Product Description

The L-series is Canon's flagship professional lens range, designed to include outstanding image performance, ultimate operability and weather resistance. The EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM offers a lightweight alternative to the renowned EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. offers the highest possible optical quality with no change in aperture over the full focal range of the lens. This allows photographers to set exposure at the widest aperture and zoom all the way through to 105mm without having to vary the shutter speed.

Image Stabilizer (IS) dramatically reduces image blur caused by camera shake. Gyro sensors detect unwanted vibrations, triggering the corresponding movement of a correcting lens group perpendicular to the optical axis. This alters the light path, returning the image to its correct position on the sensor or film plane. The 3 stop advantage means that photographers normally shooting a 105mm lens handheld at 1/125 sec can obtain a shake free result with a shutter speed as low as 1/15 sec, for vastly extended options in low light conditions.

The ring-type USM motor found in the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM employs ultra-sonic frequency vibrations to drive auto focus with unrivalled speed and near-silent operation. A powerful CPU and improved AF algorithm contribute to speed performance. Good holding torque stops the lens with precision and accuracy, the instant it arrives at the correct focus point and without overshoot. Photographers can choose manual focus instantly and at any time simply by moving the manual focus ring without first having to switch out of auto focus mode. Circular aperture producing attractive background defocus Inner focusing, ring USM and new AF algorithms for fast and quiet autofocusing Manual focusing enabled even during AF mode (full-time mechanical manual focus) Only environmentally friendly lead-free glass used in lens construction Filter diameter 77 mm / Dimensions (dia x len)

Product Details

• Brand: Canon
• Model: 0344B006
• Released on: 2005-11-01
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 2.00" w x 6.00" l, 1.48 pounds

Features

• 24-105mm standard zoom lens with f/4 maximum aperture for Canon EOS SLR cameras
• 1 Super UD glass element and 3 aspherical lenses minimize chromatic aberration and distortion
• Ring-type USM system delivers silent but quick autofocus (AF); full-time manual focus
• Image Stabilizer technology steadies camera shake at up to 3 stops; weighs 23.6 ounces
• Dust- and moisture-resistant; measures 3.3 inches in diameter and 4.2 inches long; 1-year warranty

From the Manufacturer
Dust and moisture resistant and incorporating Canon's very finest standards of precision optics, the EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM is designed for reportage, event, travel, and celebrity photographers looking for a lightweight and maneuverable lens with minimal image quality compromise.

Complementing the EF 17-40mm f4L USM and EF 70-200mm f4L USM, the lens completes Canon's f4L-series zoom lens range. These lenses are designed for professional photographers requiring a light zoom lens with a fixed aperture throughout the zoom range. For outstanding camera-shake reduction, Image Stabilizer allows shutter speeds of 3 stops slower than would otherwise be possible, with no perceptible increase in image blur.

The L-series is Canon's flagship professional lens range, designed to include outstanding image performance, ultimate operability, and weather resistance. The EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM offers a lightweight alternative to the renowned EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM.

Image Stabilizer
Image Stabilizer (IS) dramatically reduces image blur caused by camera shake. Gyro sensors detect unwanted vibrations, triggering the corresponding movement of a correcting lens group perpendicular to the optical axis. This alters the light path, returning the image to its correct position on the sensor or film plane.

The 3-stop advantage means that photographers normally shooting a 105mm lens handheld at 1/125 second can obtain a shake free result with a shutter speed as low as 1/15 second, for vastly extended options in low light conditions.

Superb autofocus
The ring-type USM motor found in the EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM employs ultra-sonic frequency vibrations to drive autofocus with unrivalled speed and near-silent operation. A powerful CPU and improved AF algorithm contribute to speed performance. Good holding torque stops the lens with precision and accuracy, the instant it arrives at the correct focus point and without overshoot. Photographers can choose manual focus instantly and at any time simply by moving the manual focus ring without first having to switch out of autofocus mode.

Constant f4 aperture from 24 to 105mm
The EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM offers the highest possible optical quality with no change in aperture over the full focal range of the lens. This allows photographers to set exposure at the widest aperture and zoom all the way through to 105mm without having to vary the shutter speed. It is the perfect lens for professional photographers looking for a lightweight and extended zoom alternative to its EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM counterpart. The lens employs an almost perfectly circular barrel aperture, helping create attractive, defocused backgrounds.

Image quality
To limit lens size and improve image clarity over the total image area, an Ultra-Low Dispersion glass (UD) element is used to eliminate the secondary chromatic aberrations that otherwise reduce sharpness and introduce color fringing. Aspherical lens elements correct spherical aberration for crisp, high-contrast, corner-to-corner quality. By optimizing Super Spectra lens coatings and lens element shaping, Canon's engineers have been effective in suppressing flare and ghosting--more prone to occur with digital cameras due to reflection off the image sensor. By increasing light absorption, coatings reduce reflections off lens element surfaces to deliver crisp, undistorted images with natural color balance.

EOS system integration
The EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM includes distance metering information, providing compatibility with the E-TTL II flash system of late-model cameras such as the EOS-1D Mark II N and EOS 5D. When used in conjunction with Canon's range of EX Speedlite flash units, the lens passes distance information to the flash algorithm for markedly improved flash exposure metering. To match the weather resistance afforded by EOS-1 professional camera bodies, an O-ring seals the lens against the lens mount and numerous seals around the lens' moving components provide protection against the ingress of dust and moisture.

AF Mode and IS switches have been reshaped, making them less susceptible to being engaged or disengaged accidentally.

The EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM comes with a bayonet mount lens hood EW-83H and soft lens pouch LP1219. In keeping with Canon's Kyosei philosophy of living in harmony with the environment, the lens features only lead-free glass.

Customer Reviews

A Marraiage Made in Heaven
The Canon L 24-105 lens and the Canon 5D. I have been using them together for two years and am very well satisfied. I also use the Canon Fish-eye. It's all pricey but the combination makes for the best photographic equipment I have ever used, and I bought my first Nikon in 1970.

As good as I expected but...
Turn the IS off when you are using a tripod. Don't believe some of the other reviewers who say you should always leave it on. I have ruined
many a 1 second shot with a tripod when I forgot to turn the IS off.
The same time shots on tripod have always been very good without the IS.
What's more the IS only has a limited lifespan and repair is very expensive.

My lens is amazing at 24mm, but a little less sharp at 105 mmm (you have to stop down to get very good results).

IS may reduce camera shake, but it won't help if the subject moves like people at a party. This is why I also bought a 50mm f/1.8 lens.

You might want to invest a small sum in PTLens so as to remove the distortion that is a little obvious at 24mm.

Getting a lemon! It happens.
Blaming soft pictures on the lens however is a whole other story. You can't expect exceptional pictures using the camera's auto settings and shooting without an external flash and diffuser. It's not going to happen. (OK maybe 1 in 100). But let's be realistic here! When I shoot at events 1 in 100 will not do. 1 in 10 will not do. Heck 1 in 5 won't do! I get 1 chance to take the shot. If I am very lucky it's maybe 2 but that's rare. Every shot has to be spot on! It's the difference between getting the gig or not.

So stop crying about how bad this lens is because it's not! To learn how to take pictures in manual mode, pick up a book or two and take a few classes. You will realize in no time that this lens is a great and versatile performer.

Some reviews rant on and on about how bad certain lenses are without providing any feedback on what equipment they use. What settings did they use? What time of day? Inside or outside? It would be very helpful if they provided more information other than stating why the lens is soft or not performing. Half of the time I wonder if they actually own the item. Some may just be Canon haters.

That said I currently shoot with a 20D (waiting for a 5D Upgrade). I use the 580EX II and the 430 EX Speedlites with the Lightsphere II and the WhaleTail. My primary lenses are the 24-105 F/4L IS and the amazing EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Lens.

The pictures I have been able to take with this lens are remarkable. I do event photography and this lens helps me capture a great deal of the action and has just landed me another gig for a big event. They sent out pictures of other 5 photographers and took a vote on who's pictures where the best. I ended up getting the most votes. I got a little creative and I think that did it.

Photography takes a lot of dedication and money. Learning all the acronyms and figuring out how it all fits and works together. No one said that it's going to be easy. But we all started there at one point in our lives. Just please don't blame a lens for your inability to take a crisp or creative picture.

It's all you!!! (Unless you really got a lemon)