Finally someone that speaks real.. I was brainwashed by these reviews of perfect, ultra sharp lenses and pixel peep everything; only to notice that the image render was absolutely sterile and I wasn’t happy with the overall result.. I ended up trading all of it for a second hand Ef 50 1.2 L; it’s a bit slow, not deadly sharp, has vignette and doesn’t control chromatic ab well… Can’t stop using it 😂 it also ended that compulsive desire of other lenses for what I do and the blues of not being able to afford the newest sharpest and quicker lens. My vision changed completely!
I'm delighted to have come across this video. This is real talk from a photographer who truly knows how to use his equipment. I've had my Mark I for 18 years now and it has captured amazing photos. It continues to serve me well today. I don't feel the need to get the Mark II. Never brush aside the "old school" equipment because the photographers who truly knows how to use them are some of the best photographers out there. Thank you, Martin for proving that. Subscribed.
Spot on, Martin. Couple of years ago a relative, knowing I was an avid photographer, gave me a fairly lightly used 5D I with the relatively mundane 28-135 lens. This combo has now become the camera I grab the most for my landscape work. Never even bothered to add more lenses. If you can't create nice images with this basic kit, the problem lies not in the gear.
Hello Martin. I've only discovered your channel this year and wanted to say thank you very much for the videos you post, which have helped to make me think differently about photography. I have the 24-70mm f2.8 L II for the work I do, and thoroughly enjoy it on the 5D Mark IV & 6D. However, I do have a soft spot for the mark I - it has fantastic build quality & is fun to use. Take care & all the best for 2024!
So true, overly sharp isn't necessarily desired for mature women, a beautiful impression is better. A lens that has a slightly softer complimentary feel is better. Smoother finish without editing
Great review, man! I was struggling to make a decision between my actual 24-70 MK1 and the MK2. Your review helped me a lot! Just canceled the order of the MK2.. your vid so opened my eyes :D
I have the mk1, purchased it over 10 year ago. Was thinking about getting the mk2 or even the RF version not that I have gone mirrorless. After seeing this video I have changed my mind and will stick with the mk1. If I need an image to be sharper, Lightroom does the job just fine.
Had owned the MK1 and now the Mk2. The main difference I see is with the far field curvature of the plane of focus. At infinity with the MK1 the centre is sharp, but it curves in to the edge, so the edges (at infinity) are not sharp. You need to split the difference and stop down to cover it. The Mk2 has much flatter plane at infinity and so tests much better. However where the MK1 "knocks-off" the MK2 is with its rendering presence, aka "3D pop" - especially where you are quite close to the subject out to two of three meters. I sold the MK1 not appreciating that and yes the MK2 is quite good, sharper, but not nicer IMO and I find I don't use it these days, just reaching for the primes :(
Excellent comment, this was similar to my findings although I didn’t really put any thought into the why, i simply saw straight away that I preferred the rendered image of the mk1 and promptly sold the mk2, thanks for the comment
@@MartinCastein yes I got sucked in by the GAS effect, thinking "it was better or more advanced or some such...." I guess I would say if I was as harsh as the lens, the Mk2 is a bit sterile, clinical. The Mk1 privileges image quality over the Mk2's impressive specs. I'm sure Canon knew exactly what it was doing too. The problem of the Mk1's focus plane curvature is less pronounced as you come closer obviously. Even the Blad's SWC noble biogon does it, so it's not the mark of Cain. A good photographer gets to understand how best to work with their kit....that was not me however, I went Mk2 GASsed up silly.
Well I think it depends what you want the lens for, the mkii would be better for fashion but the mk1 for portraits. I do worry they are only chasing edge to edge sharpness though .
With the flexibility in post production to tweak sharpness, contrast etc. the minor improvements from generation to generation are not that big a deal. I have the Mark 1 and it is way sharp enough for portrait work, and focus is way fast enough for portrait work, and the F2.8 is way shallow enough for portrait work. I, for one, saved to cost of upgrading and am happy to use the V1 over the V2.
@@Sr_iRL No, I do have them but rarely needed to use them. I use strobes and flashguns so manage the light in the scene. NDs have their place in order to avoid HSS. The only drawback with the Mk1 is the lack of dynamic range, but nothing that cannot be overcome with lighting. For my use case that's fine.
i use a 24-105 F4 L IS (the first version) and am looking to get a 24-70 f2.8.. the Mark i appeals to my pocketbook big time, as it will free up a couple hundred over the mark II to get a nice 600 series flash (all used of course). glad you posted this! im gonna set my sights on as good a condition mark I 24-70 f2.8 and not look back. thank you again! and subbed to you!
Spot on. Take the same picture with the mark 1 and 2, edit it the same way and then publish it in any format you like. Nobody except yourself and people who obsesses with this kind of thing is going to notic. And right now, for the price, it's just a bargain. I've been using that lense for concert photography for almost 20 years. And also for landscapes, portraits and even product photography
I still have a canon 5D classic, recently purchased the R6 but I do have a 5D mark IV and I shot a wedding with the 5D mark I and the mark IV, and clients didn’t even see the difference
Hi Martin, thx for sharing, been waiting for more of your material to come out! The Images you have captured with that lens look great sir! It's really refreshing to see you recommending older lenses, bodies(5D,6D etc) please no more, as I've not long had my 6D !! Haha. Seriously though, I love my "older gear" althou it's new to me and it's far more capable than me at this moment in time. I think it doesn't matter what or who the corporation are, they mostly tend to advertise a new product as being "All you will ever need"etc, etc, etc and the masses tend to follow. I don't mind improve and advancements, that's a good thing so I think when I can out perform my gear I'll look into something newer. Ramble over, keep up the cracking work which might help people refocus 😁
Thanks for this excellent review, Martin. Your channel is a very useful resource, and I hope that you continue to produce quality content such as this review. I've recently found your channel, and it's great to listen to a pro who is primarily concerned with the artistic composition and impact of an image, and not artificial lens test results. I think many are put off buying perfectly usable lenses, and end up stretching their budgets unnecessarily, buying the best lens as defined by a reviewer who shoots straight at a brick wall or test sheets to emphasize minor lens imperfections. I am lucky enough to own a 6D mk1, which I bought secondhand partly on your recommendation in another video. This camera is so good in low light with high ISO settings that you can nearly always keep lenses slightly away from their widest apertures, if sharpness is a concern. I only have a 50mm f/1.8 Mk 2 and an old 28-105 USM II from the Canon AE1 era, and I am pleased with both lenses on the 6D. Importantly for me, these are really light and compact lenses and therefore the camera is with me more often than would be the case with a heavy L lens. I am thinking of purchasing the 40mm f 2.8 pancake, partly because reviews say it seems to be sharp with a useful focal length that is appreciably wider as compared to the 50mm that I own, and partly because it is the most compact lens available for a Canon full frame, and so the camera is even more likely to be with me to capture images on travels...
Great video Martin, one of my favourite lenses for portraits is way older than that, and that's the Helios -44m the bokeh is amazing you can pic a good one up for less than £50. It provides beautiful pictures.
I have the same lens and i use it both on photography and videography, and it is doing a good job actually. It is not about the lens but it is what you see thru the lens. Believe me, i know someone that has these new lenses and still he is struggling finding clients. Well, there's no point of having the newest lenses and you take crap photos, and if you would only see the photos he takes, you'll understand what I'm saying :) Great video by the way👍👍
The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens is a venerable dinosaur. It came out in 2002 (22 years ago) and has been superseded by version’s 2, 3 and RF manifestations. But just because a lens is old (like me) doesn’t mean it can’t snap good photos. And so, I challenge myself to do just that; take some good pics using my recently acquired Canon EF 24-70mm. The mindset seems to prevail that the more expensive the camera and lens, the better the pictures must be. Although there’s no denying the potential from using the latest gear, but predominately it is the photographer’s skill that makes the photo. Thank you for sharing!
I think for headshots and portraits like what you were showing, it's probably true that you don't need to use the newest and greatest lenses. Especially when you have good light. But when you get to lower light situations, or need higher shutter speeds, or are in dynamic situations like full time wedding photographers, yeah the sharpness makes a difference. It's not just sharpness, but clarity in the image. Just wanted to throw that out there. If I had perfect lighting all the time, it practically wouldn't matter what lens you used except for what compression look you wanted. But we don't always get perfect lighting and the most ideal weather. Each lens has it's own character as well. Like the RF lenses. To me, it doesn't really matter whether I have an EF 24-70 or RF 24-70, but the RF glass has a certain character to it that is different than the EF, and to me I love it. So it's just something everyone has to research and decide on their own.
I get where you are coming from, I dont agree though but thats cool. I shot weddings with this lens and had no issues but I agree its a personal choice. This would still be my choice today. Each to their own though!🙂
@@MartinCastein Yeah I mean it's also like using an iphone 6 compared to an iphone 13. Yeah it works great, no issues, it updates with all the other iphones, there's no problem with it. But if it's making you money, why not just upgrade to another lens? One that might have a little bit better autofocusing? Catches your focus point better where you want it during action for a wedding? Same argument with using the Canon 5dmkI or II. Yeah they're great, but the autofocusing of newer cameras is much much better. Faster frame rates for action, touch screens to nail your focus points, etc. And if new equipment makes your job easier, allows you for more creativity and quicker compositions, then why wouldn't you want to use it?
@@sethc.art.wright Different cameras and lenses render differently. For instance I dont want "sharp" for photographing people. I want a medium level of sharpness. The focus features on the latest cameras are nice for sure, but the real world outcome for me has been limited real difference. I get where you are coming from but I have come full circle and been down the rabbit hole with gear, believe me. And im saying and maintaining it makes little difference other than in specific circumstances. I never see anyones work get better with new gear. Equally im not saying dont buy it at all. Im simply saying its not needed, especially for those that cant afford it. I think we just have a different viewpoint on this, which is fine 🙂Ultimately this is all my view based on my experience in life.
Man, i really respect your stance on this topic of "is newer gear necessarily better than the older ones?" and i can say that you manage to shoot incredible images on old stuff, proving your point ☝️ Got yourself a new subsriber
You are so right about the sharpness and megapixel wars. What i see as "defects" on my 4k monitor, you can't even tell on a 12x8 print! I might just go for the mki version.
Hi Martin - I Appreciate your experience and honesty without any of the usual CZcams GAS and manufacturer sponsorship desperation. We would be interested to know more on the featured shots in terms of Camera / Basic Settings and Lighting Solution / Location.
I just picked up a mark 1 24-70 in amazing condition for $450! I'm super happy with the purchase… plenty sharp… I use it on my Canon EOS 1N and EOS R. Another reason for me is that I also own a Mamiya RZ and all of the lenses have a 77 filter thread… If I got the Mark II I would need to get a filter just for that… so the Mark 1 was a no-brainer.
I just picked up a second hand 24-70mm 2.8 L to go with my new R6. Its my first L lens and i'm still waiting for the R6 to arrive, so I used it with my old 600d APS-C body for a birthday party and the pictures looked amazing
I really liked the image quality with the 24-70 L MKI but I have never encountered as many problems as with this lens. Erratic autofocus behavior on multiple cameras: Canon EOS 5D MK III and MK IV. The errors in development were enormous and recurrent. I sold it. Unfortunately version II remains too expensive for me. I settled for the 24 70 F4 L but it just broke down only five years later. Error code 01.
that code was thrown likley because there is a small ribbon in most all of canon zooms that can work loose and throw this error, its usually not to terribly expensive to fix really.. but the 24-70 f4 lasted 5 years.. thats pretty solid considering its not a very expensive L series lens with IS, and paying to have it repaired would likely have lasted another 5+ years, or never occured again. you can get that lens now on the used market VERY cheaply.. anything with moving parts has a chance for fail at some point.. its just up to us to decide to sell it for parts and buy another one.. or just pay to have it repaired.. cheers
Canon quote: 540 euros for the replacement of the diaphragm blades. I sold it for parts and bought a second-hand 24 70 F/2.8 L for the same amount.@@xXUnrulyXx
Did anyone try the old 24-70mm on a mirrorless Canon? My R6 have made all of my lenses a lot of sharper… I need a second 24-70mm 2.8 but im on a budget… i came here to see if i should Pick the old version instead of dishing a lot of money on the MK II… would be fun to hear if people have tried this on a R6 or R5..
mk2 is much much better lens optically as same as ergonomics and physics... mk1 extend when zoomed to wide and is so soft and poor contrast that every 50mm was better on it even old FD glasses... but yep, photographer is more important as you are showin on these great video!
Loved this video! Sadly this lens is still SO expensive in Japan, something like 700 quid! Are there any cheaper Canon zoom/prime lenses that have a similarly cinematic flair for portraits/not necessarily pixel-perfect street stuff?Thanks so much!
Also true because you probably to unsharpen, too sharp images in post for women. No one needs every wrinkle, spot, make up edges pin sharp in a portrait unless that was the goal of the session. Thats why older cameras/ lenses still have swagger
I found your video, which is great, as I'm thinking about a replacement for my 24-70 Mk 1 because the aperture control module, which has been wonky for years, finally gave out altogether. Canon no longer services the lens so I searched online for how to fix it and discovered this is a common problem with the Mk 1. I have been extremely happy with this lens over the 12 years I've used the crap out of it, but I'm concerned about buying another because of the risk of the same issue happening with the aperture control module. Any thoughts?
@@MartinCastein I'm currently leaning Tamron as the general consensus seems to be it is as good as if not better than the Mk 1 and competitive with the Mk ii for significantly less money. Thank you for being there.
Perfect video! Very true, what you´re saying. I´m just about to buy a 24-70mm for my R system and I don´t want to spend a fortune on it as I´m not going to use it that often. One thing I can remember form using the lens years ago was a slight problem with AF. The lens is sharp but the camera could not always focus properly. I used it on 5d, 5dII and 5dIII. Is this problem gone on the R system? Because the EF 85mm f1,2 II was terrible to focus on dslr´s but it´s super reliable on the R system....Thanks!
They are def focused on the video so these new cam are very clinical. Btw what cam did you shoot the portraits of the woman in the red coat. 5d classic?
Great video again Martin ! Love the images you clearly are a very talented photographer! I finally sold my Sony A6000 and I’m now in the market for a used full frame camera. Do you still recommend the Nikon D600 over the Canon 5d mk 2 if I may do the odd wedding ?
Hi Scott yes I still recommend the d600 for weddings. When I was shooting weddings I owned the 5d ii and still used the d600 for weddings but if you really want the 5d ii you can certainly shoot weddings on it. I think you need to work out how serious you are about weddings first.
@@MartinCastein thanks ! I don’t really plan doing it full time but would like to have the camera to do it. I’m also going to get a 50mm f1.8 if I get Nikon is the G better than the D version ?
If it’s just sometimes you can for for either but the d600 is much easier for weddings. The 50mm 1.8g is better than the 1.8d but the focus on the d is more accurate. I’m I giving you a headache yet lol keep asking questions it’s fine ok
@@MartinCastein I think I’m sold on the Nikon D600, dual card slots and I also have a few flashes that are Nikon dedicated! Is there any reason to go for the D610 in your opinion? Cheers
The d610 is exactly the same but has the sensor oil spot fixed which I think was a bit over stated I suppose if you can get a d610 at a good price get that. All my d610 were fine though I had 4
Hey, I really love your videos! I have a classic Canon 5D MkI and I want to purchase an affordable 24-70 2.8 lens. Not sure if to go with the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (NB - has image stabilisation)... or with this lens Canon 24-70mm 2.8L MkI (second hand). What are your views? Thanks!
I used the 24-70 2.8 I for a summer and it was the best lens I ever used. I had to give it back because it was a loaner and I've been seeking one for myself ever since. It's always been too expensive for me, but I found a 28-70 2.8L for $300. An absolute steal. It's not as good as the 24-70 though. It's not as sharp, the bokeh quality isn't as good, and it flairs different. Someday I'll get that 24-70 though.
The 24-70 seems to me to have gone up in price on the used market, i guess it has become a bit more popular and more rare at the same time, its a very good lens indeed.
10 month update! I've just ordered the 24-70 mk 1 with a recent service, including ribbon cable and aperture assembly replacement, for $550! Wish I could buy the 3k shutter count 5d mk iii the shop has for the same price as well but one thing at a time.
Just a had a bit of shock, I am mainly using the discussed lens for portraits. But, I do shoot some landscapes and nature. Tried to get into Adobe Stock to sell some of my photos...all 10 photos I submitted were rejected! The pictures are not sharp enough, does anyone has similar experience?
Hi Sylwia, well i doubt it is the lens, I've a picture hanging in a gallery in San Francisco taken on the mk1 24-70. The print of a scultpure is a metre wide, and (if I say so myself) it looks fabulous. Alas, I sold this lens after acquiring a mkii version. But now after two years I realise the mki has better presence and character. The mki does have field curvature so at infinity the centre is sharp but the edges are not till F8, nailing infinity focus edge to edge takes care with placing critical focus within the bowed zone of focus plane, if that makes any sense? However it's that field curvature (technically a 'flaw') in the lens design that gives the lens better dimensionality in the middle and closer distances than the mkii which has a flatter far field. Unless your copy has a fault, or your post work has unintentionally degraded the IQ perhaps?
Hi there, greetings from Malaysia. I would like to know if the lense is good enough for wedding and event photography on canon eos R with canon adapter. Would like to know your points and as well as anyone else?
Having used the mark ii lens- it’s amazing- but used prices are 1200-1500 USD….. I could pick up a mark i for around 350 USD… Is the mark ii really 4 times better?? Guessing not
No, the mark ii is better in most ways, kind of, but being sharper often means worse bokeh and less flattering, but yeah its better overall. The mark 1 is great i think.
@@MartinCastein I am now the proud owner of the mark i! Sharpness is definitely not the most important thing for me and the price was right! Upgrading from the 50mm f1.8 stm
I’m currently renting the mark ii. Coming from the 50mm 1.8 it is so much heavier!! Not sure how I feel about such a heavy lens but the images are nice…. Wondering if adding a 35 and 85 prime might be better bang for buck for my use case
Do you happen to know if this 24-70mk1 is as sharp (as it is) in close distance at wide open? i wouldn't ask this but i had RF24-70mm few years back and you had to stop it down to f5.6 to get image that was usable but then you lose the bokeh that you want.
I paid $25 dollars on a 10:18 NOW PLAYING Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 USM 'L' lens that was broken. I doesn't shoot any photos past 2.8 i get an error but it still takes picture but the best part is that the video works perfect!!! no matter what apature! Yes the lens is soft but its quite lovely! Its like army of the dead. Really nice boca! Sharp and super soft all at once! Love this lens!
want to buy at least 3 lenses and that's it i really want a lens that i can keep on there to take all the shots i need instead of having to switch lenses to catch the shot i want
@@MartinCastein how you're doing i love your accent here's the thing i wanted to know can i buy the 24-105 and the 24-70 the sigma 18-35. I really wanted just 2 lens and the best prime lens so please help me out
As a hobbyist I was wondering if I should spend loads of money. Luckily I watched your video I guess I'm going for this lens that I can find at 700€ : it's less a THIRD of the price of the M2 !!! Also I'm going for a lumix S5 Mi or MII because you can adapt EF lenses on it as I learned here : czcams.com/video/e0qJ61zu8-U/video.html. I hope this helps other persons in my situation, it took me a lot of time to come to this conclusion (and I mean a LOT of time but I managed to cut the spending by 2 so...)
See I prefer the 35mm mk1 to the mk 2 I think it depends what look you prefer and what you call better, I prefer a softer rendering with lower contrast and less sharp.
Finally someone that speaks real.. I was brainwashed by these reviews of perfect, ultra sharp lenses and pixel peep everything; only to notice that the image render was absolutely sterile and I wasn’t happy with the overall result.. I ended up trading all of it for a second hand Ef 50 1.2 L; it’s a bit slow, not deadly sharp, has vignette and doesn’t control chromatic ab well… Can’t stop using it 😂 it also ended that compulsive desire of other lenses for what I do and the blues of not being able to afford the newest sharpest and quicker lens. My vision changed completely!
I'm delighted to have come across this video. This is real talk from a photographer who truly knows how to use his equipment. I've had my Mark I for 18 years now and it has captured amazing photos. It continues to serve me well today. I don't feel the need to get the Mark II. Never brush aside the "old school" equipment because the photographers who truly knows how to use them are some of the best photographers out there. Thank you, Martin for proving that. Subscribed.
Spot on, Martin. Couple of years ago a relative, knowing I was an avid photographer, gave me a fairly lightly used 5D I with the relatively mundane 28-135 lens. This combo has now become the camera I grab the most for my landscape work. Never even bothered to add more lenses. If you can't create nice images with this basic kit, the problem lies not in the gear.
Excellent why would you need more!
Hello Martin. I've only discovered your channel this year and wanted to say thank you very much for the videos you post, which have helped to make me think differently about photography.
I have the 24-70mm f2.8 L II for the work I do, and thoroughly enjoy it on the 5D Mark IV & 6D. However, I do have a soft spot for the mark I - it has fantastic build quality & is fun to use.
Take care & all the best for 2024!
You are very welcome
Amazing portraits! The one in 2:58 is so captivating, love the lighting!
So true, overly sharp isn't necessarily desired for mature women, a beautiful impression is better. A lens that has a slightly softer complimentary feel is better. Smoother finish without editing
Great review, man! I was struggling to make a decision between my actual 24-70 MK1 and the MK2. Your review helped me a lot! Just canceled the order of the MK2.. your vid so opened my eyes :D
I have the mk1, purchased it over 10 year ago. Was thinking about getting the mk2 or even the RF version not that I have gone mirrorless. After seeing this video I have changed my mind and will stick with the mk1. If I need an image to be sharper, Lightroom does the job just fine.
I just got a mk1 as well
The rf is on my wishlist tbh due to weight
Had owned the MK1 and now the Mk2. The main difference I see is with the far field curvature of the plane of focus. At infinity with the MK1 the centre is sharp, but it curves in to the edge, so the edges (at infinity) are not sharp. You need to split the difference and stop down to cover it. The Mk2 has much flatter plane at infinity and so tests much better. However where the MK1 "knocks-off" the MK2 is with its rendering presence, aka "3D pop" - especially where you are quite close to the subject out to two of three meters. I sold the MK1 not appreciating that and yes the MK2 is quite good, sharper, but not nicer IMO and I find I don't use it these days, just reaching for the primes :(
Excellent comment, this was similar to my findings although I didn’t really put any thought into the why, i simply saw straight away that I preferred the rendered image of the mk1 and promptly sold the mk2, thanks for the comment
@@MartinCastein yes I got sucked in by the GAS effect, thinking "it was better or more advanced or some such...." I guess I would say if I was as harsh as the lens, the Mk2 is a bit sterile, clinical. The Mk1 privileges image quality over the Mk2's impressive specs. I'm sure Canon knew exactly what it was doing too. The problem of the Mk1's focus plane curvature is less pronounced as you come closer obviously. Even the Blad's SWC noble biogon does it, so it's not the mark of Cain. A good photographer gets to understand how best to work with their kit....that was not me however, I went Mk2 GASsed up silly.
Well I think it depends what you want the lens for, the mkii would be better for fashion but the mk1 for portraits. I do worry they are only chasing edge to edge sharpness though .
With the flexibility in post production to tweak sharpness, contrast etc. the minor improvements from generation to generation are not that big a deal. I have the Mark 1 and it is way sharp enough for portrait work, and focus is way fast enough for portrait work, and the F2.8 is way shallow enough for portrait work. I, for one, saved to cost of upgrading and am happy to use the V1 over the V2.
Thanks Baxter great to hear you feel the same!
It’s good to hear this, do you ever find the need to use any ND filters?
@@Sr_iRL No, I do have them but rarely needed to use them. I use strobes and flashguns so manage the light in the scene. NDs have their place in order to avoid HSS.
The only drawback with the Mk1 is the lack of dynamic range, but nothing that cannot be overcome with lighting. For my use case that's fine.
@@baxtermarrison5361 awesome, that’s for getting back to me
i use a 24-105 F4 L IS (the first version) and am looking to get a 24-70 f2.8.. the Mark i appeals to my pocketbook big time, as it will free up a couple hundred over the mark II to get a nice 600 series flash (all used of course).
glad you posted this! im gonna set my sights on as good a condition mark I 24-70 f2.8 and not look back.
thank you again! and subbed to you!
Another great video. Great useful info backed up by beautiful images 👌
Thanks Colin that’s very kind of you!
Spot on. Take the same picture with the mark 1 and 2, edit it the same way and then publish it in any format you like. Nobody except yourself and people who obsesses with this kind of thing is going to notic. And right now, for the price, it's just a bargain. I've been using that lense for concert photography for almost 20 years. And also for landscapes, portraits and even product photography
I still have a canon 5D classic, recently purchased the R6 but I do have a 5D mark IV and I shot a wedding with the 5D mark I and the mark IV, and clients didn’t even see the difference
I also love my 5d but focus isn't easy, to get action, manual with a burst mode works hoping one will be in focus😊
Hi Martin, thx for sharing, been waiting for more of your material to come out!
The Images you have captured with that lens look great sir!
It's really refreshing to see you recommending older lenses, bodies(5D,6D etc) please no more, as I've not long had my 6D !! Haha.
Seriously though, I love my "older gear" althou it's new to me and it's far more capable than me at this moment in time.
I think it doesn't matter what or who the corporation are, they mostly tend to advertise a new product as being "All you will ever need"etc, etc, etc and the masses tend to follow.
I don't mind improve and advancements, that's a good thing so I think when I can out perform my gear I'll look into something newer.
Ramble over, keep up the cracking work which might help people refocus 😁
Thanks Chris always appreciate your comments! Don’t get hung up on buying more gear 🙂
Thanks for this excellent review, Martin. Your channel is a very useful resource, and I hope that you continue to produce quality content such as this review.
I've recently found your channel, and it's great to listen to a pro who is primarily concerned with the artistic composition and impact of an image, and not artificial lens test results. I think many are put off buying perfectly usable lenses, and end up stretching their budgets unnecessarily, buying the best lens as defined by a reviewer who shoots straight at a brick wall or test sheets to emphasize minor lens imperfections.
I am lucky enough to own a 6D mk1, which I bought secondhand partly on your recommendation in another video. This camera is so good in low light with high ISO settings that you can nearly always keep lenses slightly away from their widest apertures, if sharpness is a concern.
I only have a 50mm f/1.8 Mk 2 and an old 28-105 USM II from the Canon AE1 era, and I am pleased with both lenses on the 6D.
Importantly for me, these are really light and compact lenses and therefore the camera is with me more often than would be the case with a heavy L lens. I am thinking of purchasing the 40mm f 2.8 pancake, partly because reviews say it seems to be sharp with a useful focal length that is appreciably wider as compared to the 50mm that I own, and partly because it is the most compact lens available for a Canon full frame, and so the camera is even more likely to be with me to capture images on travels...
I strongly recommend the 40mm 2.8 stm its a very very good lens and i think you will be happy with it.
@@MartinCastein Thanks, Martin. Will do!
Great video Martin, one of my favourite lenses for portraits is way older than that, and that's the Helios -44m the bokeh is amazing you can pic a good one up for less than £50. It provides beautiful pictures.
Thanks for this video. I just got a 24-70 Mk.1 to use with a 5D Mk.III. Can't wait to try it out!
I have the same lens and i use it both on photography and videography, and it is doing a good job actually. It is not about the lens but it is what you see thru the lens. Believe me, i know someone that has these new lenses and still he is struggling finding clients. Well, there's no point of having the newest lenses and you take crap photos, and if you would only see the photos he takes, you'll understand what I'm saying :) Great video by the way👍👍
Great video - I’ve adapted mine to my Panasonic cameras - Such a great lens & I use it ALL the time :) Great video
The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens is a venerable dinosaur. It came out in 2002 (22 years ago) and has been superseded by version’s 2, 3 and RF manifestations. But just because a lens is old (like me) doesn’t mean it can’t snap good photos. And so, I challenge myself to do just that; take some good pics using my recently acquired Canon EF 24-70mm. The mindset seems to prevail that the more expensive the camera and lens, the better the pictures must be. Although there’s no denying the potential from using the latest gear, but predominately it is the photographer’s skill that makes the photo. Thank you for sharing!
Sorry but I never saw 24-70 mk3 in real life.
thanks for this eye opener.. older gear still rocks
I was going to buy a R5, but bought a $300 5D Mkii because of this channel. Couldn't be happier!
I think for headshots and portraits like what you were showing, it's probably true that you don't need to use the newest and greatest lenses. Especially when you have good light. But when you get to lower light situations, or need higher shutter speeds, or are in dynamic situations like full time wedding photographers, yeah the sharpness makes a difference. It's not just sharpness, but clarity in the image. Just wanted to throw that out there. If I had perfect lighting all the time, it practically wouldn't matter what lens you used except for what compression look you wanted. But we don't always get perfect lighting and the most ideal weather. Each lens has it's own character as well. Like the RF lenses. To me, it doesn't really matter whether I have an EF 24-70 or RF 24-70, but the RF glass has a certain character to it that is different than the EF, and to me I love it. So it's just something everyone has to research and decide on their own.
I get where you are coming from, I dont agree though but thats cool. I shot weddings with this lens and had no issues but I agree its a personal choice. This would still be my choice today. Each to their own though!🙂
@@MartinCastein Yeah I mean it's also like using an iphone 6 compared to an iphone 13. Yeah it works great, no issues, it updates with all the other iphones, there's no problem with it. But if it's making you money, why not just upgrade to another lens? One that might have a little bit better autofocusing? Catches your focus point better where you want it during action for a wedding? Same argument with using the Canon 5dmkI or II. Yeah they're great, but the autofocusing of newer cameras is much much better. Faster frame rates for action, touch screens to nail your focus points, etc. And if new equipment makes your job easier, allows you for more creativity and quicker compositions, then why wouldn't you want to use it?
@@sethc.art.wright Different cameras and lenses render differently. For instance I dont want "sharp" for photographing people. I want a medium level of sharpness. The focus features on the latest cameras are nice for sure, but the real world outcome for me has been limited real difference. I get where you are coming from but I have come full circle and been down the rabbit hole with gear, believe me. And im saying and maintaining it makes little difference other than in specific circumstances. I never see anyones work get better with new gear. Equally im not saying dont buy it at all. Im simply saying its not needed, especially for those that cant afford it. I think we just have a different viewpoint on this, which is fine 🙂Ultimately this is all my view based on my experience in life.
Man, i really respect your stance on this topic of "is newer gear necessarily better than the older ones?" and i can say that you manage to shoot incredible images on old stuff, proving your point ☝️
Got yourself a new subsriber
Thank you! Glad you subscribed too!
You are so right about the sharpness and megapixel wars. What i see as "defects" on my 4k monitor, you can't even tell on a 12x8 print! I might just go for the mki version.
Great info, thanks so much
Hi Martin - I Appreciate your experience and honesty without any of the usual CZcams GAS and manufacturer sponsorship desperation. We would be interested to know more on the featured shots in terms of Camera / Basic Settings and Lighting Solution / Location.
Thats going to come soon I’m going to do some behind the scenes videos will make sure to add settings now too!
I just picked up a mark 1 24-70 in amazing condition for $450! I'm super happy with the purchase… plenty sharp… I use it on my Canon EOS 1N and EOS R. Another reason for me is that I also own a Mamiya RZ and all of the lenses have a 77 filter thread… If I got the Mark II I would need to get a filter just for that… so the Mark 1 was a no-brainer.
The mark 1 is a really good choice especially if you photograph people but just in general, it is big and heavy but it works really well.
I just picked up a second hand 24-70mm 2.8 L to go with my new R6. Its my first L lens and i'm still waiting for the R6 to arrive, so I used it with my old 600d APS-C body for a birthday party and the pictures looked amazing
Its a great lens Greg, it renders really nicely!
Omg same I just got my 24-70mm for my m50 I’m upgrading to r6 In the winter
Wow 👏 well said! Thanks for giving us a reality check 🙏
Great video all i can afford is the 5d mark 2 and have 24-70mk1 and a 16-35mk2 and they shoot great pictures
That’s probably all you need
I really liked the image quality with the 24-70 L MKI but I have never encountered as many problems as with this lens. Erratic autofocus behavior on multiple cameras: Canon EOS 5D MK III and MK IV. The errors in development were enormous and recurrent. I sold it. Unfortunately version II remains too expensive for me. I settled for the 24 70 F4 L but it just broke down only five years later. Error code 01.
that code was thrown likley because there is a small ribbon in most all of canon zooms that can work loose and throw this error, its usually not to terribly expensive to fix really.. but the 24-70 f4 lasted 5 years.. thats pretty solid considering its not a very expensive L series lens with IS, and paying to have it repaired would likely have lasted another 5+ years, or never occured again. you can get that lens now on the used market VERY cheaply.. anything with moving parts has a chance for fail at some point.. its just up to us to decide to sell it for parts and buy another one.. or just pay to have it repaired..
cheers
Canon quote: 540 euros for the replacement of the diaphragm blades. I sold it for parts and bought a second-hand 24 70 F/2.8 L for the same amount.@@xXUnrulyXx
Really understands lenses
Did anyone try the old 24-70mm on a mirrorless Canon? My R6 have made all of my lenses a lot of sharper… I need a second 24-70mm 2.8 but im on a budget… i came here to see if i should Pick the old version instead of dishing a lot of money on the MK II… would be fun to hear if people have tried this on a R6 or R5..
Thanks Martin!!
Fantastic stuff Martin.
mk2 is much much better lens optically as same as ergonomics and physics... mk1 extend when zoomed to wide and is so soft and poor contrast that every 50mm was better on it even old FD glasses... but yep, photographer is more important as you are showin on these great video!
I'm looking to add a 24-70. I have a 50mm 1.8 and a 70-200 2.8. I could see this being a perfect fit into my lenses.
yeah that sounds like the missing link, the 24-70 is just so useful.
Loved this video! Sadly this lens is still SO expensive in Japan, something like 700 quid! Are there any cheaper Canon zoom/prime lenses that have a similarly cinematic flair for portraits/not necessarily pixel-perfect street stuff?Thanks so much!
Hola, crees que sea una buena opcion junto a una canon r6 mark ii??? Lo ocupo para sesiones en estudio y eventos.
Bringing the receipts!
Also true because you probably to unsharpen, too sharp images in post for women. No one needs every wrinkle, spot, make up edges pin sharp in a portrait unless that was the goal of the session. Thats why older cameras/ lenses still have swagger
I agree, in general regardless of age it is not really needed for portrait lenses to be sharp i feel.
Im wondering how one of these would hold up adapted to a mirrorless camera. Anyone have experience?
I found your video, which is great, as I'm thinking about a replacement for my 24-70 Mk 1 because the aperture control module, which has been wonky for years, finally gave out altogether. Canon no longer services the lens so I searched online for how to fix it and discovered this is a common problem with the Mk 1. I have been extremely happy with this lens over the 12 years I've used the crap out of it, but I'm concerned about buying another because of the risk of the same issue happening with the aperture control module. Any thoughts?
yes i see what you mean, thats difficult, maybe go for a newer one then if its your main lens.
@@MartinCastein I'm currently leaning Tamron as the general consensus seems to be it is as good as if not better than the Mk 1 and competitive with the Mk ii for significantly less money. Thank you for being there.
everyone i know that has the tamron really likes it
Perfect video! Very true, what you´re saying. I´m just about to buy a 24-70mm for my R system and I don´t want to spend a fortune on it as I´m not going to use it that often. One thing I can remember form using the lens years ago was a slight problem with AF. The lens is sharp but the camera could not always focus properly. I used it on 5d, 5dII and 5dIII. Is this problem gone on the R system? Because the EF 85mm f1,2 II was terrible to focus on dslr´s but it´s super reliable on the R system....Thanks!
Yeah its basically gone on the R system, everything just works!
They are def focused on the video so these new cam are very clinical. Btw what cam did you shoot the portraits of the woman in the red coat. 5d classic?
Hi! that was the 5d mark ii
Hello from Germany! Great!! New subscriber!
Thanks for subbing!
Great video again Martin ! Love the images you clearly are a very talented photographer!
I finally sold my Sony A6000 and I’m now in the market for a used full frame camera. Do you still recommend the Nikon D600 over the Canon 5d mk 2 if I may do the odd wedding ?
Hi Scott yes I still recommend the d600 for weddings. When I was shooting weddings I owned the 5d ii and still used the d600 for weddings but if you really want the 5d ii you can certainly shoot weddings on it. I think you need to work out how serious you are about weddings first.
@@MartinCastein thanks ! I don’t really plan doing it full time but would like to have the camera to do it. I’m also going to get a 50mm f1.8 if I get Nikon is the G better than the D version ?
If it’s just sometimes you can for for either but the d600 is much easier for weddings. The 50mm 1.8g is better than the 1.8d but the focus on the d is more accurate. I’m I giving you a headache yet lol keep asking questions it’s fine ok
@@MartinCastein I think I’m sold on the Nikon D600, dual card slots and I also have a few flashes that are Nikon dedicated! Is there any reason to go for the D610 in your opinion?
Cheers
The d610 is exactly the same but has the sensor oil spot fixed which I think was a bit over stated I suppose if you can get a d610 at a good price get that. All my d610 were fine though I had 4
Love it!!
Hey, I really love your videos!
I have a classic Canon 5D MkI and I want to purchase an affordable 24-70 2.8 lens. Not sure if to go with the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (NB - has image stabilisation)... or with this lens Canon 24-70mm 2.8L MkI (second hand).
What are your views? Thanks!
Depends on if you really need IS.
I'd love to know how you edit your portraits, they're beautiful.
Thanks I have an editing course on my website.
The Mark II is much better I have both, Image stabilizer makes a big difference...
neither lens has IS.. which lens are you refering to?
I used the 24-70 2.8 I for a summer and it was the best lens I ever used. I had to give it back because it was a loaner and I've been seeking one for myself ever since. It's always been too expensive for me, but I found a 28-70 2.8L for $300. An absolute steal. It's not as good as the 24-70 though. It's not as sharp, the bokeh quality isn't as good, and it flairs different. Someday I'll get that 24-70 though.
The 24-70 seems to me to have gone up in price on the used market, i guess it has become a bit more popular and more rare at the same time, its a very good lens indeed.
10 month update! I've just ordered the 24-70 mk 1 with a recent service, including ribbon cable and aperture assembly replacement, for $550! Wish I could buy the 3k shutter count 5d mk iii the shop has for the same price as well but one thing at a time.
Just a had a bit of shock, I am mainly using the discussed lens for portraits. But, I do shoot some landscapes and nature. Tried to get into Adobe Stock to sell some of my photos...all 10 photos I submitted were rejected! The pictures are not sharp enough, does anyone has similar experience?
You need to look at your technique. It’s always the photographer not the gear.
Hi Sylwia, well i doubt it is the lens, I've a picture hanging in a gallery in San Francisco taken on the mk1 24-70. The print of a scultpure is a metre wide, and (if I say so myself) it looks fabulous. Alas, I sold this lens after acquiring a mkii version. But now after two years I realise the mki has better presence and character. The mki does have field curvature so at infinity the centre is sharp but the edges are not till F8, nailing infinity focus edge to edge takes care with placing critical focus within the bowed zone of focus plane, if that makes any sense? However it's that field curvature (technically a 'flaw') in the lens design that gives the lens better dimensionality in the middle and closer distances than the mkii which has a flatter far field. Unless your copy has a fault, or your post work has unintentionally degraded the IQ perhaps?
Do you think the RF 24-70 f2.8 is a upgrade?
I haven’t used it but I’d expect it to be
Hi there, greetings from Malaysia. I would like to know if the lense is good enough for wedding and event photography on canon eos R with canon adapter. Would like to know your points and as well as anyone else?
Yes it will be more than good enough.
Having used the mark ii lens- it’s amazing- but used prices are 1200-1500 USD….. I could pick up a mark i for around 350 USD… Is the mark ii really 4 times better?? Guessing not
No, the mark ii is better in most ways, kind of, but being sharper often means worse bokeh and less flattering, but yeah its better overall. The mark 1 is great i think.
@@MartinCastein I am now the proud owner of the mark i! Sharpness is definitely not the most important thing for me and the price was right! Upgrading from the 50mm f1.8 stm
Nice!!!!! I hope you will enjoy it!
Hello Martin, where can you get the Mark I? I'm having a bit of a hard time finding one, after mine has stopped working properly.Thank you
Mpb have them
Thanks for the info, actually I 've checked on the site and the Mark I is not on there
I’m currently renting the mark ii. Coming from the 50mm 1.8 it is so much heavier!! Not sure how I feel about such a heavy lens but the images are nice…. Wondering if adding a 35 and 85 prime might be better bang for buck for my use case
Quite possibly. the 35 and 85 could well be a better setup, the 24-70 is very heavy indeed. You could get the the 35 f2 is maybe and 85 1.8
It’s heavy because of the 2.8. The f4 weighs nothing.
Do you happen to know if this 24-70mk1 is as sharp (as it is) in close distance at wide open? i wouldn't ask this but i had RF24-70mm few years back and you had to stop it down to f5.6 to get image that was usable but then you lose the bokeh that you want.
its not particularly sharp at all at any distance really. sharpness isnt something ive paid attention to ever though.
Is tamron Usd is worse than canon mk1? Which is better to buy
If you need IS…
Great video~ I have the mark 1:)~
Would mark 1 keep up with 24mp R6 ii? In pixelsharpness I mean
Yes just
Absolutely great lens. Proper work horse.
it is isnt it, its my favourite 24-70 and ive owned a few.
I paid $25 dollars on a
10:18
NOW PLAYING Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 USM 'L' lens that was broken. I doesn't shoot any photos past 2.8 i get an error but it still takes picture but the best part is that the video works perfect!!! no matter what apature! Yes the lens is soft but its quite lovely! Its like army of the dead. Really nice boca! Sharp and super soft all at once! Love this lens!
you got an amazing deal there for sure!!!!!
at 8:40, Bingo!
Hi everyone. I am thinking to purchase a 24-70 mk1 for attaching to my EOS R6 with the adapter. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Does it work on rf adapters?
very well
👍
want to buy at least 3 lenses and that's it i really want a lens that i can keep on there to take all the shots i need instead of having to switch lenses to catch the shot i want
what do you photograph?
@@MartinCastein my family
24-105 or equivalent in whatever system you shoot and you are done. 1 lens.
@@MartinCastein how you're doing i love your accent here's the thing i wanted to know can i buy the 24-105 and the 24-70 the sigma 18-35. I really wanted just 2 lens and the best prime lens so please help me out
What camera do you have?
As a hobbyist I was wondering if I should spend loads of money. Luckily I watched your video I guess I'm going for this lens that I can find at 700€ : it's less a THIRD of the price of the M2 !!! Also I'm going for a lumix S5 Mi or MII because you can adapt EF lenses on it as I learned here : czcams.com/video/e0qJ61zu8-U/video.html.
I hope this helps other persons in my situation, it took me a lot of time to come to this conclusion (and I mean a LOT of time but I managed to cut the spending by 2 so...)
24-70 mk1 is similary worse then 24-70 mk2 as 35/1.4 mk1 is worse then 35/1.4 mk2... I had all these 4 lenses and mk2 are much much better
See I prefer the 35mm mk1 to the mk 2 I think it depends what look you prefer and what you call better, I prefer a softer rendering with lower contrast and less sharp.