24-105L series IS lens

[Ems]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Wouldn't be without mine either.

[antoeknee]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Used mine a lot on recent trip to Brixham on 60D. Great lens.

[djguk47]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Quentin, before ruling out taking a longer lens as well as the 24-105, what is your Australian itinerary as the 24-105 may well be too short on it's own for quite a bit of wildlife unless you are going to one of the sanctuaries, for example Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, where the Koalas are right in front of you.
If you are driving outside the cities there is a good chance you will see kangaroos and flocks of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, but at a distance, and the 24-105 will not give you what you want. The largest raptor, Wedge Tailed Eagle, soars at a great height and the 24-105 will give you a nice black spec in a deep blue sky.

It is a long, expensive distance to travel to find you cannot get the shot you want because the only lens you have is too short.

The last time I was back in home Aus (I am an Australian living in the UK) I used my 24-105 plus the 70-200L 2.8 MkII just about every day (also had my 100-400 with me and used that a lot as well).
I would seriously consider taking the 70-300 plus the 24-105.

[Quentin]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Thanks for your advice David. I have been to Australia previously, twice, so have some idea of the 'challenges'! I shall certainly give some thought to your suggestion to take the 70-300 as well.
Itinerary starts in Perth WA (where my son lives) and includes Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra (nephew) too, so it is going to be fairly hectic - hence the need to watch the weight and bulk of the kit!
Thanks again,

Quentin

[djguk47]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

That looks a great itererary and you are certainly going to cover some distances.
If you can get a chance while in Melbourne do try to get to Phillip Island to see the Fairy Penguins coming ashore at dusk.
Nephews in Canberra seem to be the "thing" as I have a brother living there and consequently had two nephews in Canberra. Make sure he takes you to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Lanyon Homestead, unless you have already seen these two places that is.

[Redgrape]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

I will be doing a trip to New Zealand (a month touring round) & have begun to wonder what lenses too take. I have been contemplating a new lens that will give me a versatile walk around lens and was wondering if this lens would be suitable with my 40D. I do have 70 -200 F4 L along with the kit lens 17-85 and a 70-300 Is lens.

Sue

[Riggers]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

I'm thinking of trying this too as a walkabout when it's not convenient to carry multiple lenses. I have the 17-55 and there are loads of forum discussions comparing the two. I just have a feeling the extra reach on this will be useful outdoors and losing the extra stop will be a worthwhile sacrifice. Time will tell as to whether I find the 24mm end too limiting in some situations. It's all about trade offs between these two and I'm rubbish at accepting trade offs :) Looking forward to the 16-105 2.8L IS - you can but dream :)

I'd still be sure to use the 17-55 for landscapes as I'm told the IQ is a little sharper and would obviously use that indoors too.

[MX5]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

The approach I took when needing to travel very light was a G series Canon. These are really very good and built like brick toilets.

[Woolley]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Another fan of the 24-105 here. No problems with dust and I can't say I've ever heard of any. Can't comment on soft edges as I use mine on a crop camera so I don't use the edges.

The lens does still suffer an occasional problem with the aperture diaphragm - a fault with the way the wire bends when zooming I believe - and mine had to have a repair. After a lot of use, mind. It might just be worth giving that some consideration before buying one that might not be fully UK warrantied. Despite that repair, I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend it and mine stays on the camera 80% of the time.

[antoeknee]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Just a quick post of peacock butterfly taken with this lens on 60D

105mm f4 ISO200 1/1000sec

peacock by tblake2007, on Flickr

[Riggers]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Mine just arrived and I see it mentions Macro on the barrell and a MFD of 0.45. Whilst I do have a great macro lens already if the 24-105 really does take nice macro shots (as confirmed by the lovely photo above) then that's another real positive from a general walkabout perspective.

[Quentin]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Thanks again one and all. The decision is made, it will be this lens, actual source to be finally decided, but leaning towards a Canon UK stockist for warranty reasons. Antoeknee's pic. is superb IMHO, and is a clincher!
MX5 - I have used a G series on previous trips, and they are very good - but not as versatile as an SLR in the final analysis. I may have one in my bag nevertheless! Or it may be my now venerable Powershot Pro 1 with its superb lens. Decisions, decisions!
Thanks again for all your views,
Quentin

[Woolley]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Try this one

[antoeknee]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Bought my lens from HDEW, was £580 IIRC.

Currently £569 http://www.hdewcameras.co.uk/canon-e...-usm-274-p.asp

Mine registered OK and believe L lenses have worldwide warranty.

[Riggers]

Re: 24-105L series IS lens

Yes I got one from HDEW at £569.