canon 24-70/4L: lightweight, great IQ. Great build for my eyes. Only reachs 70mm for tele and a bit expensive considering it is only 4.0 aperture maximum.

Tamron 24-70/2.8: VC, great IQ and 2.8 (I know I don't need 2.8 that much for street photos but It can be useful occasionally). However, the lens is a bit heavy. Also tele reachs only 70mm.

So, that is what I've found up to now. I also want to hear more comments from you guys about my decision, espescially from whom have used those 3 lenses.

I have owned the Tamron and the Canon 24-105L which you didn't mention.  If I were you, I would probably only consider the Canon 24-105 and the Canon 24-70.  The Tamron is a pretty heavy lens.

Get the 24-105L if you want the extra range (35mm is pretty nice to have)

Get the 24-70 f4L if the weight issue is really important to you.

The 24-70 f4L has a little bit of an edge in sharpness, but I think these other differences are more dramatic and important.

Good luck!

I've never used the Tamron, but it is the second highest rated lens on DXOMark in this focal range for the 6D. It is still a bit pricy at $1299 (estimated), but it is supposed to be a very nice lens.

JerryriggedTECH wrote:

I've never used the Tamron, but it is the second highest rated lens on DXOMark in this focal range for the 6D. It is still a bit pricy at $1299 (estimated), but it is supposed to be a very nice lens.

At the moment I have crossed two Canon 24-105 out of my short list.

My main concern on Tamron 24-70 VC is that It may be too heavy for my use. Perhap I will rent one to see if it works for me.

Canon 24-70/4L seems to be another great choice. But several reviews state its issue with focus shift. Does that issue mean I have to take focus again after each shot?

dzunglv wrote:

JerryriggedTECH wrote:

I've never used the Tamron, but it is the second highest rated lens on DXOMark in this focal range for the 6D. It is still a bit pricy at $1299 (estimated), but it is supposed to be a very nice lens.

At the moment I have crossed two Canon 24-105 out of my short list.

Out of curiosity, why did you cross the 24-105L off your short list?  Seems to me that's what everyone has recommended so far.

My main concern on Tamron 24-70 VC is that It may be too heavy for my use. Perhap I will rent one to see if it works for me.

That's probably a good idea.  It is a weighty lens.  I found it to be a little on the heavy side whereas the 24-105L seems to be a perfect weight for the 6d.  f2.8 is nice to have though.

dzunglv wrote:

I am currently using Canon 24-85 USM for my street photos (canon 6D) and I am actually happy with it. However, I still want the IQ to be improved a little bit. So I need IQ, lightweight and zoom range. Here are my photos so you can understand what I need: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dzunglv/

After a while of searching, I narrow down my options to 3 candidates:

Canon 24-105STM: lightweight, cheap and 105mm tele reach. Good IQ. However a bit slow at tele end (5.6).

Canon 24-70/4L: lightweight, great IQ. Great build for my eyes. Only reachs 70mm for tele and a bit expensive considering it is only 4.0 aperture maximum.

Tamron 24-70/2.8: VC, great IQ and 2.8 (I know I don't need 2.8 that much for street photos but It can be useful occasionally). However, the lens is a bit heavy. Also tele reachs only 70mm.

So, that is what I've found up to now. I also want to hear more comments from you guys about my decision, espescially from whom have used those 3 lenses.

Canon 24-105 STM - Slowest lens of the bunch. And your 6D doesn't take advantage of what the STM offers.

Canon 24-70 f4 L - Decent lens. Good IQ. Smaller/lighter than some of the others. Not a bad choice.

Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC - Pretty good lens. Heavy and large, but that's expected for an f2.8 model. Good IQ. I'm not a third-party lens person, but I tried it. My biggest complaint was that the VC took a second to kick in, sometimes causing a weird sort of motion blur. For this reason, it might be frustrating for street work, unless it is turned off... which defeats the purpose of having it in the first place. Also expensive.

Canon 24-105 L - Inexpensive for what it is, especially at your $600 price. Great range, good IQ, reasonably bright (f4 constant), stabilized, and fast AF. Probably the best over-all general range zoom for the 6D when factoring in price. It's an older design, but still made. And while it may not take awards in any single criteria, it's strength is in its sheer versatility. FIRST CHOICE.

By the way, I keep an old 24-85/3.5-4.5 around purely as a backup. Not the sharpest lens in the case, but it offers such a nice range and decent maximum aperture (not f5.6 like so many "kit" lenses), that it's an extremely practical lens to have on hand as a backup. Plus, it's so incredibly small and lightweight, I barely notice it in a case. A keeper even alongside better glass.

diness wrote:

dzunglv wrote:

JerryriggedTECH wrote:

I've never used the Tamron, but it is the second highest rated lens on DXOMark in this focal range for the 6D. It is still a bit pricy at $1299 (estimated), but it is supposed to be a very nice lens.

At the moment I have crossed two Canon 24-105 out of my short list.

Out of curiosity, why did you cross the 24-105L off your short list? Seems to me that's what everyone has recommended so far.

My main concern on Tamron 24-70 VC is that It may be too heavy for my use. Perhap I will rent one to see if it works for me.

That's probably a good idea. It is a weighty lens. I found it to be a little on the heavy side whereas the 24-105L seems to be a perfect weight for the 6d. f2.8 is nice to have though.

Mostly because of its mediocre performance on the edges of the photos. Actually it's not that bad and I know it will improve when I stop down. But image samples on http://www.the-digital-picture.com/ show that good result only delivers at f8. For my street photos, I frequently set my focus point out of the frame center so this is quite important.

I have set up the scenario where I buy Canon 24-105/4L in mind and I thought I would be left with desire to improve it in future anyway.

The fact that two or three of the commenters here have Tamron 24-70VC listed as their gear also affects me alot.

So I will go to the rent shop this weekend to check how the Tamron 24-70VC and Canon 24-70/4 will fit in my gear.

Michael Thomas Mitchell wrote:

dzunglv wrote:

I am currently using Canon 24-85 USM for my street photos (canon 6D) and I am actually happy with it. However, I still want the IQ to be improved a little bit. So I need IQ, lightweight and zoom range. Here are my photos so you can understand what I need: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dzunglv/

After a while of searching, I narrow down my options to 3 candidates:

Canon 24-105STM: lightweight, cheap and 105mm tele reach. Good IQ. However a bit slow at tele end (5.6).

Canon 24-70/4L: lightweight, great IQ. Great build for my eyes. Only reachs 70mm for tele and a bit expensive considering it is only 4.0 aperture maximum.

Tamron 24-70/2.8: VC, great IQ and 2.8 (I know I don't need 2.8 that much for street photos but It can be useful occasionally). However, the lens is a bit heavy. Also tele reachs only 70mm.

So, that is what I've found up to now. I also want to hear more comments from you guys about my decision, espescially from whom have used those 3 lenses.

Canon 24-105 STM - Slowest lens of the bunch. And your 6D doesn't take advantage of what the STM offers.

Canon 24-70 f4 L - Decent lens. Good IQ. Smaller/lighter than some of the others. Not a bad choice.

Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC - Pretty good lens. Heavy and large, but that's expected for an f2.8 model. Good IQ. I'm not a third-party lens person, but I tried it. My biggest complaint was that the VC took a second to kick in, sometimes causing a weird sort of motion blur. For this reason, it might be frustrating for street work, unless it is turned off... which defeats the purpose of having it in the first place. Also expensive.

Canon 24-105 L - Inexpensive for what it is, especially at your $600 price. Great range, good IQ, reasonably bright (f4 constant), stabilized, and fast AF. Probably the best over-all general range zoom for the 6D when factoring in price. It's an older design, but still made. And while it may not take awards in any single criteria, it's strength is in its sheer versatility. FIRST CHOICE.

By the way, I keep an old 24-85/3.5-4.5 around purely as a backup. Not the sharpest lens in the case, but it offers such a nice range and decent maximum aperture (not f5.6 like so many "kit" lenses), that it's an extremely practical lens to have on hand as a backup. Plus, it's so incredibly small and lightweight, I barely notice it in a case. A keeper even alongside better glass.

Totally agree with you on Canon 24-85usm. A great lens at no cost and lightweight. At 85mm it actually satisfies my need. But at the range of 24- 35mm its limited performance can be easily detected on full frame body.

I currently own the 24-70 f/4 IS and it is a great match for the 6D. Great IQ, useful macro, compact and great build quality.

I live in Hanoi, Vietnam. Some of the models here can be purchased used at low cost since they are imported directly from Japan. For example a Canon 24-70/4L is only around 620 USD at nearly mint condition. Tamron 24-70VC is also a cheap one, ranging from 570 - 670 USD. I think it is a huge advantage.

First of all, I have to say thanks to all you guys who have helped me a lot. All my questions has been responsed rightfully with details even beyond my expectation. However, it is a shame on me that yet I can not decide. I have been a bad decision taker since I was a child.

For the zoom lens battle for street use, there has been a big turn today when I ran to a local store for reality check. Tamron 24-70 is definitely OFF the list due to its heaviness. Also, it is too noticeable being hand-held on streets. I have not checked further but for me it is enough. Another surprise (to me) is that Canon 24-105L has made its COMEBACK to the shortlist. The corner performance is much better on real life photos than on those Internet testing charts. For IQ I thought I have no further demand. F4 and IS both are amazing. However, I prefer the lens to be a little bit more compact so it is not much revealing on streets. So from now on, it will be my final decision between 24-70/4L and 24-105L.

And MohammedB is absolutely right! Another scenario I have plotted at first place is buying more primes. I have a “prime shooting mind” so I firstly thought about it. My (planned) street gear would be: Canon 35IS + 50/1.8II (which I already own, and love- no need upgrade) + Canon 85/1.8. Someone might say that the total weight will surpass a zoom lens. But for me, the matter is all about the weight on my neck, not about the weight in my back pack. The main problem with this solution is that I may miss some critical moments on street due to delay time to change lenses. This question maybe I am the only one who can answer for myself. However, if anyone has experience shooting three primes outdoor and changing lenses during critical moment, please tell me.

Last solution I have slightly thought about is a mirrorless camera, e.g. Fujifilm X-E1 + 18-55mm XF. Big advantage is the compactness, and also style. The disadvantage is DOF loss due to crop sensor. Following the same route, I also think of EOS M system, which may utilize the EF lenses I have got. But the street photos I found on Flickr taken by EOS M is too “point and shoot” quality imho.

I recently acquired a 6d and had similar dilemma. Eventually, I decided to go with Canon 24-70mm f/4 L. It balances very nicely on 6d and wide angle performance at 24mm is excellent. I am also impressed by how effective IS in video even when panning at 70mm. Macro mode is very usable including video. I am happy with my decision but I still need longer zoom for infrequent use. I also got Canon ef 35mm f/2 IS lens for low light which I am not yet sure if it's a keeper cause to my surprise I like images from cheap 40mm f2.8 somewhat better.

1Dx4me wrote:

canon 24-70 f2.8II, it is a great lens and you won't look back

Thank you but at over 800 gram, the lens is no use to me on street. Also, ultimate IQ is not my priority. And I would rather not spend that big money on a street lens

Alexsfo wrote:

I recently acquired a 6d and had similar dilemma. Eventually, I decided to go with Canon 24-70mm f/4 L. It balances very nicely on 6d and wide angle performance at 24mm is excellent. I am also impressed by how effective IS in video even when panning at 70mm. Macro mode is very usable including video. I am happy with my decision but I still need longer zoom for infrequent use. I also got Canon ef 35mm f/2 IS lens for low light which I am not yet sure if it's a keeper cause to my surprise I like images from cheap 40mm f2.8 somewhat better.

I use tele focal range alot on street, so maybe Canon 24-105L is better than 24-70/4 to me. Also, thanks for opinion on 35/2IS vs 40/2.8