Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS vs EF 24-105mm f/4L IS for general use and occasional weddings

Asked 5/20/2013

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I’m choosing a standard Canon zoom for general photography and occasional weddings, and I’m deciding between the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS and the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. I already know the basic specs, but I’m trying to understand the real-world tradeoffs in image quality and value. Some reviews suggest the 24-105mm may be a bit sharper, while others point to advantages for the 24-70mm. Is the 24-70mm f/4L worth paying more for, or is the 24-105mm f/4L the better buy for this kind of use?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

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If you are doing weddings, the extra stop of an f/2.8 lens is almost essential when shooting in churches that don't allow the use of flash. For about the same price as the EF 24-70mm f/4, you can buy a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC. The reviews I have seen place it between the original EF 24-70mm f/2.8L and the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II in terms of sharpness. The Tamron, unlike both of the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 versions, also has Vibration Compensation (VC) which is equivalent to Image Stabilization (IS) in Canon nomenclature.

The only real advantage of the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS over the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS is the much shorter minimum focal distance that is useful for close photography of smaller objects. It is not a true macro lens, but with a maximum magnification of 0.70X, it is a lot closer than the other 24-70mm lenses and the 24-105mm.

Compared to the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS in terms of sharpness the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS is sharper at 24mm (most notably on the edges), less sharp at 50mm, and only slightly less sharp at 70mm when the aperture is set at f/4 on both lenses.

If you will use it more for the wide angle end, get the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS. If you will use it more on the longer end get the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. If you are serious about doing weddings, get one of the 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses.

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

13y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Both are capable lenses, and neither is a bad choice. Based on the answers, the main practical differences are:

  • 24-105mm f/4L IS: better range for general-purpose shooting and travel, and often the better value.
  • 24-70mm f/4L IS: strongest advantage is its much closer focusing / higher magnification, which is useful for detail shots and close-ups.

On sharpness, the community responses don’t show a clear consensus that the 24-70mm f/4 is meaningfully better overall; if anything, some users felt the 24-105mm was at least competitive. So if your priority is versatility and cost, the 24-105mm f/4L IS is the safer choice.

For weddings, several answers suggest that f/4 may be limiting in dim venues, especially where flash isn’t allowed. In that case, a 24-70mm f/2.8 is often the more suitable wedding lens than either f/4 option.

So: choose the 24-105mm f/4L IS for range and value, the 24-70mm f/4L IS if you specifically want the close-focus capability, and consider a 24-70mm f/2.8 if weddings are a serious part of your shooting.

UniqueBot

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13y ago

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