Cameras & Camcorders

[begoloe]

does anybody know if best buy still have this item? i want to buy this lens within this month..

[RedWyv3 Best Buy Employee]

After some research, it appears that ( 0344B002 ) is Canon's part number for this item. I was unable to find this item in Best Buy's online listing, I regret to say.

[begoloe]

but is there anyway to order this item because i would love to fincance it.. if not what about the canon 24-70 F/2.8L? is it availabe?

[ocabj]

Wait, you want the 24-105 but will 'settle' for the 24-70? Don't buy a lens based on availability at Best Buy.

If you want the 24-105, then get the 24-105, even if you have to go elsewhere. 

Granted both lenses are great, but they have different applications, and different strengths and weaknesses.

[begoloe]

its not that. i would settle for any both of that but the only thing is that the 24-70 does not have the IS.. will that effect anything? will it shake when i'm using my shutter speed at 1/10? if not i'm going to go with that... i know the weakness of both lens.. and i'm ready for it.. the only problem is the IS for me...

[ocabj]

There's no guarantee that IS will help at 1/10sec. If shooting 1/10sec I'd be more inclined to use a tripod.

You might want to re-evaluate which lens you want to get. It seems like you're saying you'll go with whichever is available at BBuy. That's not how you should choose which lens to get.

The 24-70 is f/2.8. The 24-105 is f/4. Is f/2.8 a priority for you?

The 24-105 has an extra focal range of 35mm. Is the extra reach a priority for you?

The 24-105 has IS and the 24-70 does not? Is IS a priority for you?

Analyze how you shoot and see which one fits. 

If it were me, I'd get the 24-70. My analysis/reasoning:

1. I already have the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, so I don't need the 70-105mm range of the 24-105.

2. I want the largest max aperture possible in a lens. f/2.8 is better to me than f/4.

3. I don't care about IS at the 24-70 focal range since the focal range is short and the  "1 / effective focal length" shutter speed rule is attainable in most situations assuming I can max out the aperture. If I can't attain it, then I'll use a tripod, and if I'm shooting portraits, I'm using strobes anyway.

But those are my reasons. You probably have different needs. You may not shoot portraits with studio strobes like I do. It's possible that you can't use a tripod for the type of shooting you're doing. Perhaps you are getting a "walk-around" lens and therefore need as much versatility as possible.

[hiblet]

ocabj makes some great points and gives great advice.

I'll chime in with the reasons why I'd get the 24-105...

1. I have the 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS (this is a newer lens, providing more range than the 70-200 f/4L that I had previously). 

2. I have the 24-105 f/4L IS, too. I looked at both the 24-70 and the 24-105, but chose the latter. 

3. I primarily shoot sports and candids. The majority of my work is done outdoors, so I decided against an f/2.8L for both lenses. For the 70-300, I like having the extra range for shooting hockey, football, and baseball - plus the lens is lighter than the 2.8 lens. I get plenty of light at the f/4-5.6 end of the range, and with my 7D, I have minimal noise even at higher ISOs.

4. I wanted some overlap in the range of my two lenses, so that I can work with primarily one lens when I'm shooting. I don't have two camera bodies, so this is important - I don't want to be changing lenses a lot. I use the 24-105 for candids and events - it's nice because I have enough range so that I can be unobtrusive in my shooting. Since my camera is 18MP, in a pinch I can use this lens to shoot something further away (than is ideal), knowing I can crop if needed. 

5. I use a monopod for shooting most sports (except hockey and basketball). Plus, I shoot at high enough shutter speeds that the IS isn't needed. However, for candids, I really like having the IS because in those cases I'm shooting hand-held (I need to be able to move around the room/space unobtrusively). Indoor events tend to have lower light, meaning lower shutter speeds (and/or higher ISO). IS helps me in these situations. 

If you're looking for a good walking around lens, I highly recommend the 24-105 f/4L. It's an amazing lens and will likely meet the majority of your needs. That extra bit of range can help you get shots that you might not otherwise get. The IS is helpful, too.

Finally, I'd echo what ocabj said - don't buy a lens only based on its availability. Buy a lens based on your needs and how you will use it. That lens will outlast your current (and likely future) camera bodies. It's important to get the right one.

I don't buy my camera lenses at Best Buy (sorry BBY!). I shop at pro camera equipment dealers, but that's because I'm very serious about my photography and have a great relationship with the dealers (who are photographers themselves and provide great, hands-on, advice). Best Buy has great products - don't get me wrong. They've really expanded their assortment, especially online. They've really opened up the world of photography to amateurs and made good equipment more accessible. (And I spend plenty of money on other electronics at BBY!) 

Hope this helps!