Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

[Ganesh Mahadevan]

hello all

planning to buy this lens Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

i own a APS-C canon rebel series camera.

after bit of search on google, read lot of very good feedback about this lens on many reviews sites. but most of them are based on full frame cameras and not enough reviews when using on APS-C cameras.

as this lens also being EF need your valuable inputs, feedback regarding overall performance of this lens when used on APS-C cameras.

.

[dje]

Hi Ganesh

The LensTip review site has a review of this lens here.

The resolution tests were done on a FF 5DmkIII but do include figures for the edges of an APS-C camera (which of course are better than those at the FF edges). The sections on Vignetting and Autofocus include information on the performance of this lens on a crop 50D (APS-C).

Dave

[Donald]

The following is a review written on the web site of one of the suppliers from whom I buy equipment:
"A friend of mine recommended this lens to me and what a recommendation! It's an amazing lens, capable of achieving great shots from 24mm through to 105mm. I wasn't sure at first, given the focal width/length but I need not have worried. It's light, with all the 'L' characteristics, the price is so reasonable, and gives great results when used on both my EOS 5D MK III and 7D MK II. In short, I can't recommend it highly enough, especially if you're looking for a reasonably expansive zoom lens of the highest quality."

I think the fact is that a great lens is a great lens, no matter what body you have it on. And the 24-105 is a great lens.

[DanK]

What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another, but if I were you, I wouldn't buy it if you are looking for a general-purpose walk-around lens.

To put this in context, I have both a FF and a crop sensor. I own a copy of this lens, and it is by far the lens most often on my FF. The focal length is excellent (for my purposes) for a walk-around lens on a FF, and for that reason, I chose this lens over some newer 24-70 lenses that are optically better. On the other hand, I think it has been on my crop only once or twice. There is a reason why you don't find many reviews about using it on a crop-sensor camera. The reason is that the focal length range is not a good one for most people on a crop. It has very little wide angle. I learned this years ago, when I bought a Tamron 28-75 /f.28 for my crop sensor camera, which was the only camera I owned then. I loved the lens and kept it for years, but I quickly stopped using it for a walk-around lens because I found 28mm too long for that. Eventually I bought an EF-S 15-85 for that purpose.

On the other hand, if this is the focal length range you want, the lens is a good choice. As I mentioned, there are optically better alternatives, but they are shorter at the long end and more expensive. In some respects (other than length), the lens will perform better on a crop. The lens has fairly serious vignetting at the short end, and most of that will be outside of the field of view of a crop sensor camera. You would also not be using the edges of the lens, which tend to be weaker than the center.

If you do buy one, you might want to consider buying it either used or refurbished. There are a lot of them on the market because they have often been sold as part of a full-frame kit, and people then sell the kit lens to buy something else. That makes the used prices low, at least here in the U.S. In addition, there are occasional specials on refurbs, if you are willing to wait. For example, right now, in round numbers, that lens costs $1000 at B&H, one of the best US retailers. The normal Canon refurb price is $800. Currently, Canon is running a special for $640. I bought mine as a refurb, but the prices were higher then, and I think I paid about $800.

To answer your general question: there is no problem using EF lenses on a crop, but EF-S will not work on on a FF because there is insufficient clearance between the rear element and the camera's mirror. The only drawback of using an EF lens is that you are buying more than you need, since you will not be using the outer parts of the lens. This means that you will be carrying more weight and most likely paying more than you would for a comparable EF-S lens. I have used EF lenses (both Canon and Tamron EF-equivalent) on crop-sensor cameras for years. The lens most often on my crop now is a100mm EF macro, and I also use an EF telephoto zoom with it.

[TonyW]

I bought this lens with the 5diii a couple of years ago. It has performed well and I have not regretted it.

[William W]

+1 to what Dan wrote.

Expanding on my views:

I own the EF 24 to 105 F/4 L IS USM. Like Dan I also have a Dual Format Kit (APS-C and 135 Format Cameras).

For my personal photography, the 24 to 105 F/4 L IS USM is my most often used zoom lens. I use it on 5D Series Cameras and it is a fabulous main working zoom. I don’t think I have ever used the 24 to 105 F/4 L IS on my APS-C Cameras: but that is because the FL range of that lens does not suit ME, when it is used on an APS-C Camera – it is simply not wide enough for my purposes as my working main zoom lens. But, as Dan wrote, this aspect will differ from Photographer to Photographer.

I have a colleague in England who uses the EF 24 to 105 and the EF-S 10 to 22 as a main pair of zoom lenses on a 7DMkII. That would drive me nuts because the cross-over of the two lenses at around FL = 22~24mm is very inefficient for me - but it works for him. So, I think, the basic question is: it really depends whether 24mm is wide enough for you for the type of general photography that you do.

There is a lot of talk about the 24 to 105 F/4L vs. the two 24 to 70 F/2.8L – and in this regard there is a compromise/comparison between one extra stop of Aperture vs. Image Stabilization – and again this is usually only dependent upon what Subjects and how the individual Photographer goes about shooting those Subjects.

The EF 24 to 105 F/4L IS USM will perform excellently on an APS-C camera. All Canon APS-C cameras will accept the Canon EF Mount Lenses.

The question really is - whether or not the Focal Length Range of the lens (especially is it wide enough?) will be the best suited for your: Style; General Shooting Conditions; and Subject Matter - and if, so whether Image Stabilization will be an added bonus.

WW

[Adrian]

I agree with Dan and Bill's advice.

We also have this lens and various full frame and crop bodies. As walk around lens it is compromised on a crop body by being in effect a 38MM lens at the wide end. If that does not bother you then optically and a handling wise it gives good results.

[TobyMac]

I use this lens on a 7d and I love it. It's my go to lens when I go on holiday and I know I want to pack as little as possible. The focal range is nice except that it isn't quite wide enough. Other than that it is a great lens and very versatile.

[Geoff F]

I've had that lens for a few years, Ganesh, and its OK but I've never been that keen on it. I have always had very variable results without any real logical reason. With the light at optimum brightness and angle it will work fine but at other times I have been disappointed with the results.

Then, the second time it went wrong, I purchased the Tamron 24-70 which I think is much superior, although I sometimes miss the 70-105 length. On a 7D.

Eventually I got the 24-105 repaired and now keep it for a 'rough use' lens on a 40D; where I wouldn't too upset if it got dropped or wet etc.

[Ganesh Mahadevan]

Many thanks everyone for all your inputs...! very much helpful information from each one.

[inkista]

I'm another person who's used the 24-105 on both crop and full frame (50D & 5DMkII). It works well on both, but it's really a fantastic walkaround lens on full frame, because of how wide 24mm is on full frame. Unless you habitually shoot long with a walkaround zoom, the 24-105 on a crop can be too narrow sometimes. The crop analog to the 24-105 is the EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.

Granted, the EF-S lens isn't an L. But the image quality is really good from most reviews, and more importantly, it goes just as wide on APS-C as a 24 does on full frame (15x1.6 => 24). Granted, the max. aperture isn't constant, but f/3.5 is only 1/3 of a stop wider, and f/5.6 is only one stop smaller, so it's roughly the same. The 24-105, being f/4 is no good for fast action in low light. Stabilization only helps with camera shake, not subject motion blur.

You can pair the 24-105 with the 10-22, but if 22-24mm isn't a comfortable "breakover" point for you, that may or may not work.

Remember, also, that the 24-105L is a kit lens for the full-frames Canon makes, and also has compromises. It's a 4x zoom, with some performance compromises at the wide end in terms of C/A and distortion. It's f/4, to keep it small and light, so it's not particularly fast. It's very convenient. But for ultimate image quality, the 24-70 f/2.8L USM II is probably more highly regarded. Despite being an L and having a hefty price tag, it's not perfect or magic. It's still just a lens.

[rpcrowe]

I shoot with a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS on a crop camera and team it up with a 70-200mm f/4L IS.

If I were to use tha 24-105mm f/4L IS lens on a crop camera, I would probably need to additionally carry my 12-24mm f/4 Tokina in because the 24mm would not be wide enough.

I KNOW that 24mm is not wide enough for my style of shooting because I once carried the 12-24mm f/4 Tokina in tandem with a 24-70mm f/2.8L (Mk-1). I needed the extra wide focal range of the 12-24mm but the 24-70L was not long enough; so I ended up carrying three lenses including a 70-200mm f/4L IS lens. That became too much of a burden and I switched to the 17-55mm + the 70-200mm lenses; a combination with "almost" the focal range at a far lighter weight...

[Glenn NK]

I've had this lens since September 2006.

I bought to go with the 30D (APS-C).

Rarely found it to be too narrow/long when set at a FL of 24 mm.

It comes down to personal preference and usage which is not debatable.

Glenn