Product Description

The Zoom Lens EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM was developed as the successor to the EF28-70mm f/2.8L USM lens released in November 1993. Featuring a new optical system design, the new zoom lens delivers an expanded zoom range with a 24 mm wide-angle focal length, ideally suiting it to digital image sizes, while also maintaining or improving on the outstanding image quality of the superseded model.Moreover, the power of the focusing lens group has been increased to allow a minimum focusing distance of just 0.38 meters, the shortest in its class at the time, throughout the entire zoom range. The new EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM also features a circular diaphragm, to give better background blur, and utilizes only lead-free glass optics in consideration of the environment.

Product Details

• Brand: Canon
• Model: 8014A002
• Dimensions: 5.60" h x 5.60" w x 8.00" l, 4.00 pounds

Features

• EF mount; standard zoom lens; Comes with Lens Cap E77U, Rear Lens Cap, Lens Hood EW-83F, Soft Lens Case 1219.
• Ultra-low Dispersion glass with Fluorite elements; inner focusing ring; full-time manual focus; aspherical lens
• 24-70mm focal length
• f/2.8 constant maximum aperture
• UltraSonic Motor (USM) AF actuator

Amazon.com Product Description
The Canon EF 24-70mm standard zoom lens does what many pros thought couldn't be done--it replaces the L-series 28-70mm f/2.8 lens with something even better. The lens offers extended coverage to an ultra-wide-angle 24mm, making it ideal for digital as well as film shooters. The new processing unit, meanwhile, makes the autofocus (AF) faster than ever. And thanks to the two aspherical elements and a totally new UD glass element, the optics are far superior to the earlier lens. Sealed and gasketed against dust and moisture, the EF 24-70mm lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 24-70mm
• Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 74 to 29 degrees
• Focus adjustment: Front-focusing method
• Closest focusing distance: 1.25 feet
• Zoom system: Rotating type
• Filter size: 77mm
• Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.9 inches long
• Weight: 2.1 pounds

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Lens, especially when clarity counts
This is a fantastic lens that has the ability to make any photograph better. The real beauty of this lens is that, in my experience over the past 18 months, the impact of this lens is directly proportional to the quality of the picture taken. That is to say, its effect on mediocre pictures tends to be marginal, if you really look you'll notice a minor improvement in detail and crispness. Take a great picture, something with a lot of details that demands clarity, and that's when this baby start to shine. The more challenging your subject, the more you likely you are to be impressed with this lens.

Nothing in life this good comes cheap, and the costs of this lens are measured in more than just the typical "L" class price tag. As is typically the case with any of the Canon "L" lenses, it is significantly larger that what one might expect a lens of its power range to be. This was the first "L" lens I ever used. When I took it out of the box I though someone had shipped me a 200mm lens. This is a BIG lens for its class with a substantial girth -- the product pictures do not begin to do it justice. It's also a heavy lens, even taking its size into account. This needs to be kept in mind if you are considering using this for your "normal" lens -- which I do. A final consideration is that when this lens is paired with a camera configured for 1.6X field of view magnification, which most Canon digital SLR's are, the 24MM wide angle really doesn't get very far into the wide-angle range. In these cases the lens functions less like a wide-angle to short-tele zoom, and more like a normal to short tele zoom, with a hint of wide-angle capability thrown in for good measure.

Taking all of this into consideration, it is still a fantastic lens. It is difficult to imagine any photographer, pro or hack, not being pleased with it.

Fast, Solid, Incredible Build Quality. Takes Fantastic Pictures!
I now own 4 "L" lenses (see below). I can't think of a single downside to this lens. It is fast, quiet, and the 24-70mm is a great range. On my 40D with a crop factor of 1.6 the lens has a 35mm equivalent of 38.4-112mm. A really nice range. The lens is great for portraits but does so much more. Highly recommended.

Canon Digital EOS 40D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon EF 1.4X II Extender

The most wanted lense
I've used several copies of 24-70mm 2.8L in the last few years. I bought two copies from Amazon. All of them are sharp, fast and accurate focus. It produces high quality images. I like this lense very much and always the first lense in my camera bag.

If you are a frequent traveler and like to do landscape + street photography then this is a good choice. 24-105mm is also a good option, but I prefer 24.70mm because of 2.8 A factor. It will produce nicer colors, bokeh, ... Also, from 50-70mm, you can also produce excellent and truly portrait photos.

For indoor photography with natural light (wedding, event photos) then this is a must have lense. I don't have to say much but most of wedding photographers will use this lense most often.