I also want a 24-70mm canon f2.8L lens just for carrying around. I would like to have it for portraits as well. I already have a Canon 50mm f1.4 lens. So do I really need the 24-70mm. I would really like to have some telephoto capabilities with the 24-70mm as opposed to the fixed 50mm. Would there be a large crop factor with this lens that would make this kind of purchase useless for my 60D?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'll start with the fact I'm actually a Nikon pro user, however if I am not mistaken I do believe the 60D is Canon's step up from the 50D. The 50D is one heckuva great camera body in it's own right. It wasnt the "flagship" SLR for Canon but it IS a professionals tool. I see the 60D is now @ 18mp, not that mp is the be all/end all to resolution.

I use full frame lenses on my Nikon D300. All professional grade glass, 80-200 f/2.8 and the Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 which is full frame. The 60D is a high resolution body, and would benefit from the BEST glass you can afford. Between the 24-70 and the 70-200 lenses you pretty much have all the bases covered except for those Ultra wide landscapes. Your 24mm will be roughly an actual 36mm lens when at 24.

Your 50mm f/1.4 could be used for portraits, as it will be more like a 70mm lens on the 60D. Obviously would get some nice soft bokeh.

Some great equipment reviews to check out: google both Thom Hogan and Ken Rockwell if you haven't done so already.

The EOS 60D produces superb! quality. Especially when you use the very best lenses.

Yeah, a 24-70mm lens is not ideal for a camera with the small sensor; it's roughly a 40mm to 110mm equivalent. I would not recommend that.

This one would make more sense (about $600) EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Cheers! Peter

I just do not see a 38-112 mm equivalent lens as the best bet for any camera. And that's what you would have with the 24-70mm zoom.

It's really intended for full-frame cameras like the EOS 5D Mk II.

The 17-85mm lens, however, would be a 27-136mm equivalent ... true wide angle to short telephoto.

Sandi, I believe on the 60D what you are looking at through the viewfinder is exactly what is being recorded. Check with your manual or a great Canon source. That is the MOST important factor here. The term "cropping" tends to be a scary proposition, often misunderstood in this case. The opposite scenario is what one needs to be more aware of, and that is a lens for the CMOS sensor mounted to a full frame body. You will get vignette. Not pretty :)

Rule of thumb, a 50mm lens on an old 35mm film body is a normal lens. While a 35mm lens on same body is considered a wide angle. Back in the day, it was common to carry a 24 or 28mm superwide fixed focal length lens. Nowadays Canon, Tokina and Nikon have professional ultra wide f/4 zoom lenses in the 12-24mm range if you need that perspective. And yes, ones that will work on full frame later on if necessary. Note* ANY single lens that meets all that criteria (focal length) from say 18mm to 250 or 270mm is generally of much lower quality optics. Purchasing a full frame lens now may save you $$ later should you invest in a Canon full frame body.**

Re: Intended use, the full frame lenses work awesome for both sensors. ZERO issue.

I can't answer "too heavy" for you. I can only use high end glass, and weight is of no consideration to me. Again, it's a spec that the tekkies fret over for writing reviews in Popular Photography magazine. You get what ya pay for with photographic equipment, and commercial grade equipment rarely comes ultra light weight. An f/2.8 zoom will definitely let you know it's there!

Again remember you invested in a professional tool (60D) In order to take advantage of the resolution capabilities you'll benefit from better glass. I would consider what Ken Rockwell or Thom Hogan have to say about the 70-200 f/4 S lens. Nobody but you can answer whats right, I don't know where your at or where you are going with photography. You may have purchased a body that far exceeds your needs for now, I don't know.

Re: Peters response above. It's hard for anyone to make judgement on that because the end use of a specific scene or portrait is what dictates what tool to use. Imaging beginning site excavation and as a contractor showing up to work with a 12" rake and a spade shovel. Or perhaps hiring someone for gardening and the guy shows up with a road grader? I have 27 yrs experience, and have instructed advanced techniques seminars the last 2 years. I can define exactly what my "best bet" is for the situation before me. Sometimes the scene call for a 12mm lens extension, or perhaps a Lensbaby. One needs to be able to understand what they plan to create before the photoshoot. I'm not familiar with the Canon lenses, but IMO a lens 17-85mm is not in Canons line of professional glass. Sandi, for general use a lower cost 17-85mm lens may indeed be a good option for you. I know, sounds confusing but it is difficult to walk in anothers shoes.

I do not own a Canon L zoom yet, although a 70-200 L variant is in the plans. I offer the article because

When measuring the difference between 28mm and 38mm the difference in the wide angle ranges is considerable. In telephoto lenses it is barely noticed. I do agree with Peter about the 17-85 for your 60D but if you can afford the price difference the 15-85 is supposed to be a better lens. For my 40D I use the 17-85 and it is very satisfactory on a cropped sensor camera.