Despite all the technical metrics, the real measure of a lens boils down to the subjective question: does it take good photos? The EF 24-105L not only takes good photos, it takes beautiful ones, notably nicer than several other well-regarded lenses in the same price range.
As an avid amateur, I don't make a living from my camera, but the results matter a great deal to me. After reading every review I could find, I bought three well-regarded lenses to try on my Canon Rebel T1i. This EF24-105L, the new Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD, and the very-well reviewed Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. Both of the EF-S lenses are newer models than the EF 24-105L and are designed for cropped-sensor cameras.
The short: The 24-105 turned out warmer, more beautiful photos in both indoor and outdoor usage, capturing vibrant, accurate colors. The IS works well and is much quieter than the newer IS in the Canon EF-S 17-55mm. While some sort of external stabilization is necessary, it works reasonably well for low-light photography. And the colors...grasses are green, skin tones look healthy, my cat's fur gleams, and every color pops. The best results of any lens I've tried on my Canon DSLR so far.
On my cropped-sensor camera, there's very little visible fall-off in sharpness at max aperture of f/4 (although there is some softness); never enough that I found myself dialing down the aperture for that reason.
As for the other lenses, I really wanted to like the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, but it seemed to take unusually few "keepers" in similar shooting situations to the EF24-105L. The captured colors were a little cooler, and the IS comparatively very loud (audible without putting your ear to the lens). All of this was enough to offset the wider-angle and the bigger aperture, so back it went (at the thousand-buck mark, I want my glass to impress me!).
The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD was solid all-around but without the oomph I'd expect for 80% of the price of the EF24-105L. It's lighter-weight and has a wider angle, and the IS is a newer generation, but pictures were less rich and didn't pop the way the 24-105L's do. A great walk-around lens if I didn't have the direct comparison to the 24-105L, but only worthwhile if the price difference (or few ounces weight-difference) is make-or-break. I kept this one as a backup (or for travel), but find I never want to swap it in place of the 24-105L.
I also considered the well-reviewed Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, but its lack of IS and much greater weight turned me away since much of my usage is handheld.
And since the EF24-105 is an L series, Canon includes a lens-hood and a structured storage bag, both nice quality.
The cons are what you'd expect: it's a large, heavy, expensive lens, with only a maximum aperture of f/4. It's big enough to draw comments when you take it out in casual settings. But, it's much lighter than other L lenses, and only few ounces heavier than EF-S lenses I tried. The aperture is a limiting factor in low-light photography (tripod or flash or other method required, even with the IS), but the results are consistently very good when properly stabilized. I've used it in a number of bars and other low-light situations.
The EF 24-105L has pretty constantly stayed on my camera since I've had it, turning into my walk-around lens, my portrait lens, my landscape lens.
Very well worth its price. Highly recommended.
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L is USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras
4.4 | 843 ratings
Price: 784.94
Last update: 01-23-2025
About this item
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens: A versatile 24-105mm standard zoom lens with f/4 maximum aperture, designed for Canon EOS SLR cameras.
Optical Excellence: Incorporates 1 Super UD glass element and 3 aspherical lenses to minimize chromatic aberration and distortion, ensuring high image quality.
Smooth Autofocus: Features a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for silent and quick autofocus performance, with full-time manual focus override.
Image Stabilization: Equipped with Canon's Image Stabilizer technology, steadying camera shake by up to 3 stops for sharper handheld shots.
Optical Excellence: Incorporates 1 Super UD glass element and 3 aspherical lenses to minimize chromatic aberration and distortion, ensuring high image quality.
Smooth Autofocus: Features a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for silent and quick autofocus performance, with full-time manual focus override.
Image Stabilization: Equipped with Canon's Image Stabilizer technology, steadying camera shake by up to 3 stops for sharper handheld shots.
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 4.21 x 3.31 x 3.31 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.48 pounds |
| ASIN | B000AZ57M6 |
| Item model number | 0344B002 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars
(843)
4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #484 in SLR Camera Lenses |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | September 14, 2004 |
| Manufacturer | Canon |
| Country of Origin | Japan |
Top reviews from the United States
Omar SiddiqueBeautiful warm photos from a wondeful all-around lens
Ammy_Evaluator