FS7: 24-70 or 24-105 for Doc Shoots

Joshua Milligan

Joshua Milligan

Well-known member
Hey friends. A lot of my work is documentary films shot with my Sony FS7. One of my favorite lenses is my Canon 24-70mm 2.8 L II. It's sharp, reliable and reasonably fast.

Lately, however, I have been entertaining the thought of picking up one of the new Canon 24-105 4.0 L II IS lenses. Since it's the second generation of this lens, I have read where performance has been improved. My question to you all is about your experience using a 24-70 vs a 24-105 for video, particularly on the Sony FS line of cameras. Would any of you doc shooters pick one over the other? Is the 2.8 speed of the 24-70 plus its great image quality enough for it to be used over the range and IS of the 24-105, or would you pick up the 24-105 over the 24-70?

I am not looking to replace my 24-70, but rather to seek your experiences on whether I should add a 24-105 to my bag for doc shoots or just stick with using the 24-70 as my main doc lens. Thanks for your input!
 
There are really two main reasons to pick the 24-105 over the 24-70. The extra reach and the stabilization. Both are hella good reasons especially for a documentary shoot.
 
Im in a similar position. Using a nikon F tamron 24-70 2.8 for docs and thinking about switching to canon 24-70 (or possibly the new sigma art 24-70) or 24-105 II or both.

Can I ask you what adapters you are using and how you feel they are working in a documentary context?
 
stokstad said:
Im in a similar position. Using a nikon F tamron 24-70 2.8 for docs and thinking about switching to canon 24-70 (or possibly the new sigma art 24-70) or 24-105 II or both.
Can I ask you what adapters you are using and how you feel they are working in a documentary context?
Click to expand...

I'm also using the Tamron 24-70, and I'm pretty sure it out-performs the Canon. I'm gonna wait for the Sigma Art 24-70, and if it's even close to in-line with the Art-primes in terms of IQ, then that'll be my next workhorse. :-)

jason
 
I do like the Tarmon, but not since I have Nikon mount I don´t get IS. How is the aperture control working on the Metabones EF? Can you adjust with the camera dial?
 
stokstad said:
I do like the Tarmon, but not since I have Nikon mount I don´t get IS. How is the aperture control working on the Metabones EF? Can you adjust with the camera dial?
Click to expand...

I've only used mine with a MB EF-E mount Speed Booster Ultra, and the IS and iris control both work very well. When I first got the cam/MB it was on a previous FW version, which meant that the iris would flash (to wide open) during changes, but now (in 'green mode', I believe), the iris works very quickly and predictably, by either the iris dial on the camera body, or the wheel on the hand grip. :-)

Cheers,

jason
 
Will the 24mm be wide enough? That's the only hang up I can see. I think a 17-55 2.8 would be a terrific lens, without so much reach...or stick with the Sony offerings. The Sony 18-105 f4 is a reasonable lens (focusing could be an issue) and aberrations are corrected (along with IS).
 
I'm also using the Tamron 24-70, and I'm pretty sure it out-performs the Canon. I'm gonna wait for the Sigma Art 24-70, and if it's even close to in-line with the Art-primes in terms of IQ, then that'll be my next workhorse. :-)

jason

same here
 
The use of Speed Booster turns the 24-105 f4 into a 17-75 f2.8 with IS, which is why the FS7 is pretty much the ultimate doc camera. That is what I use for Docs and it's super flexible. I very often shoot with Canon C300, 100 and Red I truly miss this miss this focal length and f stop with is not possible with those cameras unless you rent the Fujinon 18-90 f2.8 which is $$$$$.

For me 24mm is not wide enough, f4 is too slow (f2.8 is minimum for docs in low-ish light) and IS is such a gift for docs. Speed Booster solves those three issues.
 
How does IS work with off-speed shooting? Does it jerk at 150fps? Not that its the most relevant aspect of doc shooting..
 
I love the IS of my 24-105 and the range. Otherwise, I dislike that it needs electronics to control aperture and that it definitely ramps as you zoom in. The range is great though, really great. I use center crop sometimes when I need it and it's a really versatile lens. It really stays on my camera probably 80-85% of the time I'm shooting handheld (rokinon primes for interviews when possible)

I also have the 11-16 2.8 tokina to get super wides (no speed booster - if you use the speed booster you can only use the lens at 14-16mm because of the crop factor, and the 70-200 f4 IS that i use with the speed booster as well to get approx 50-135 f2.8 if my math is right.

That equals out to

11-16 2.8
17-75 2.8
50-135 2.8


Great light doc setup, electric aperture being my only gripe besides obligatory lens swaps. I find myself lusting after the new fuji setup - paired with a cine tokina 11-16 in E mount, for the perfect three lens setup, although the middle lens wouldn't have as much reach (and I find myself at the end of that lens quite often). and no IS whatsoever..... i'm being patient because of those gripes.
 
I sold my 24-105. I loved the reach, didn't like the iris ramping but what killed it for me was bad red and blue CA on a railing outdoors when using speedbooster. i've seen it also on other tests of the same lens on the web. Seems to be worse with speedster but in the lens itself. I'm not the only guy who's had that problem.
 
Not many reviews of the 24-105 II yet. Seems to be better IS, less CA and possibly no drop-off at longer end?
 
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