Canon 24-70 bad AF in low light?

[Mark Hoy]

Does anyone have problems with getting the Canon 24-70mm to focus in low light? In the same conditions where my 16-35mm will focus lock without any problems, the 24-70mm focus hunts for ages.

Is this a common issue (does anyone else have both lenses to test) or is time for a lens service?

 

[Beth Anthony]

i don't remember any problems with that lens, i had the f/2.8, i'm not sure about the f/4.

 

[Mark Hoy]

Mine is the f/2.8

 

[Hamish Gill]

did I see you in the cellar bar on friday night Mark?

 

[Mark Hoy]

I was, I didn't see you - you should have said hello

 

[Hamish Gill]

Im still scared as I dont really recognise you with all that face fluff ...
Also, I was on a "date" with the missis ....

 

[Lee Webb]

Back on topic, I used to use the 24-70 back in the days I worked with Canon, and I can't say I ever found it to be bad in low light. If anything it was my go-to low light lens. Have you tried using the AF assist beam on a flash gun to see if that helps matters?
The 24-70 must be one of Canon's most widely used professional zoom lenses, if there were any problems with it in low light (in general) I'm sure we'd have heard about it in the 8 years the lens has been about. I'd give it a go with an AF assist beam first and if that doesn't improve the consistency, I'd have it serviced.

 

[Mark Hoy]

AF assist was on for some shots and didn't help, whereas the 16-35 got a lock in almost pitch black (all I could see was the lights on the guitar amp). Part of the problem may be that I use a 5D2 and focussing in low light isn't it's best feature.

Sounds like it's time for a service (and get a quote on whether it's worth fixing the AF motor on a 35mm f/2)..

 

[Lee Webb]

I'd send it away for service then. There's no real reason that with two high quality lenses with the same maximum aperture, that one should well well in low light and one shouldn't. I mean, if it were the 5D2 which was primarily to blame, you wouldn't expect the 16-35 to preform as well as it did

 

[Beth Anthony]

the 5d2 and 24-70 f/2.8 worked very well for me in low light, so i don't think the camera is the issue. take lee's advice and send it off for service.

 

[Andy Boardman]

Sounds like something might have come adrift inside possibly, not an unknown fault with Canon lenses, our engineer has stripped & rebuilt plenty of them & he has just done an 80-200 F2.8 L for us, his view is that they are not the best built lenses by any stretch & below what you would / should expect from Canon, I know I use them myself & they do suffer internally.
Worth getting it checked over & serviced I would say.