Stock Notice: Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM at Adorama | Canon Rumors

What are your thoughts on it though? What percentage of shots are

1. f/4 or smaller aperture (higher numerically), or at least would have been as good photos if they had been
2. bigger than f/4 and need to be (either for low noise/fast shutter, or for bokeh)
3. bigger than f/4 and maybe you went too big? (I had this problem constantly my first ten years of shooting.)

I could easily afford one and usually geek out over speccy lenses, but for me it seems like bokeh’s either key for a shot or its not. If it is I prefer f/1.2 or f/1.4 primes. If not, f/4 seems to be enough. The extended range of 24-105 trumps 28-70, if I don’t need lots of bokeh, but if I do, f/1.2 or f/1.4 trumps f/2.0. Meanwhile the f/2.0 lens is just getting a bit big and heavy, not a major objection but it’s not in the 2.0’s favor…

Anyway that’s how I justify my decision to myself 😀 But maybe I should take another look at it?

I have the 28-70 f2 since 2019 :O. I cannot stand the 24-105 looks on the R5, all the imperfections show. I run around without a camera bag, these days or take the battery grip off and just put it in a peak design 5L. Or I swap the 100-500L in the PD 5L.

I’ve regretted every time that I only has the 24-105L!!! If you want quality wide angle at 28mm it has no distortion you got 28mm which I actually love… 28-50 has no real distortion so it always Stiches so you can basically get I believe 17mm equivalent panorama with a single row or multi row there’s no limit (just get a nodal rail).

If I need a bit more reach, well, it outresolves the 24-105L handily at 105mm… so cropping looks better.

Vs wide primes .. well, I would probably try an 35L prime or a 24L prime for daily shooting, but the 35mm non L has terrible bokeh and is not weather sealed. I’m awaiting reviews of the RF 24 1.8 but it’s not weather sealed and the bokeh looks crap – waiting on Astro performance.

Vs. 50mm L well it’s more versatile and 50mm is almost as heavy. Resolution at 2.8 is the same so no ultimate sharpness advantage. I cannot justify the extra cost of a lens I would use 1/10 as often as the F2.

Vs portrait primes. Well the 85mm L is many peoples livelihood .. and the 28-70 is not the strongest at 70mm close up (you have to stop down to 2.5 if you’re close up otherwise contrast is down). So there you have it, the 85mm has a great case left… but I do love the close portrait look that the 70mm gives you: nice separation and bokeh, analog look, nothing distracting. If you’re further than 2-3m then you can use 70mm F2 and it’s superb.

There are three types of people who trash it are:
– people who cannot afford it and looking for reasons
– people who pick it up once and say … oh that’s heavy… without giving it time to get used to it (and hook on it)
– people who use the 85mm L and maybe the 50mm L lenses for a living

I would say it’s tremendous value for money.. and I’m losing hope that canon will ever do another lens of its type (esp the rumoured 14-21 F2) and there is currently no 24-35m prime that even comes close on F2 zoom performance.