RonHorton's reviews

  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharpness stunning, weight, balance, size, contrast.
    Close focus distance. Build not as solid as Mk 1. Cost.

    I have had a Mk1 version of this lens for over 10 years and it was used regularly at weddings but not elsewhere due to it's weight.
    The Mk 2 version is now on the camera (5D III) all of the time and my 24-105L has been sold as it will not get used.
    The Mk2 is far better balanced compared to the Mk 1 - it is not just that it weighs less, the balance is great.
    The sharpness is simply stunning and you could not ask for more. Colour / contrast from the lens are a notch up on the Mk1 as well - and that was a great lens.
    I am not in love with the cost - £1350 was a lot and that is less than many sellers in the UK offer it for.
    I love the lens but notice at close focus it is not as good as the Mk 1 - it won't focus as close and at f2.8 is not as sharp. In all other ways though this lens is far superior.
    The lens hood comes off easily and is much smaller than the Mk1. Canon copies of the lens hood are silly money but cheap copies can be had on ebay that are just as effective for only £10.
    I had one copy of the Mk2 that was faulty .... so maybe build quality is variable but the 2nd copy was fine. FWIW the first one would not focus sharply at f5.6 let alone f2.8 !
    I went away with the other half and we fought over use if this lens ... neither of us wanted the 24-105 we had taken as well !!
    My tiny (and they are really) reservations apart ... Buy it, you won't regret it ! Possibly the best lens short of our 70-200 f2.8 IS we have bought over the last 15 years.

    Ron
    ----------------
    http://www.hitsticker.com | http://www.printradiant.com | http://www.adstateagent.com

    reviewed November 19th, 2015 (purchased for $1,350)