Sony's MASSIVELY Underrated Lens: The 24-105mm f4

Рет қаралды 8,709

Күн бұрын

Get the Sony 24-105: geni.us/oIH0I (affiliate link)
The Sony 24-105 f4 G lens is the most undervalued and underrated lens Sony makes. No other lens packs the features and image quality for the price. Join me on a journey to Mendenhall Glacier to see why the Sony 24-105mm is probably the best lens you can invest in for photo and video work.
Learn how to use and fly your drone to create professional results by taking my course here: www.solocreatoracademy.com/store
Find my favorite camera and drone tech here:
www.amazon.com/shop/jakesloan (affiliate link)
I use Artlist for all my music: geni.us/kqV9l (affiliate link)
Join my patreon to see behind the scenes content and more!
www.patreon.com/jakesloan
Connect on:
Facebook: / jakesloanpage
Instagram: / jakesloan
Twitter: / jakesloaninak
Jake Sloan
PO BOX 212445
Anchorage, AK 99521
DISCLAIMER:
Jake Sloan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.
00:00 Intro
00:43 Optical Image Stabilization
01:46 24-105 Zoom Range
03:08 Auto Focus tests
04:29 Focus Breathing and Par-focal Performance
06:28 Handheld Slow Shutter Speeds with OSS
08:06 Minimum focus distance and sharpness
08:35 Is 24mm Wide Enough? 24mm vs 20mm vs 14mm
10:50 Photo Quality Examples
11:22 Video Quality Examples
11:42 Lowlight at f4
12:18 Weather Sealing Performance
12:47 Physical Features
13:12 Things That the 24-105 mk II needs to improve
14:12 Outro

Пікірлер: 131

@RE30RN 2 ай бұрын

I'm glad you actually made a review about this lens. I actually bought this lens before leaving Alaska and move to South Korea. With the camera capability nowadays, F4 is like the sweet spot now even in low light.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

absolutely it's fantastic in all but complete darkness lol.

@yuanzofficial 2 ай бұрын

No matter what camera or brand I seen to be shooting with, I ALWAYS have to have a 24-105mm type lens. I travel a lot too and this is the ONE lens I won't leave home without. Great video Jake! Not many put this much effort into their videos. So cool!

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much and I absolutely agree! This is the one lens I never leave home without

@michigan1777 2 ай бұрын

As a new photographer i had bought the 18 to 105 not realizing it was a crop lens. It really restricted my shooting on my a7iv because of this. I am planning to grab this lens as it is very diverse and of course, full frame. Great review!

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

NICE! and thank you.

@fredfred9758 2 ай бұрын

27mm in crop mode is wide enough in general 😂😂😂

@michigan1777 2 ай бұрын

@@fredfred9758 the issue is it's always crop. So I lose basically half my resolution immediately. So if I ever want to crop, I lose that ability to really get detail. It wasnt flexible for my shooting

@JimOutLoud 2 ай бұрын

Very informative video Jake! I own this lens and still I learned a lot about its capabilities.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Jim! It really is fantastic, I'm glad to hear you already have it

@archiebrown6407 24 күн бұрын

I’ve not seen a video of yours before. Instantly subbed. Buying this lens to go with my new A7Cii. Love the content!

@JakeSloan 23 күн бұрын

Awesome! Thank you and welcome!

@Coatsey007 2 ай бұрын

Great video Jake, yes I have this lens and you’ve given me reasons to take it on my Solo motorbike trip from the UK down to Cappadocia, Turkey and back. A document my trip but I just don’t have the skills you have, well done.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Awesome, that sounds like a great trip to take this lens on!

@107drones 2 ай бұрын

Stunning images, Jake. That's a nice lens.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Many thanks!

@6gwilliams 2 ай бұрын

For my current A1, A7RV, A9III, I currently have 13 fullframe E-mount lenses covering 10mm to 600mm from Sony (GM and G), Sigma Art, Tamron, Viltrox, Laowa. My Sony 24-105mm f4 G OSS is my most used lens of all of them for subjects I photograph around the world. It is sharp, with silent and fast autofocus, great OSS, super versatile. It is also Sony's biggest selling fullframe lens in the world, for good reasons. . Cheers

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

same here and the reason I put this video together when I looked back through the work and photos I've taken since I bought this lens. It really is an incredible performer

@6gwilliams 2 ай бұрын

@@JakeSloan so true. Cheers

@RaymondToms 2 ай бұрын

Hi Jake. Great review and locations. Not much snow down here in Oz, except for the high(ish) country in winter. I have the 28-135 PZ for my FX6 and love the flexibility and rocker zoom control. I have other lenses too, 16-35, 100-400 etc, but am considering the 24-105 as a go-to for my A7 M4.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Nice! I would love to add a 28-135 for my FX6 but so far the 24-105 has filled the need I have.

@RaymondToms 2 ай бұрын

TRaymond Understood, for your hike and shoot world. The majority of my documentary work is very different to yours. Last week, I had the FX6 with PZ 16-35 set up on an RS3 gimbal, with the Steadimate attachment to my Steadicam vest and arm. Filming walk and talk on a beach, sending video to the director with a Hollyland 4K transmitter. Also using the Inspire 2 for aerials, but looking to the Mavic 3 Pro Cine in case we have to walk in to a shoot (My old Mavic Pro V1, is only used for flight training assistants). (Can’t seem to attach Pics to these comments)

@ClaudioAFC 2 ай бұрын

I use this one for about 90% of the time. It's focal range is a big plus, but the auto focus can be a bit hit or miss. And fringing. But it really is a great Jack of all trades

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

yeah I didn't really touch on the fringing and the auto focus for me has been solid except in -20 or colder when the motors seem to freeze up a bit lol

@yukonchris Ай бұрын

Nice video. I lived in the Yukon Territory for almost fifty years and I remember the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau almost forty years ago. We hiked right up to the terminus of the glacier and then beyond by following the high ground adjacent to the ice. I even remember getting between the glacier and the rock walls that constrained it. In those days, it looked much bigger than it appears in your video. I imagine that it has retreated quite a ways since then. The thing that stuck with me the most, though, was how a hot summer day could become instantly freezing cold when you went into one of those caves or spaces where the glacier met the rock walls of the valley. As for camera gear, I shoot with Olympus and Canon, but I've been questioning my choice of gear on the Canon side especially. I'm really disappointed with the lack of support for third-party lenses on the RF mount. The obvious full-frame alternative is Sony due to its much more open lens mount ecosystem. It's also good to know that Sony has a native 24-105mm available. I have the 24-105mm f/4.0L for my EOS camera, and it is definitely the highpoint of the Canon system. An excellent lens! I can't help but wonder how the two compare. Anyway, thanks for a great video.

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

Thank you so much and yes the glacier has changed a lot in the last few decades. I think for the most part the canon and Sony 24-105 are very comparable in performance

@RandomRoyden 2 ай бұрын

Hi Jake, great video once again, i literally just traded my 16-55 G APS-C lens in for this about an hour ago with MPB, i intend to pair it with my A7iv, i look forward to receiving it 👍🏻

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

NICE

@thajoker011 2 ай бұрын

Probably the coolest location I've ever seen for a lens review^^

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

I agree!!

@MarineX 2 ай бұрын

I love the thought of the lens. My 28-135mm PZ recently went out on me. I am trying to get it fixed for a reasonable price, but if not, I will look at this lens. I will compliment my 16-35 f4 zeiss. I really never need f2.8 because of the fx3.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

oh dang I am sorry to hear that, but yes this would make a good replacement if you can't get your 28-135 fixed

@maircraft4079 2 ай бұрын

Now that Lr has background blur I love my 24-105.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

agreed!!

@VasistanShakkaravarthi 5 күн бұрын

Extraordinary location, really loved it❤

@JakeSloan 3 күн бұрын

Thanks a ton

@florianmertl 2 ай бұрын

Amazing Nature! I love my 24-105! Amazing how the Osmo Pocket 3 helps here in your one man band production. Thank you for doing all this efforts for us!

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@HoomanBhr Ай бұрын

Agreed, Can't wait for mark II version of 24-105

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

100%

@helencogan2187 2 ай бұрын

I have this lens and LOVE IT! I totally agree with all you said. I purchased it used a few years ago and it sits on one of cameras 90% of the time! Bring on Version 2!!!

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

awesome!

@marc_likes_stuff Ай бұрын

great video! i wasn't too blown away by the 18-105 for aps-c lenses, but this seems to be a lot better, especially since full frame makes f/4 way better in low light. much sharper images too!

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

Totally agree!

@miguelcruzonline Ай бұрын

One of my overall favorite lenses. Love using it on my a7cii.

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

Good choice!

@ilovecapitalism1776 16 күн бұрын

I also got the 7c II this week. I’ve choose the 24-50 G 2.8 but I’m not happy with it. How is the size of the 24-105 on the 7C? Good handling?

@miguelcruzonline 15 күн бұрын

@@ilovecapitalism1776the 24-105 is heavy, but feels good to me. I love the lens for its versatility. Wish it was a little wider though. With active stabilization it’s a little tight at 24mm for my taste.

@ilovecapitalism1776 15 күн бұрын

@@miguelcruzonlinethere’s is also the Sony 20-70 F4 and Sigma 28-70 F2.8 witch are smaller but no 105mm hard decision

@miguelcruzonline 15 күн бұрын

@@ilovecapitalism1776 have considered the 20-70, but prefer the extra reach of the 24-105. Haven’t used Sigma in years, prefer to use Sony, but Sigma is making some great lenses.

@BrianKushner 2 ай бұрын

One of the first lenses I bought when I switched from Nikon to Sony a few years ago. Love that lens...Fantastic bargain. I considered the 70-200 F/2.8 but went with this instead and don't regret it,

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

glad to hear it!

@seeingisbelieving879 2 ай бұрын

When i first got my A74...i got the 20mm G and this 24-105mm. And it is amazing. Glad i got it!

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Good choice!

@raithevictor 2 ай бұрын

Love my 24-105G. Sharp image, practical focal length. And thanks for the OSS, I can handheld night photography without the need of a tripod.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

agreed!

@3zzalaves357 8 күн бұрын

Hi Jake ! Great video 🔥 I have been hearing that OSS doesn’t pair well with active stabilisation in the a7siii with lens distortions etc.. could you confirm if this has been an issue for you on the A1 ? Thanks.

@JakeSloan 2 күн бұрын

This has not been an issue at all for me, I have gotten really great results with the A7sIII and the A1 and this lens

@andyarts8382 2 ай бұрын

Agreed, such a great lens for almost everything. What I would like to see is a lens hood that fits over my VND filter. It sucks that I can't use a lens hood especially when filming in all sorts of weather. It forces me to ditch the VND and having to constantly changing my filters while it's raining, snowing, sunny as you know what they say in the mountains about weather...."wait five minutes."

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

agreed, I have wanted a VND filter for a long time that would fit inside a lens hood...

@EricPetersonPhotography Ай бұрын

This is a beast of a lens, first one I bought. It taught me to not fear ISO! I think pairing it with a 20mm 1.8, or the new 16-25 2.8 coming out would be perfect for landscape!

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

definitely I pair mine with the 20 1.8 a lot a love the combo!

@TheJamesBraun Ай бұрын

I really hope we see mark II this year. Although since I got my 20-70 f4 I don’t want to miss the wider side anymore. It’s such a game changer for me

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

nice I have thought about purchasing that lens but I would miss the OSS too much

@bondgabebond4907 Ай бұрын

I've owned this lens for a few years. It is amazingly sharp. Too photos in poor light of my son with the A7R3, wide open. The detail is perfect. Skin and eyebrows/eyelashes are perfectly sharp. And his eye is a perfect marble, entirely in focus. I was shocked as I shot it at a slow speed. The OSS and IBIS really did its job. A new version, smaller and lighter with aperture ring, along with OSS, should be on Sony's roster. It is as good as you say.

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

I could not agree more! It's such a fantastic lens!!

@ZOB4 2 ай бұрын

Great Lens, I usually pair it with the 16-35mm f/4 G PZ. They are a great combo

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

That's a fantastic combo!

@zouph204 2 ай бұрын

I also own fe 24-105g oss， I love it now. I only have two lens, another is 35gm. I feel good about them!

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Very nice combo!

@chrisburks7292 2 ай бұрын

Good video thanks. I have the 24-70 GM mark 1 and do get a bit frustrated with the amount of distortion it has at the long end, is this lens as bad? Also, how does the sharpness compare?

@evenhandedcommentor6102 2 ай бұрын

My 24-70 GM is sharper than my 24-105mm G lens. But that's for close subjects. Haven't actually compared for landscape distances...or anything over 10' from the camera, so can't answer for that. And yes, a one lens comparison is not statistically valid.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

The 24-70 will be sharper for sure, but this lens has better distortion control overall

@hallamphoto 2 ай бұрын

I love my Sony 24-105mm. Impressive sharpness throughout the focal range and has exceptional diffraction control even up to f/16. My 24-105mm is actually sharper corner to corner than my 24mm 1.4 GM at f/4.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

It’s a beast of a lens

@davidligon6088 2 ай бұрын

I had the 24-105. I loved the lens, it does everything pretty well. Then I bought the Tamron 28-200. It does MORE pretty well - for a still photographer. The 28-200 range is super useful, and the f/2.8 is useful for the wide focal lengths while I don’t really miss the 24-28 range. The Tamron has a bit more color fringing in the wider focal ranges (28-35), but I rarely shoot less than F8 for landscape. I currently use, primarily, the 14 GM, 20-70 G and 70-200 Macro G II combination, or the 28-200 if I am carrying a single lens. I gave the 24-105 to my daughter and to reiterate my first sentence, I loved it and miss it occasionally. It just does not fit my current stable. I am hoping Sony replaces their mediocre 24-240 with a 24-200 F4 (or F2.8-5.6) so I can replace the Tamron. I would also consider buying a good, light weight, sharp 20-105 F4 G, with stabilization, in a heartbeat. It would be the perfect pair with the 100-400 GM for my needs.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

great points and I agree with you on the next gen 24-105. I have used the tamron 28-200 and it's fantastic as well

@marc_likes_stuff Ай бұрын

quick question, how does this compared to the tamron's 28-200, in terms of image quality? i watched your tamron vid, and the quality here just looks a lot better, despite many on YT claiming the tamron to be sharper (for some reason, i have a hard time believing that).

@JakeSloan 27 күн бұрын

They are neck and neck the tamron is a bit sharper overall but this does better handheld and with focus breathing

@marc_likes_stuff 27 күн бұрын

@@JakeSloan nice! thank you! i personally think the 24-105 is pretty fantastic. still, i may get that tamron if i feel like i'm going to need telephoto, but also some wide shots.

@wendywitzig119 2 ай бұрын

Your adventures are gorgeous & amazing, especially solo filming in those conditions! Sure hope a version 2 comes out. Which phone app are you using?

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

the phone app for this was just the old sony imaging edge app to control my A1 remotely.

@SPDTDL 2 ай бұрын

I’d go with the 20-70. If you crop in at 70, to a 105 FOV it’s still shaper then the 24-105 (see Toneh’s review). It’s a more modern design too.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

yes but it lacks the OSS in the lens which helps a LOT with handheld shots on sony bodies without dynamic active stabilization or active stabilization. That said I did test the 20-70 quite a bit (you can see a video on my channel about it) and I really like it. fantastic lens and I hope some of it carries over to the next gen 24-105

@funnybeingme Ай бұрын

I really hope Sony updates this lens really soon, perhaps to a 24-120mm. I've been eyeing this lens for the longest time but ended up getting the Tamron 28-200 which is a great all-in-one lens for hiking/backpacking. Unless of course Tamron updates that 28-200 with VC. After all the Tamron aps-c 18-300 has VC.

@JakeSloan 27 күн бұрын

MEEEEE tooo!!! The tamron 28-200 is a super solid lens choice though

@SkyDomeVIZE 2 ай бұрын

I pretty much have the Sony APSC version and is very good for video.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

NICE, I've not tested that one but if I ran apsc cameras I would definitely give it a try

@uffeand440 Ай бұрын

Also, my all to go lens, together with 100-400mm and 20mm.

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

Nice! very similar to me lol

@jarelroxas8713 2 ай бұрын

I love this lens, such a solid lens!!

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

agreed!

@Brandon4Weiss 2 ай бұрын

This lens lives on my camera unless I absolutely need the 2.8 for something like a sit-down interview. Great with the fx3, great with the a7iv.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

100% agree!

@MagnetiqLabs Ай бұрын

Interesting observation... 24-105G and 24-70GMii has approximately the same size and weight, but in hands 24-70GMii feels lighter and more balanced. In my opinion 24-70GMii has perfect balance. It looks like 24-105 has more weight in the front of a lens, so it feels frontheavy and less comfortable. So i wish Sony someday will make second version of 24-105 and it will be just a tiny bit smaller/lighter and less front heavy

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

agreed!!

@NARFALICIOUS 20 сағат бұрын

dude I'm still at a loss of whether you have a camera on follow mode or if you have a very silent cameraman somewhere lol. Anyways, I'm not sure about getting this lens for my a7cii because it's almost as big as the RF24-70.

@Jonathantuba 2 ай бұрын

I used to have this lens and traded for the 24-70 GMii and to be honest have regretted ever since, missing that range to 105mm

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

dang, the 24-70g,II is a great lens but I feel like in run and gun stuff this one still wins out

@bobfreephotography 2 ай бұрын

Probably my most underutilized lens because I have coverage over its entire range with multiple GM lenses. I just got back from Safari and I regret not taking it. I had to make weight choices and I opted for the 14 and 16-35 GM. For several of the scenarios, I wish I had had this lens with me instead of the 16-35.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Oh dang, yeah I almost always opt for this lens when going places I haven't been before because I know 90% of my shots will be covered by it.

@bobfreephotography 2 ай бұрын

@@JakeSloanI took it to Scotland and Europe last year because I didn’t have the big teles but I had to make weight choices for Africa. Going back to Europe this year and Patagonia in the fall and I’ll definitely take it.

@MagnetiqLabs Ай бұрын

I had this 24-105 before, and now i have 24-70 GMii. And to be honest sometimes i think it would be better to stay with the 24-105. I'm a prime lens guy and i have a lot of primes, and in my opinion zoom lens should be versatile. It will never give you the same fast aperture as primes, but it will give you versatility. So to me it looks like 24-70 is not as versatile as 24-105, but because of F2.8 it is also not as beautiful as F1.4 primes. So in my opinion 24-105 has this perfect balance of versatility and good image quality. But i'm mostly make photos with people. If your main focus is landscapes so 24-105 is even more attractive

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

true

@ScottBalkum 2 ай бұрын

Wow! That cave. Is that cave part of the glacier and if so, isn’t that really dangerous?

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

It's is part of the glacier but after carefully looking at the ice structures around it and the structure of the ceiling I felt confident it was safe enough to enter. There were some other ones that were a hard pass due to the cracks I could see around them

@ScottBalkum 2 ай бұрын

@@JakeSloan Wild. I enjoy the multiple different sides to your videos. Your topics, your creativity and skill at capturing stunning stuff and your adventure…. those 3 things are solid!

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Scott! That means a LOT coming from someone like you

@ManasesRamos Ай бұрын

I have this lense(SEL24105G) and use it with my a7iv. Its great for taking pictures but NOT good for videos, the videos don't come out sharp.

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

strange because mine produces great sharp video

@ManasesRamos Ай бұрын

@@JakeSloan This is the only lens that it does not give me sharp videos :(

@sokkerjeff 2 ай бұрын

I don't do video, so I can't compare there, but for photos, I'll take my Tamron 28-200 over the Sony 24-105 all day long. It actually has a wider aperture than the Sony from 28-53mm (f2.8-3.5). It is equal (f4) to the Sony from 54mm-77mm. And it's only a half stop slower (f4.5) from 78-105mm. And THEN, you get 106-200mm of additional zoom, running from f4.5-5.6. Incredibly versatile, great IQ, and yet it's lighter and $500 cheaper ($600 cheaper right now, as Tamron is running a $100 off sale). Yes, I sacrifice the wide end 24-27mm focal length that the Sony has, but I prefer the significantly longer zoom at the telephoto end. The Tamron 28-200, like the Sony 24-105, is truly underrated. It's a terrific, single-lens travel option, and an easy, versatile, all-day carry.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

agreed the 28-200 is a TERRIFIC lens especially if you are more photo focused. where I think the 24-105 beats the 28-200 is handheld video purely because of the extra stabilization you get from the lens.

@evenhandedcommentor6102 2 ай бұрын

I have the 24-105mm G and the original 24-70mm GM. Sorry, but the GM is sharper. I've also tested a second copy of the 24-105mm and it was identical to the first copy. When I say testing, I'm using MTP mapper to produce my own charts. The one caveat to all of this is distance to subject. The test chart is close. I'm using both of these lenses for close subjects, not landscapes. For subjects at moderate to great distance...the results could be very different.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

it better be, it was 2x the price and it's Sony's GM line (top shelf) not the G line, I would hope it would be sharper. Also this is not a comparison video, just a video showcasing what the 24-105 is capable of. Are you using them for macro stuff or just very close subjects (portraits etc) Thanks for watching!

@evenhandedcommentor6102 2 ай бұрын

@@JakeSloan I'm using the 24-105 for close subjects for which 70mm is just not long enough. The GM is not great at 70mm anyway...but the G is worse, but maybe I'm being too demanding. I just got the 70-200mm GM II. That lens kicks some serious butt, but it's better with a bit of distance, not real close. Probably the new 70-200mm Macro would work the best close up, but I also want the 70-200mm to do more than just closeups, and I have the teleconverters to use with it. I have more than one camera and I use remotes for closeups. So, I will continue to use the 24-105mm and the new 70-200mm with remotes...and the 70-200mm without remotes.

@timothy790110 6 күн бұрын

just picked up a use one for $560

@aliendroneservices6621 2 ай бұрын

This lens isn't sexy, but it's a lens every Sony photographer should own. For anyone new to Sony, this should be one of your first lens purchases.

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

I could not agree more!

@filmzfilmz 2 ай бұрын

🔥

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

@yohannsphotographyvideogra9542 2 ай бұрын

When Sony will produce a 24-100 f2.8 will talk

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

man if they did that it would be incredible if they can keep the price under 2,000

@waverunneradventuregfx 2 ай бұрын

Tamron 20 to 40😊

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

that's a great lens as well

@CocoKoi321 Ай бұрын

get teh tamron 34 to 150!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@JakeSloan Ай бұрын

Yesssssss that’s a great lens too. Just way bigger and heavier

@radovanrosic3653 2 ай бұрын

Internal zoom

@JakeSloan 2 ай бұрын

That would be AMAZING and definitely on my list so long as it doesn't make it larger or heavier

@RealJamieWorley 9 күн бұрын

I'm a beginner and taking my family to Hawaii in late July. Is this the lens you would recommend for preserving photo and video memories of the kids (portrait), the kids in action at the beach/zipline, and landscapes? Thanks. Fantastic review. This lens is in my cart, but I'll wait for your response. Thanks again!