Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM EF Review Round-Up
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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Photo Zone
The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 USM L proved to be a worthy representative of the pro-grade lens league … if you can get a good sample. During the last two years four lenses has seen the lab with only one within specs – this is disappointing especially for a lens of this price class. If you ´re lucky enough to get a decent sample you can expect a very high performance level, especially when stopped down a bit. Distortions, vignetting and CAs are well-controlled. The build quality is superb with only the reverse zoom extension as a minor downside. Even so the 24-70mm range is not all that attractive on APS-C DSLRs (39-112mm) – the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS is a better and cheaper bet except regarding build quality. READ FULL REVIEW
The new 190XPROB model retains all the best-loved features of its predecessors but provides improvements in build, compactness and ease of use. Swinging the centre column from vertical to horizontal position is straightforward. You simply release the column locking knob and raise the column while pressing the button at the base of the column. When the column is in its highest position, this button triggers a release that allows it to be swung into horizontal position. The camera can then be balanced by sliding the entire column forwards. Reversing these steps restores the column to its vertical position. This adjustability is valuable for macro photography, low angle shooting, extreme balance points and off-centre work. It will also be valuable for chair-bound photographers, who can sit beside instead of behind the tripod and be much closer to the camera’s viewfinder. 
If the 3001 is the light weight of the trio, the 3051 is the heavyweight. It weighs in at 12.65 lbs. Way too much to carry around in the field for most people. However, it’s very, very, stable. It’s also big even when collapsed (over 3ft without a head) since it only has two-section legs. One unique feature is that just by pushing a tab at the top of the tripod, you can release all three legs, extend the tripod to the height you want, then lock it by releasing the tab. You can also do the same thing for each leg individually. It’s the most stable tripod I’ve used, beating out the 3 and 4 series Gitzos and Carbon Fiber tripods. So it should, given its weight. If you can haul it around in the trunk of your car, or use it in a studio, it’s great, but carrying it far isn’t an option I care for very much. Not a field tripod in my opinion, but you can’t buy more stability for around $200. 
This carbon-fiber tripod’s light 3.1-pound weight makes it extraordinarily easy to carry for a model with a maximum height of 54.3 inches — 63.4 inches with the center column fully extended. Its three-segment legs use Gitzo’s new G-Lock twist-lock system, a variation on the traditional knurled locking collar that’s said to increase the stability of the ‘pod when the legs are locked at narrower angles. The GT2530 gives you a choice of three such angles; both leg joints and twist locks are smooth and easy to operate. The rubber feet unscrew and can be replaced with other types of feet that Gitzo sells separately. That makes the tripod less versatile out of the box than a model with the familiar combination rubber-and-retracting-spike feet, but the included feet are shaped to provide good stability. The GT2530’s center column is both reversible and removable, and it has a built-in hook for adding weight to stabilize the tripod. For extreme low-angle shooting, the mounting plate can be unscrewed from the center column and attached directly to the top of the legs. Anyone who has ever struggled to unscrew a mounting plate should be grateful for the two handle-like nubs on the top of the tripod; these make it easy to grip and turn the mounting plate and its base separately. With the center column in place, the GT2530 has a minimum height of 13 inches. About $535 (with carrying bag). 
If you’re buying a tripod on a shoestring budget, this aluminum model will give you all the basics for well under $100. It’s the only tripod in this year’s group with a head included in the price, so there’s no need to purchase one separately. The head’s three-way pan/tilt design, which is operated with twist-locks and a panning handle, is suitable for both photo and video shooting; the tripod comes with two quick-release plates so you can leave one attached to your camera and one to your camcorder. The standard head can also be removed, either to use a different head with the legs or to mount the head on the bottom of the center column for low-level shooting. Built to support up to 11 pounds of gear, the 757 weighs a modest 6.2 pounds, head included. The head isn’t made of the strongest stuff, though, so we’d keep one hand on it if mounting a very heavy lens. Closed up the tripod is 29.3 inches long. Fully extended, it rises to 61.5 inches; crank its geared center column all the way up and you get a surprising 74.8 inches of height. Although this model’s three-section legs aren’t particularly sturdy, it compensates by attaching them to the center column with built-in braces. Other handy features include two spirit levels (one on the head and one on the legs) and retractable foot spikes. About $80. 