Canon 24 105 f4 USM L IS review

Canon 24 105 f4 USM L IS review

 

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All of the above pictures has been made with the Canon 24 105 L is USM lens and the Canon 30D camera.

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Official name:

Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L is USM

Technical datas:

Focal length: 24 – 105mm

Close focus distance: 45 cm (1.48′)

Weight: 670 g (23.63 oz)

Dimensions: 83 x 107 mm (3.27 x 4.2 “)

Filter size: 77mm

Ultrasonic focus motor: yes

stabilizer: yes

Canon 24 105 f4 is lens Canon 30D camera body 105mm f7.1

Canon 24 105 f4 is lens Canon 30D camera body 105mm f4 heavily cropped little sharpened

Introduction:

The Canon 24 105 f4 L is USM is a general purpose or kit lens on  a Full Frame camera. What does it mean ? If you not want to change lenses all the time, perhaps the preference to have one lens that does everything. The lens often is compared with the Canon 24 70 f2.8 L USM as two general purpose “pro zooms”. The 24 70 is bigger and heavier, 1 stops faster, the 24 105 has more range, smaller and lighter. The 24 105 USM autofocus is much more faster than the 24 70 Mk I’s autofocus. Another difference is that the 24 105 has an image stabilisation system. Both lenses are very expensive, the 24 70 is a little bit more expensive. The 24 70 has a new improved Mark II version for “galactic” money. I would say for hobby usage both of them very much overpriced. On the used market is possible to find samples with a more “sane” price tag. Professionals prefer the 24 70 because of the f2.8 brightness and perhaps a little bit better optical quality and better bokeh, people like more range and wants comfort, or mainly wants to use the lens outdoors prefers the 24 105.  To make the idea complete some people who likes primes doesn’t prefer any of this zooms, or people don’t like to spend this amount of money on lens. The 24 105 is very often can be find on the used market. I thought about it o’ lot why ?

Built quality and ergonomics:

I would say the built quality and ergonomics of this lens is very good. Both rings are working very nicely. Although if I check the new price of this lens, I wouldn’t say this lens cannot be built better as the latest Sigma lenses (Sigma 18-35 f1.8, 35 f1.4) for example.The lens although not small or light, only if compare to it’s bigger brother the Canon 24-70 f2.8L. The lens hood is much smaller than the lens hood of the 24 70. The autofocus is very quick in any setting, much quicker than the 24 70 Mk I’s autofocus. In Zooming there are little play at turning at close distances, after longer routes. the longest is between 70 and 105mm, the shortest between 24 and 35mm. The whole zoom action is turning approximately 90 degrees. I don’t throw my lens at concrete to check how durable it is, perhaps can survive that as well. The af-mf and Stabilizer on- off switch operates little bit hardly, perhaps this helps not to switch them accidentally. The lens has a distance scale in foot and meters. The lens also has infrared index of 24,35 and 50mm.

Optical qualities:

This is a very fine lens. The results are very consistent throughout the range. Even the weakest spot (105mm f4) is not bad. The lens is very sharp even at f4 in wide angle settings up to perhaps 50mm. The sweet spot or sharpest setting is f5.6 at both end of the zoom range. Colours and contrast are nice but on Crop bodies perhaps the lens overexposes, which makes the pictures soft and showing low contrast. The biggest optical problem is the flare: newer copies reported to be better, but older copies doesn’t like bright sunlight. The Tamron 17 50 is much better in this regard. On FF frame distortion and vignetting expected. The lens works excellently in low light thanks to the stabilizer for non-moving subjects.

 

Bokeh at 105mm f4 won’t be better than this, unless the background is further away.

The range at Aps-C

24mm f5.6 ISO 200 :

105mm f5.6 ISO 200:

105mm f10 ISO 200 1/800s:

Sweet spot: f5.6 at both end of the zoom range

Stabilizator test, both shot at 105mm 1/5 s

Recommendation:

Lots of this lenses can be found at used market, because of this reason I would say check optical qualities before buy. For optical qualities I would say together with it’s Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Mk I brother is not an ultimate quality lens optically. But, it has a versatility that most other very high optical quality lens lacks. If you live this focal length perhaps not need to change lenses all the time, which is a pain, or carry two camera bodies (which is also a pain). For my taste this lens is not bad, but post processing is needed. The lens gives consistent quality results for all focal length and aperture. For crop body I recommend Tamron 17 50 if optical quality is the first priority. If range, durability, or silent autofocus is more important perhaps this lens is also good but the 24mm is a big drawback compare to Canon 15-85 is for example. The Canon 15 85 is is a better one lens solution to a crop body.

Drawbacks:

Flare: in bright sunlight conditions the contrast level is reduced, and flare problems occur, I heard older copies has this problem more pronounced, perhaps newer are better but compare to 200 f2.8 or Tamron 17 50 this lens is very bad at bright sunlight. Inside usage a flash is perhaps needed. Seems on Aps-C cameras the lens overexposes with approximately 2/3 stop, at least my copy on my Canon 30D.

Canon 24-105mm f/4 L detailed specification

Item	Canon 24-105 f/4 is
Mount:	EF mount
Filter size:	77 mm
Lens elements / groups:	18 lenses / 13 groups
Exotic Lens elements:	3 aspherical and 1 super UD lens element
Weight:	0.67 kg (1.48 lbs. )
Dimensions:	84 x 107 mm ( 3.27 x 4.2 ” )
Close focus distance:	0.45 m (1.5′)
Autofocus:	Ultrasonic
Stabilizer:	Yes
Front element rotates:	No
Moving barrel elements during focusing:	No
Focus preset modes:	No
Switches:	stabilizer on-off,
Lens Mount:	Metal
Filter thread:	Plastic
Lens Mount:	Metal
Format:	Full frame
Magnification:	0.25 x
Reproduction ratio:	1:4
Aperture blades:	8 rounded diaphragm blades
Distance scale:	yes
Manual focus override:	yes
Focal length:	24-105 mm
Max Aperture:	constant f/4
Min Aperture:	f/22
Angle of view:	84-23°20′ on Full frame
FTM (Manual focus override):	yes
Focus limiter:	No
Tripod mount ring:	No
Lens hood:	yes, EW-83 H
Accessories:	Lens hood back cup front cap 77mm
Sealing against dust / moisture:	Yes
Tilt / shift:	No