24-70 or 24-105

If you google this topic, you will find thousands of hits. The challenge is, what information can be used to make an informed decision.

For those who are not photogeeks, the topic is about lenses. I needed a lens to replace my 28-135 and my 17-40. I found that having a 10-22, 17-40, 28-135, 100-400 and a 50mm was too much to carry and I was always second guessing which one I should mount on the camera. Decisions decisions.

After examining 9000 images (using software, not individually), I found that my most used focal lengths were 10 - 15, 24-60 and 140-240. That means I could get away with three lenses.

The Canon 10-22 is a very very good lens. It rivals Canon lenses at twice the price and it seems the only reason it does not get the coveted "L" designation is because it is an EFS lens and has no weather sealing. No big deal, I am a clean freak anyway.

The 100-400 lens, while not the sharpest lens in the bunch, is a perfect focal length for small critters and far away places. On a Canon 40D, 400mm is 640mm. You need a tripod at 400mm but 200-300mm is manageable with the image stabilization turned on.

Now, on to the dilemma, which lens to replace my 17-40 and 28-135? I spent two weeks reading and concluded that they are both excellent lenses but they each have their place. I won't re-write reviews or share opinions too much. I will say, that after testing both lenses, they are both very very good. It seems that reviewers fall into three categories: the first being those who are for one lens and against another but have not used both and form opinions in the absence of fact, the second being those who have switched from one lens or the other and have a one sided opinion and finally, those who are practical in the approach of forming an opinion. For those reading, I am also merely expressing an opinion so whose to say I am right :)

The best advice I found was in two sites:

http://www.adidap.com/2006/11/09/canon-ef-24-70-f28-l-vs-canon-ef-24-105-l-f4-is-l/

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/28-105.shtml

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/Canon-EF-24-70mm-f-2.8-L-USM-
Lens-Review.aspx

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-24-105mm-f-4-L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

I needed a lens to used while in a helicopter in Hawaii. I have both lenses and expect to use both extensively on this trip. Stay tuned for a report in June 2009 on real world testing of both lenses.