Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens

Pros: Excellent image quality; Ring-USM focusing; Bright f2.8 aperture; Excellent build quality; Weather-sealed
Cons: Heavy; Size makes it attractive to thieves

As I have grown as a photographer, I have begun to do more and more. I have finally realized where my "sweet spots" for focal lengths are in terms of shooting. My main passion is people and event photography. In fact, I have started to do a little bit on ...

Pros: color, contrast, aperture, focus speed, quality build
Cons: weight, cost, no image stabilization

This lens is a heavy weight both in that it is as good it gets when it comes to color and contrast and its weight. But, if you can stand to carry it, you will be glad you did. It is often called, the wedding photographer lens because of its quality ...

Pros: Tack sharp, excellent results. Great "normal" range of focal length.
Cons: No hyperfocal scale, potential for lens creep, and heavy for the size.

Twelve hundred dollars for a lens with a focal range of only 24-70mm???? That sounds like an awful lot of money doesn’t it? The question is…Is the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM worth it? You betcha! Even though this lens has a relatively short ...

Pros: Very quick AF, razor sharp, solid build, beautiful versatility, and great looks.
Cons: Weight (I like it), high visibility, relatively short zoom, and expensive.

A few weeks ago I wrote a very favorable review for the Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6mm IS USM lens. The title of my review was, "I'll Never Sell This Lens". Well, I'll stand by that review, I will never sell it, but I will give it away to one of my daughters ...

Pros: Very sharp
Cons: Expensive, heavy

I had an excellent experience with my Canon G3 since I acquired it in the summer of 2003. However, after taking thousands of photos with that camera, I realized I needed more flexibility when shooting people and places. In particular, I needed a camera ...

Pros: Simple, this is one of the better zoom lenses on the market today.
Cons: Simple this is one of the most expensive zoom lenses on the market today.

After 35 years of shooting mainly with prime lenses I broke down and purchased my first wide angle zoom and a L-series at that and I have no regrets. Compared with my Canon 24, 28, 35, 50 and 85 primes this lens is very good and in a few cases better ...

Pros: Lightweight, sturdy build, constant aperture at all focal lengths, that L 'Pop'.
Cons: Sharpness ranges from mildly soft to very soft, particularly around the edges.

Most digital photographers have a dirty little secret. While we take stunning quality photos at up to 6 megapixels or better with our big digital SLR's, we're severely crippled in the wide angle photography department. Most digital SLR cameras have...

Pros: Untrawide, ultrafast silent AF, 2.8 Aperture, solid but lightweight, fixed lens barrel during zoom.
Cons: Costly, and prone to light fall-off when used at 17mm with a front filter.

This is one L lens that I am very proud of having owned. Unlike many other Canon L lens, this one is lightweight and easy to carry around, yet it has an extremely solid and substantial feel. Pick up this L lens, and you will immediately notice the built...

Pros: Wide, Sharp, Fast
Cons: Expensive

After I purchased a Canon EOS 3 body, I found that it would only use the fancy AF mechanisms with f/2.8 lenses (like the EOS 1n). If this was a scam on the part of Canon to get more people to by L lenses, it worked on me!

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Pros: L series, regardless of model is timeless.
Cons: If you have to sacrifice beer, do it.

snoboarder has very accurately described it so far.

I can only add that I too enjoy the feel and size used on my Canon 30D.
I just attended a snowmobile show in Mpls Mn, and this format worked perfect.

I have to admit the kit lens 18-55 gets you started, but in reality I may donate it for a worthy cause.

The L series lenses by Canon are Pro series.
Once you take the step, Your hooked.

Here's a bit of advice.
The L series lenses hold their value regardless of age.
Going to auction sites to find used ones will prove my point.
You'll find your bid within 300 of new price and yet the lens is already
2 years old. No warranty, may have hidden problems, or maybe perfect.
The lens I was bidding on retails for $4000.00. A 300 f2.8L IS.

The best way is new.
Your investing in a perfected time machine.

Pros: Image Quality, Build quality
Cons: Price

I have used this lens on my 30D for a bit now. The quality on this lens is amazing and i get sharp pictures everytime. The image quality that this lens produces is great in my opinion. I switched from the 18-55 kit lens which felt like a toy. Although this did have a heavy pricetag, you get what you pay for. It is an L series lens which is a Luxury lens. Any luxury lens will cost above $1000, so if you are looking to spend less then that, you should look into non L lenses or used L lenses. The quality in the build of the lens is amazing. The lens adds a whole different feel to my camera with it on. The clarity i get from the lens is above par. I use this lens as my daily walk-around lens. The kit lens rarely ever touches my camera now since i got this. I think this is an ideal walk around lens that is able to shoot just about anything.

Pros: When it does focus properly, the images look great.
Cons: price, weight, unreliable, disappointments

Don't buy it...I thought I would get amazing clarity with a high end Canon lens, especially at $1300. I was wrong--this lens often doesn't give sharp images. Most often with wide angle range, the images are soft or blurry. This happens with my 20D's, Mark II, and 30D. Frustrating! I sent it to Canon twice under warranty, and they said it was reset to manufacturer stats. Whatever that is suppose to mean--it doesn't mean that it will work consistently nor reliably.