DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

Started Oct 18, 2015 | Discussions
davev8
davev8 Veteran Member • Posts: 4,837
to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

just looking at it the resolving power and cost of canon primes compared to the Canon 24-70 f2.8LMKii

Canon 24mm f2.8IS vs the zoom ..the zoom just has it but its close not tell in real world

24 vs zoom

24mmf1.4L ii   VERY close

24mmf1.4L vs zoom

old 24mm F2.8 easy win for zoom

old 24mm vs zoom

old 28mm f2.8 easy win for zoom

old 28mm f2.8 vs zoom

35mm F1.4 Lmkii both at f2.8 a win for the prime.....prime still v good at F1.4

35mm F1.4L ii vs zoom

old 35mm F2...very easy win for the zoom

35mm F2 vs zoom

new 35mm F2IS  very close ..win for the zoom

35MM F2IS vs zoom

40mm F2.8 STM ....very close zoom only just have it wide open almost same at F5.6 amazing value the 40mm STM

40MM STM vs zoom

50MM F1.2L easy win for zoom...but you dont buy this lens for F2.8 and above

50mm F1.2L

50mm F1.4usm  close at F2.8 but the prime just has it at F5.6....not bad for a 40 year old optical design

50MM F 1.4 usm

50mm F1.8 STM.. same ..the zoom has it at F2.8 the prime has it  at F5.6...amazing bang for the buck

50mm f1.8 stm vs zoom

85.. f1.8   zoom has it at the edge of the frame

85mm f1.8 vs zoom

85mm f 1.2 prime has it when stopped down..but you get this lens for the F1.2 bit ..its close

85mm f1.2l

SO if you get primes for the increase IQ most of the time its not so,,  in fact some of the old one are terrible.. probably the Canon 35mm F1.4Lmkii is the only canon prime to out run the 24-70 F2.8mkii in the IQ stakes ..

so if you dont need the extra speed the zoom will be a better, lighter, AND CHEAPER than a bag of L glass primes ...but the is no replacement if you like to play at F1.2 to F2

My 5D IS a MK1 classic

 davev8's gear list:davev8's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM +5 more
Canon EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR Nikon 24mm F1.8G ED Sony FE 28mm F2 Sony FE 35mm F1.4
If you believe there are incorrect tags, please send us this post using our feedback form.
jayboo Senior Member • Posts: 2,366
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

davev8 wrote:

just looking at it the resolving power and cost of canon primes compared to the Canon 24-70 f2.8LMKii

Canon 24mm f2.8IS vs the zoom ..the zoom just has it but its close not tell in real world

24 vs zoom

24mmf1.4L ii VERY close

24mmf1.4L vs zoom

old 24mm F2.8 easy win for zoom

old 24mm vs zoom

old 28mm f2.8 easy win for zoom

old 28mm f2.8 vs zoom

35mm F1.4 Lmkii both at f2.8 a win for the prime.....prime still v good at F1.4

35mm F1.4L ii vs zoom

old 35mm F2...very easy win for the zoom

35mm F2 vs zoom

new 35mm F2IS very close ..win for the zoom

35MM F2IS vs zoom

40mm F2.8 STM ....very close zoom only just have it wide open almost same at F5.6 amazing value the 40mm STM

40MM STM vs zoom

50MM F1.2L easy win for zoom...but you dont buy this lens for F2.8 and above

50mm F1.2L

50mm F1.4usm close at F2.8 but the prime just has it at F5.6....not bad for a 40 year old optical design

50MM F 1.4 usm

50mm F1.8 STM.. same ..the zoom has it at F2.8 the prime has it at F5.6...amazing bang for the buck

50mm f1.8 stm vs zoom

85.. f1.8 zoom has it at the edge of the frame

You cannot make the case for the 24-70 against the 85mm IMO, it just doesn't go there.

85mm f1.8 vs zoom

85mm f 1.2 prime has it when stopped down..but you get this lens for the F1.2 bit ..its close

85mm f1.2l

SO if you get primes for the increase IQ most of the time its not so,, in fact some of the old one are terrible.. probably the Canon 35mm F1.4Lmkii is the only canon prime to out run the 24-70 F2.8mkii in the IQ stakes ..

so if you dont need the extra speed the zoom will be a better, lighter, AND CHEAPER than a bag of L glass primes ...but the is no replacement if you like to play at F1.2 to F2

well, f1.2 - f2.8

My 5D IS a MK1 classic

Yes, the 24-70 II is a great lens.

-- hide signature --
 jayboo's gear list:jayboo's gear list
Leica CL Canon EOS R6 Leica M10-R Canon EOS R7 Leica Elmar-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH +11 more
Abu Mahendra Veteran Member • Posts: 5,312
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

The 24-70II ain't cheap, but it is stellar.

I look forward to the 35L II. I may Divest myself of the 35IS.

-- hide signature --

>> I am already lovin' the Canon EF 35L II lens! <<

 Abu Mahendra's gear list:Abu Mahendra's gear list
Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM +5 more
davev8
OP davev8 Veteran Member • Posts: 4,837
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

jayboo wrote:

davev8 wrote:

just looking at it the resolving power and cost of canon primes compared to the Canon 24-70 f2.8LMKii

Canon 24mm f2.8IS vs the zoom ..the zoom just has it but its close not tell in real world

24 vs zoom

24mmf1.4L ii VERY close

24mmf1.4L vs zoom

old 24mm F2.8 easy win for zoom

old 24mm vs zoom

old 28mm f2.8 easy win for zoom

old 28mm f2.8 vs zoom

35mm F1.4 Lmkii both at f2.8 a win for the prime.....prime still v good at F1.4

35mm F1.4L ii vs zoom

old 35mm F2...very easy win for the zoom

35mm F2 vs zoom

new 35mm F2IS very close ..win for the zoom

35MM F2IS vs zoom

40mm F2.8 STM ....very close zoom only just have it wide open almost same at F5.6 amazing value the 40mm STM

40MM STM vs zoom

50MM F1.2L easy win for zoom...but you dont buy this lens for F2.8 and above

50mm F1.2L

50mm F1.4usm close at F2.8 but the prime just has it at F5.6....not bad for a 40 year old optical design

50MM F 1.4 usm

50mm F1.8 STM.. same ..the zoom has it at F2.8 the prime has it at F5.6...amazing bang for the buck

50mm f1.8 stm vs zoom

85.. f1.8 zoom has it at the edge of the frame

You cannot make the case for the 24-70 against the 85mm IMO, it just doesn't go there.

85mm f1.8 vs zoom

85mm f 1.2 prime has it when stopped down..but you get this lens for the F1.2 bit ..its close

85mm f1.2l

SO if you get primes for the increase IQ most of the time its not so,, in fact some of the old one are terrible.. probably the Canon 35mm F1.4Lmkii is the only canon prime to out run the 24-70 F2.8mkii in the IQ stakes ..

so if you dont need the extra speed the zoom will be a better, lighter, AND CHEAPER than a bag of L glass primes ...but the is no replacement if you like to play at F1.2 to F2

well, f1.2 - f2.8

My 5D IS a MK1 classic

Yes, the 24-70 II is a great lens.

yes a great lens..it surprised me how well it keeps up with the primes.yes 70mm is not 85mm but nothing else after 50mm to compare but it is close enough to influence buying decisions...i have a sharp zoom that goes to 70mm F2.8 so because of this i am going give the 85mm f1.8 a miss and may go for the 100mm f2 instead

Its also ironic that its the cheapest primes 40mm stm 50mm stm and the 50mm f1.4usm that gives it the best run for the money

-- hide signature --

My 5D IS a MK1 classic

 davev8's gear list:davev8's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM +5 more
hotdog321
hotdog321 Forum Pro • Posts: 21,141
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

No argument here. Canon's newest zooms are a good as or better than most primes and offer far more utility with a smooth transition though the range of focal lengths. I'm afraid I've become a total boring fanboy.

-- hide signature --
 hotdog321's gear list:hotdog321's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM +3 more
TheBlackGrouse Veteran Member • Posts: 3,586
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

No argument at all

But how about the telezooms?

-- hide signature --

TheBlackGrouse
Active outdoor photographer, searching for wildlife, studying user experience.

Abu Mahendra Veteran Member • Posts: 5,312
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

TheBlackGrouse wrote:

No argument at all

But how about the telezooms?

The one that can run with primes in the short tele range is the 70-200LISII.

-- hide signature --

>> I am already lovin' the Canon EF 35L II lens! <<

 Abu Mahendra's gear list:Abu Mahendra's gear list
Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM +5 more
crashpc Veteran Member • Posts: 7,240
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

That's not how it works for everybody. One doesn't always need to have the full range with him. Not even all standard discrete steps. I have 22mm prime, 50mm prime, and outside of these focal lenghts I use zoom lenses, while in that range i manage to move myself or crop, or both. These two lenses cost me about &320.
I don't even carry all these at once, so it is not even bigger, not even heavier, not more expensive, and it has the edge in tbe working range I have chosen.
That's why there is so many lenses and no lens is the best. The same as no food is the best.
I eat spaghetti lot. How about you?

 crashpc's gear list:crashpc's gear list
Canon EOS M10 Canon EF-M 15-45mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM
davev8
OP davev8 Veteran Member • Posts: 4,837
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

crashpc wrote:

That's not how it works for everybody. One doesn't always need to have the full range with him. Not even all standard discrete steps. I have 22mm prime, 50mm prime, and outside of these focal lenghts I use zoom lenses, while in that range i manage to move myself or crop, or both. These two lenses cost me about &320.
I don't even carry all these at once, so it is not even bigger, not even heavier, not more expensive, and it has the edge in tbe working range I have chosen.
That's why there is so many lenses and no lens is the best. The same as no food is the best.
I eat spaghetti lot. How about you?

yes i agree with you.. i think i say that that some of the cheaper lenses give it a run for its money

-- hide signature --

My 5D IS a MK1 classic

 davev8's gear list:davev8's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM +5 more
TheBlackGrouse Veteran Member • Posts: 3,586
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

Abu Mahendra wrote:

TheBlackGrouse wrote:

No argument at all

But how about the telezooms?

The one that can run with primes in the short tele range is the 70-200LISII.

Looking at Canon, in the 400 mm range there is an old relatively cheap 400mm F/5.6, a new 100-400 II and the really expensive 400 F/2.8, 200-400 and 400 DO. It seems that age and price determine image quality these days in 400mm-land. However, according to tests, the old 400 is remarkably close to the new 100-400 II in sharpness.

Does that mean that a new 400 F/5.6 will be 'much' sharper than the zoom?

-- hide signature --

TheBlackGrouse
Active outdoor photographer, searching for wildlife, studying user experience.

FredVasilescu Regular Member • Posts: 225
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

70-200 f2.8 m2 is amazing. It streams up against most primes in this focal range.

 FredVasilescu's gear list:FredVasilescu's gear list
Canon PowerShot G11 Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM +4 more
TheBlackGrouse Veteran Member • Posts: 3,586
Re: to zoom or not to zoom...that is the question

FredVasilescu wrote:

70-200 f2.8 m2 is amazing. It streams up against most primes in this focal range.

Agree!! I almost bought it but then I realized the focal length is too short for my style. That's the problem when you try out great lenses in a storeĀ 

-- hide signature --

TheBlackGrouse
Active outdoor photographer, searching for wildlife, studying user experience.

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads