Best 24-70mm lens - what have you used?

[Katchit]

Evening all.

I have been toying with the idea of buying a 24-70mm lens lately. Recently hired one to shoot a wedding, which was the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 E ED VR. Thought it was absolutely brilliant, really nice lens.

However, before I take the plunge and potentially buy it, I wondered if you all had any other feedback on other 24-70mm lenses please. I will be using it for some portrait work, but also for some closer equestrian photography I am doing.

Thanks.

 

[Coho-Blue]

There is a 24-70mm f/2.8 VR II in good condition for sale in the Classifieds for £900 , you may OR may not be interested ..

I have absolutely NO affiliation to the seller whatsoever I simply happened to come upon it earlier ...

Coho-Blue

 

[Katchit]

There is a 24-70mm f/2.8 VR II in good condition for sale in the Classifieds for £900 , you may OR may not be interested ..

I have absolutely NO affiliation to the seller whatsoever I simply happened to come upon it earlier ...

Coho-Blue

Thanks Coho-Blue, I shall take a look!

 

[wilt]

The best I've ever used is the Z-mount 24-70mm f2.8 S and I've used all Nikons ones, Sony's GM f2.8 and Canons L f2.8.
But if you're after a F-mount, then the Nikon 24-70mm VR is very good.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Canon EF versions are not stellar if you are shooting on 50MP body and care about corners. Mk1 was not great; mk2 is quite average. I wish they were anything like 70-200... May as well get the tamron for your canon dslr.

 

[Peter123]

24-70 Z f4 is the best I've used.
If you need 2.8 then the Z 24-70 2.8 is the one to buy (assuming you have a Z camera)

 

[Retune]

I have the older f/2.8 G in F-mount. It's a very nice, sharp lens that focuses fast. Against it are its size and weight, but that applies even more to the F-mount E, which is 170g heavier and noticeably bigger. Comparative testing suggests the G is sharper in the centre, especially opened up at the long end, but the E is better across the frame; the designers went for more balanced performance this time. Only the E has VR, of course, and its electronic aperture control will be better for video. On the other hand, like all E lenses it is incompatible with early digital and all film bodies. User reports suggest that the older G may have a potential vulnerability to damage that causes the zoom action to become stiff or even jam, which would be expensive to fix if it happened; don't buy one with any suggestion of a rough zoom action.