3 December 2008
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
Posted by Jaco under: Canon; Lenses; Reviews; Top 5 Lenses .
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
With the introduction of the EF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM lens, Canon has created quite a dilemma for many of it DSLR users. The Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS is a relatively compact and lightweight lens with sturdy build quality and high quality glass, as can be expected from Canon L-series lenses.
And that’s where the problem lies - the optics of this lens is, for all practical purposes, just as good as the benchmark Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L which says a lot about this lens. The 24-70mm f/2.8L which was introduced in 2002, has proven itself to photographers worldwide and therefor its an achievement for the 24-105mm to keep up with that reputation.
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Keeping with the build quality, the 24-105 feels solid in the hand and is also dust and moisture resistant for those who want to venture outside with it. Given the quality of the images produced by this lens, who wouldn’t want to venture outside? From a sharpness perspective, the Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM Lens performs extremely well, probably just below the best of Canon’s primes. The zooming action is smooth and under most conditions it focuses very quickly and quietly while both auto and manual focusing is available depending on your preference.
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The image stabilization, which differentiates this lens from the 24-70, performs fantastically when hand held, but remember to switch it off when using a tripod. Canon’s Image Stabilization prevents camera shake pretty effectively and provides a 3 f-stop advantage in low light conditions.
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS Lens Sample Photo
This 3 f-stop advantage makes it possible to go down to a shutter speed of 1/3 seconds at 24mm, which can be the difference between a blurred image and a sharp keeper for the portfolio.The Canon EF 24-105mm F/4 L IS USM Lens is very sharp on the wide end at F4 and at the longer focal lengths it may be slightly softer at F4. However, stop it down once or twice at the longer focal lengths and it’s back to flawless image quality. The eight circular aperture blades provide excellent bokeh (background blur). Although F2.8 makes a noticeable difference, the F4 maximum aperture (which is available throughout the focal range) still creates very pleasing defocused backgrounds. Add to this the excellent color and contrast of this lens and all elements for a superb image are present.
The build quality, price and the quality of the images produced by the 24-105 and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L are similar and therefor should not influence your purchase decision. However, the 24-105mm F/4L with its longer focal length and Image Stabilization makes it more versatile and you will probably find that you have it on your camera most of the time, especially if you’re using it for a walkabout or even as a wedding lens. With this versatility, you’ll probably find that you change lenses less often and get more great shots than before.
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Canon EF 24-105mm F/4 L IS USM Lens on 5D Mark II Camera
| Key features | |
|---|---|
| Maker: | Canon |
| Image stabilization: |  Yes |
| Ultrasonic motor: | Yes |
| Short back focus: |  No |
| Macro capable: | No |
| Unique features: | L-Series |
| Application: | Pro Standard Zoom |
| Technical data | |
| Type: | Zoom |
| Focal length: | 24-105mm |
| Frame coverage: | Full frame |
| Aperture (max/min): | f/4 - f/22 |
| Construction: | 13 groups / 18 elements |
| # Diaphragm blades: | 8 |
| Close focus distance: | 1.67ft / 0.45m |
| Max. magnification: | 0.23 (at 105mm) |
| Physical | |
| Max. diameter: | 3.3in / 83.5mm |
| Max. length: | 4.8in / 107mm |
| Weight: | 1.47lbs / 670g |
| Filter diameter: | 77mm |
| Accessories | |
| Lens hood: | EW-83H |
| Angle of view | |
| Horizontal: | 74° – 19°20′ |
| Vertical: | 53° – 13° |
| Diagonal: | 84° – 23°20′ |
| History | |
| Introduced: | October 2005 |
| Retail info | |
| MSRP US$ | 1999 |
Table Source: Wikipedia
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