I am currently using a Canon 24-85, but also Have other canon lenses with 58mm filter attachments...I want to change my 24-85 lens for a different lens...because for one it has a dent on the body and it uses 67mm filters....so my question is ...what would be a good all purpose zoom lens to use with a 58mm filter attachment?...Is the 28-105mm lens any good?...is the 24-85mm better?...why?

-- Tristan (tristan288@hotmail.com), May 06, 2002

Answers

It is my understanding that the 28-105 is a good lens, as good as the 24-85 as far as image quality. The 24-85 is one of my favorite lenses not necessarily for the long end but for the short end. 28 to 24 is big, 85-105 not so big. Just be sure you won't miss the 24 end.

-- mwb (pookeybookey@aol.com), May 06, 2002.

It is generally accepted that the 24-85 and 28-105 are fairly equal in terms of performance, just offering differing trade-offs of length. Since I have the 70-200 F4L (which shares the 67mm filter thread, not that I use filters other than protects), I have no need for the extra length of the 28-105, and I very much enjoy having the wider angle available. Just depends what range you want.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

The 24-85usm is a very good consumer lens. I guess to know what your primary type of photography is will better answer your question. If you use this lens for traveling, you may want to pick up a lens like the 135f2.8sf. This would keep you in the same current price range, add very little weight, and extend your range while giving you extra working distance for portraits. If you do landscapes, then pick up the 70-200f4L or 100-300f5.6L if these are in your price range, if not the 100-300usm is a decent lens.JC

-- joe cap (joemocap@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

I've had the pleasure to own both of these lenses and I sold them both. The 24-85 is a very nice lens in terms of sharpness but it has a distortion problem.The distortion was evident even with subjects like people, not only straight lines...It was getting on my nerves and I sold it. The 28-105 I bought recently because my Tokina 28- 70/2,8 didn't work with my new EOS 3.The body absolutely refused to communicate with the Tokina. So I got the 28-105. But..it did not focus properly with the EOS 3, though it had no problems with my Eos 5. Therefore I sold it again and bought a Sigma 2,8/28-70. This new Sigma of mine is very good as far as sharpness goes but very bad at distortion. Again!!!My advice: Get the 28-105 and make sure it works properly with your camera body.(I didn't find the problem in my first test as I didn't try to do any test close-ups.)

And above all: stick to Canon lenses if you are a Canon user! A third party lens is always a compromise. I have 3 Canon lenses- 50mm,85mm and 200mm and 3 sigma lenses -24mm, 28-70mm and a 105mm macro.The Canons are a dream to use compared to the Sigmas!It is not so obvious when you shoot once a week on Saturday afternoons but when you shoot every day you really appriciate the quality of Canon lenses.

-- Petr Vokurek (cukie@post.cz), June 07, 2002.