The 24-70 is probably the best zoom ever in that range and it beats most primes. I no longer use the 24mm, 35mm 2.0 or 50mm primes, except for the amazing Sigma 50mm 1.4 for ultra low light work.

If you have strong arms, most folks would find the 24-70 & 70-200 II all they need for most situations. Here are a few samples from the 24-70....

My wife at 70mm F4....
http://GhostLight.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p1220710-5.jpg

Dead guy....
http://GhostLight.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p801216292-5.jpg

Max

My 24-70 arrived today. Holy crap that's a sharp lens.

What I really wasn't prepared for was the size. I started cracking up when I got the box.... It's huge. If I put it under the tree all wrapped up, you'd never guess it was a lens box. I happened to have my D40 in my office today so I connected it to the 70-200... funny stuff.

About the focus breathing issue... its definitely not a problem on DX. I've got a plant on my office that's about the size of my hand. I was able to take a shot where the plant filled the entire frame. So unless you need to shoot something smaller than that, you won't be a problem on DX.

My other first impression is how effective the VR is. Shooting hand held in my office on a cloudy day gets me shutter speeds of about 1/15 (its cloudy today so the window isn't any help. Normally I can get sharp results w/ 1/15, but I'm clearly going to have to adjust my shooting style to use this lens... Its just a lot more weighty than my D40 + 35mm prime.... a lot more. The good news is that with a flick of the VR switch, I magically get good results at 1/15th.

I don't have any other glass where the difference between VR and no VR is this pronounced.

I can't wait to put it on my D90 to see what it can do with a few more MP's.

Do you see how close he had to actually walk for this shot?
Unacceptable really!

Another shot from the astounding optics of the 70-200 VR II

http://ghostlight.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p260291161-5.jpg

Max

im getting the new TC20, i don't have one, i do have the TC14 and 17, and id get the upgrades of those if they were to get out, i like having these in my bag or on me at all times, its just my style to start out with the TC17 or 14 untill i get close enough to take them off.

The TC20 would be nice to have for those situations were you just need that bit of extra reach,id rather have a less sharp shot than no shot,while others proberly would argue that they would rather have no shot than a less sharp shot, i guess its a matter of preference?.
I would rather argue that if it can help me get a great shot, even tho its less sharp, its still a great shot, but having no shot, is less than a great less sharp shot.

note: i don't expect everyone to get the last part the first time they read it, now that i read it myself, haha.

there's nothing wrong with the old TC17 or TC14, so I don't see a need to update those ones; if there were some negative comments about TC's, they pointed towards TC20.

bmxdad said:
Is there a newer version of the Tc 1.7, because the old one has always been great with the 70-200 VR lens.

Pete

I meant that it's likely that we'll see updates for all of the TC's. I wouldn't buy the 2X until we see what the others are like...unless the 2X exceeds our expectations.

Max

Is there a newer version of the Tc 1.7, because the old one has always been great with the 70-200 VR lens.

Pete

bmxdad said:
The TC 2.0 will be on my list for next year, I was thinking of the TC 1.7, but this one is going to be better

Pete

I find it very unlikely that the new TC 2X will be a great bet, but we'll see. Certainly the new 70-200 II has the extra sharpness to handle a TC, but I think the newer version of the 1.7X will be a superior compromise. 2X is really pushing it, no matter how good the lens is.
I guess we'll see.

Max

Demisthene Akatsuki said:
Ive ordered one, and once i recieve it ill decide if i should get rid of my old one or not, but i reckon i will, doubtfull ill be using it at a range where its weakness is going to affect me.
Ted, im also curious to see what its gunna be like with the new TC on it, this might then become my new quick drag around lens, giving me much more versatility when i only bring one lens with me.

There goes a part of my savings for the 400/2.8.
Oh well :).

The TC 2.0 will be on my list for next year, I was thinking of the TC 1.7, but this one is going to be better

Pete

Ive ordered one, and once i recieve it ill decide if i should get rid of my old one or not, but i reckon i will, doubtfull ill be using it at a range where its weakness is going to affect me.
Ted, im also curious to see what its gunna be like with the new TC on it, this might then become my new quick drag around lens, giving me much more versatility when i only bring one lens with me.

There goes a part of my savings for the 400/2.8.
Oh well :).

Thanks Max, I too want one. With the new TC, it's the 140-400/5.6 I'm looking for.

Incredible sharpness. I'd never have believed the wood carving crop is at 2.8. Thanks for sharing, Max.

Wow... that's some serious sharpness. Really nice Bokeh to boot. I can't wait until I get one!

Okay, I've placed this in it's own thread so everyone who's interested in the lens would see it. If the moderator thinks I'm crazy, you can move it.

First, please excuse that these are very quick down-&-dirty portrait shots, so please don't be too hard on them. I was looking to see what the lens can do.

You'll see several shots showing the it is possible to get intimate head shops (12 inches frame area). But what's truly amazing is the detail at 2.8. Watch the progression of shots. The two 100% crops of the wood carving are at F2.8 and F8. Outside of a tiny bump in contrast detail is identical for all practical purposes. I've never seen a zoom lens retain so much sharpness wide open. It's truly entering prime territory.

Most of the shots are wide open at 200mm or close to it. I backed off to 195 and 185 at times.

Thus far this appears to be the best zoom on the planet. I don't know if it's a 70-200 or 68-167.5, but wherever it falls, it beats any other zoom going. Again, forgive me for not staging better portraits.

Samples here:
http://ghostlight.zenfolio.com/p433618625/slideshow#h14c6aad5

Comments welcome!

Max