[TEST] Canon VS Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 L and 24-70mm f/2.8
The two best general zoom lenses from Canon and Nikon are tested today. They are widespread in the pros from the studio or reportage. Indeed, in their studio constant aperture is mandatory to avoid having to change, without stopping, settings. In a situation of reporting, their zoom range and their openness, are essential. In short, their usefulness is proven. On the optical performance, it should not necessarily expect at a dive interstellar. These are zooms, not primes. But they remain a good compromise between quality and convenience.
I thank Thierry for providing me the box Nikon D700 (or D3 because the same sensor) and the beautiful view.
To know the conditions of the test thank you to refer to the previous article opposing the 70-200mm 2.8 stabilized the two brands: [TEST] Canon VS Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 stabilized
Construction and handling:
On appearance, the two approaches are very well built. Here we have a beautiful faux steel building, we are far from the plastic look of classic ranges. Of course both brands enemy come to an agreement to reverse the mounting of their objectives and zooming. Each works to show its differences, not so great that it in terms of optical ...
Weight level, the Canon has 50 grams of overweight compared to over 900 grams of Nikon.
The Dive:
@ 24mm:
@ 24mm: total plan - 21MP
A 24mm and wide open, both brands deliver a dive fairly "soft" to me. Although these criteria belong to everyone. Like many objectives requires close the iris to get a sharper image. On the left you can see ahead of Canon in terms of sharpness, due in part by resolution of the 5D Mark II 21MP against the 12 MP D700.
By closing a little, we get very similar results from f/5.6. This makes also the comparison difficult in most situations (WEB publications, newspapers, prints of average size). From large runs as a 24 × 36cm at 300dpi, we certainly start to see a quality difference, but below this size, few differences.
Test dive to 24mm for Canon and Nikon 24-70
@ 70mm:
At 70m, what is striking is the loss of brightness in canon. There are roughly, 1EV at least on the Canon 24-70. Significant!
Next dive at full aperture (f/2.8) Canon still takes over. And, already on a 100% crop! Imagine the photos on a big draw or screen 22 "+ ...
To find a balance between the two brands have to go to f/5.6. Where the sharpness is very similar.
@ 70mm
Test dive the 24-70 at 70mm Canon and Nikon
Verdict:
Canon is a clear winner at full aperture, and this, as 24mm to 70mm. However Nikon quickly took rank, by closing the diaphragm 3 notches. Thus the latter equalizes the 24-70mm L Team "red". So in portrait condition when fully open, the difference will be. Otherwise, in other applications requiring a closed f-stops, such as landscape or studio, the advantage of Canon will be almost zero.
Also note, loss of light to 70mm. Indeed, the Nikon to a big lead in terms of exposure. It will in canon, or overexpose boost isos, to obtain the expo's native 24-70mm Nikon.
Or buy:
Tests on Full frame:
- Canon 24-70 tested by The Digital Picture
- Canon 24-70 tested by The Digital Picture (ISO crop)
- Nikon 24-70 on Photozone.de
- Nikon 24-70 on Pict Challenge (FR)
@ Your comments. I also have the opinion of potential switchers.
Read also:
30 reactions
Excellent post that comforts me in my purchase of the Canon 24-70 2.8L! However it's been 5 weeks that I ordered it, Canon has delivered tjs not the store that is supposed to send me the product ... You got ideas above? Shortage in Europe, behind manufacturing ...?
I do not know but on my favorite site it is available: http://www.foka.nl/site/canon-ef-2470-mm-f28-l-usm-p-274.html
You got how much?
€ 1050 in Germany (computer universe), guaranteed the basic two years.
a little less at Foka and available in more
the 2-year warranty is not manufacturer. second is the seller of course. But this is argument.
Yes but I did German, the site is ultra fine, translated into English, an English speaking hotline, finally here I am less afraid. And yes, 1 year warranty manufacturer and second year with the store. As I look forward to receiving it, I just slap my stay at 50mm since acquiring my 7D there are over 6 months already ...
Congratulations Merwen
But be careful not to stabilizing the Nikkor AFS 24-70 ...
thank you for this comparison, it reinforces my investment in the 24-70L, which has performance to match its price
(After a good € 1200 in France ...) it stings terribly clear at full aperture (I had a Tamron 28-75, irrelevant to the pt of view of optical quality).
Foka site is reliable, and in terms of warranty no worries? when I see the price difference (985 vs. 1200), sic.
NB: there is not a shell on the last part of the verdict? to gain shutter speed as Canon, it would be better not underexpose rather than overexpose?
@ Laurent Dubois (WoodyLo): the language barrier with google translate it's nothing!
plus it also speaks good English, you can call them without problem. Yes you should get the 24-70 extra comfort. but still further in terms of optical performance. This is not my favorite optic. It's just very convenient and optically correct in the studio.
@ Thierry: that's what it is to draft articles on 2am; ..
@ Olivier: forget France.
Yes the site is clearly reliable Foka, thou mayest report with the testimony that you had. The warranty is the same as a 24-70L bought in France. If someone can explain to me why such a price difference also! One might think the gray market but no!
NB: my shell is the phrase: "the Nikon to a big lead in terms of shutter speed in difficult light conditions"
I meant expo and not speed.
@ Masden: in your comment of 25/04, you say "you should get 24-70 more comfort. but still further in terms of optical performance ", in relation to a fixed focal length you are implying? ("Stay away in terms of perf. Opt.") Or to another variable of focal L Canon?
Sorry ... this double comment (you can not edit a comment
). On Foka is VAT (19.6%)? well I will try for my next purchase if it is the same price but for occas eBay's new, ouaaa
(And is that true that with an extension to translate Google Chrome, the Dutch language barrier becomes smaller).
yes compared to my other optical and Solicitating my primes. Even compared with a focal length (different I grant you) as my 100-400mm, the latter outperforms. At full aperture attention. Frankly, I find the soft quilted to 2.8.
Foka is on VAT (19% in the Netherlands) and nine course. no swindle. It is useless to buy in France. Oh yes, in part to support the French economy (this is important right now
Another interesting test! When will the canon 50mm f1.2 test vs olympus
When you want Aurel! ca we do this weekend?
Perfect! It is ca this weekend
Following your recommendations and a passage in rotterdam, I confirm the seriousness of Foka. I checked their website to buy a Canon 24-70 L. Passing their shop Friday morning, the price had lost 10 euros. Great!
Your test is good but I can not compare because I have an APS-C, not the same results I guess. Anyway thank you for the address, I am happy with my purchase.
In the near future, I intend to move to FF. But first a little practice and a park filled objective will be terrible.
A +
Yes Foka there is no picture!
APSC for the results would surely different with a good chance they are less good. Also at F / 8 it would have been of diffraction while here in FF, it starts to F/11.
Merwen thank you for this post and thank you for taking the time to enrich your blog.
Constantly out!
Personal with the new toy I no longer touch earth
I also confirm, the canon 24-70 is really excellent and FOKA is more than recommended!
@ Soon
Hello
Pro myself for over 18 years, I wanted to put my touch in this test ...
We all know that there are not thousands of sensor manufacturers for digital, it's a bit like the TV, there are dozens of brand, there are now only two major manufacturers of slab . All lies in the image processing upstream.
Pictured is the same thing, for this test would have required testing purposes on the same device, NIKON and CANON deal because their images differently, whether on colorimetry as the rest.
We can not, for me, being 100% on these results.
Thank you
I had doubts about my plan to switch to Canon ... then it becomes increasingly obvious
Thank you for all these details.
I am a little surprised.
Indeed I was expecting a clear superiority of the Nikon 24-70 for the difference in the rates charged (€ 1,000 to € 1,500 against Canon for Nikon).
And I totally agree with Manu, the test for the selection of housings has a very strong because the density of pixels in the image is very different. There at first glance the crops have been made to have the same amount of pixels. It is true that it would have been better with two cameras with sensors equivalent but that even as the image processing by the processor of the case must certainly influence yet).
Totally agree with Manu and Didier!
It would have taken effect in testing these two goals on the same box or at least had to compare it with two boxes of the same generation, with similar sensors ...
Let us recall that the Nikon D700 should receive only 12 MP 21 MP cons for the Canon 5D Mark II, which inevitably plays on the dive.
Note also that from f: 5.6 the difference is almost zero between the two marks while, precisely, the D700 has almost half as many pixels. We can therefore conclude that in these openings, Nikon has a much sharper image than Canon and advance to full opening of the red mark is relativized by this fact and of the difference between the two cases.
Finally, as photographer events, mainly concerts, the strategy for megapixel Nikon seems excellent. Indeed, we lose a little dive but we gain so much noise reduction, as image processing, the real strength of Nikon, where Canon still struggling!
In short, do not forget to choose a mark on several objective criteria for your own use. Each brand has its strengths and weaknesses and according to our needs, tests like this can mislead us!
Still, it's the photographer that captures the beauty of a moment, not his equipment ... So, good photos at all, as in yellow in red!
Hello to the authors of the previous comments.
Sorry if this test invalidates your statements, but this is a test in real conditions and not in a laboratory. He certe therefore, can be considered accurate, but the difference is clear in large openings. Besides testing iso crop of digital pictures prove it! I invite you to watch them. So no debate here.
Further details, I have kept the ratio 1:1 pixel precisely to compare the performance of two sensors of different resolutions. Therefore the comparison is quite possible. Look at the perfs of nikkor f/2.8 already, if I had downsized lechantillon of 5d2 to paste one of the D700, the difference would be even more blatant!
This test is legitimate because I compare two brands with their standard zoom dedicated to the pros. And in this game canon prevails in terms of sharpness advantage with the high resolution of 5d2. Hence the confusion of Manu, I tested a couple boxes + objective, not only the goals. It is quite possible to imagine that the nikkor more peformant the cannon on the 5d2! But what use this test gentlemen?! The debate was to go home nikon or not, and so far the pro range is limited to a 12mp nikon (d700, d3s). Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry Merwen BA to confirm what I say!
Your test for two zooms, not two couples
Whether real and not in a laboratory, it does not matter ....
You can not compare two zooms on two boxes that have nothing to see each other and well, you can not compare two couples + goal box, with completely different ranges.
Take a 12MP against a 21Mp you imagine that it will not be the same.
And now you mention "The debate was to go home nikon or not, and so far the pro range is limited to a 12mp nikon '.
If for you the number of pixels influences the fact that it is pro or not, is that you did not understand everything in the picture.
As proof, the iPhone has a 4 5Mp and yet you will not have the same quality of paper with a circulation of at 5Mp + NIKON NIKKOR
It's totally unfounded manu. Think about it. If you want to compare two systems accounts only pictures. Sorry for not being clear, but I think you're off topic.
Nikon on this test is out of scope. May be that the D800 will be seen more resolution and then we'll see.
For my use and my requirement 12mp I'm not satisfied. I must not be as strong as you is probably why
Sorry but I know very well the meaning of a resolution on a case and certainly do not consider that this is the only quality criterion. you can read in my blog, "the pixel race is not in our favor! "I'm certainly not old, but I know a sign that some songs
@ Didier: You're mistaken, my body Canon VS Nikon are done respecting the size of the sensors! 1:1 ratio. So none of the samples has been enlarged or reduced! Imagine the disaster for Nikon
@ Manu:
To take you back: "In this picture is the same for this test would have required testing purposes on the same device, NIKON and CANON deal because their images differently, whether on colorimetry as the rest.
We can not, for me, being 100% on these results. "
Reread my article. But I will still answer you. What you can not compare images from two cameras different outputs? LOL
I am not here to say that Canon is better than Nikon, I am not paid dearly enough for them to say this (Canon if you hear me). I compare the two cameras semi-pro/pro D700 and 5D2 on their 24-70mm. It whether I was going at my eventual switch, return to the same dive. and the answer is no. Only the frustrated who say that both systems are not comparable. Images and still images is the point.
Merwen
I actually began to believe that you share with you ..... lol CANON
I just find your part would have been wiser to make the comparison with the Canon 5D2 home if you want but against the NIKON D3X home. Here, the difference would not have been the same and I can tell you, having worked with the two (D700 and D3X).
And if that were true! lol so I can give them some advice to make better boxes
I have not thought much about. But the D3X and 5D2 are not accessible to the same target as the D700 yes. I repeat, I put in my place, that of a prosumer swichter possibly wanting. At least it shows that Nikon also are not perfect and was not exempt from the limits of physics. I wanted to realize this and I did well.
Brian has heard your thoughts against a 21MP 24MP against a
Kif kif at full aperture. And you see he has kept the 1:1 ratio like that can be compared with peace
I tease.
[...] Win 250 €. Especially the 24-70mm 2.8 for Nikon does not overwrite its counterpart Canon (see here for [...]
Former canon lawyer, I turned to yellow nikon and I can say that the rendering of a D3s + 24/70 2.8 is much better than a 5 Dmk2 24/70 2.8 L. There are gently touch silver, the colors are better, plans are detached more subtly.
These two objectives are identical dive, but the important thing for me is the final rendering. I vote the full power nano crystal!
Thank you for your opinion Thibault.