Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras | 
| Brand: Canon
List Price: $1,249.00
Buy New: $874.00
You Save: $375.00 (30%)
New (27) Used (15) Refurbished (2) from $795.00
Rating:  123 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Optical Zoom: 4.4
Maximum Focal Length: 105
Minimum Focal Length: 24
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 6 x 2 x 2
MPN: 0344B006
Model: 0344B006
UPC: 013803050844
EAN: 0013803050844
ASIN: B000AZ57M6
Release Date: November 1, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| 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 |
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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)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 118 more reviews...
 An excellent walkabout lens July 9, 2006
L. T. Beasimer (Dallas, TX)
177 out of 191 found this review helpful
I first bought the Canon EF 28-135mm IS lens to use with my Canon 10D along with the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Zoom Lens. About four years later I have sold all my original purchases. The Canon EF 28-135mm was my most used lens, and I still had it until March 2006 when I replaced it with the Canon EF 24-105mm IS f/4L.
Being an L lens, the dust and moisture resistant construction of the Canon EF 24-105mm IS f/4L is sturdy. The lens consists of eighteen elements in thirteen groups including one Super-UD glass element and three aspherical lenses to minimize chromatic aberration and distortion. With a standard twist zoom focus, this lens permits for auto or manual focusing depending on how the switch is set.
Some of the earlier lenses had an issue that caused lens flare. This issue was resolved quickly with a recall. If the control number located on the back cover of the lens begins with a UT and the following number is less than 1,000, then the lens is affected and should be sent in for repair.
The Canon EF 24-105mm IS f/4L lens is compact measuring 5 inches long and lightweight weighing in at about 1.5 lbs/670 kg, and accepts 77mm filters. Be sure to get a good quality UV haze filter to protect the front lens element. Not only do I see this as a good practice, Canon recommends doing so on their site as well. The f/stop ranges from 4 - 22. The closest focusing distance is 18 in/45 cm. In addition, the lens has a USM drive mechanism for optimum AF performance, and the pulse control diaphragm (EMD) ensures precise aperture control.
The IS system is composed of a pair of gyro sensors to detect vertical and horizontal motion and a microprocessor that compensates for it by shifting special lens elements in parallel with the perceived movement. It is recommended that the IS be off when shooting on a tripod. I have used the IS on my Bogen 3231 monopod with legs successfully. A monopod is not as stable as a tripod though, with or without the legs. Using the IS, you can obtain sharp pictures three stops below where you normally would. This is a huge advantage in dim light or places where flash is prohibited. Just keep in mind, the IS attempts to eliminate camera movement, not the movement of the subject being photographed.
A distance scale ring sits below the focus ring. Turn the distance scale ring all the way to the left and you are set for low magnification close-up photography. Turn it to the right and you are able to set for infinity compensating for changes in temperature as necessary. The distance scale includes figures in red as an infrared index to use when shooting black and white infrared film. Shooting infrared is not available on all cameras. If this feature is a must, make sure this lens is compatible for infrared photography on your camera body.
The Canon EF 24-105mm IS f/4L includes a 1 Year US Warranty, the front & rear lens caps, the LP1219 soft pouch, and the EW-83H lens hood. The hood will decrease chances of lens flare and increase metering accuracy. If you use filters, Canon recommends against stacking.
The Canon EF 28-135mm lens is similar in build a little shorter and weighs a couple ounces less. Of course the Canon EF 28-135mm has a wider focal range. Both lenses have single mode IS capabilities, and are good walkabout lenses. Having used the Canon EF 24-105mm IS f/4L the difference in weight and length is hardly noticeable. The shorter focal distance is not missed, and I have a constant f/4 through out the focal scale unlike the Canon EF 28-135mm with a 5.6-36 on the long focal range. The images using the Canon EF 24-105mm IS f/4L is sharper and clearer than those using the Canon EF 28-135mm.
If the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS lens' price is not a problem, this is the lens to get. Otherwise purchase and enjoy the 28-135mm IS lens. The great thing about Canon lenses is they tend to hold their value. If you want to upgrade from the 28-135mm, sell it on a popular auction site like I did.
PROS:
A compact L standard IS zoom that is an excellent walkabout lens.
Versatile multipurpose lens
CONS:
A price typically found on L lenses
May become your most used lens
 Superb Image Quality Once You Get a "Good Copy" March 26, 2006
Michael Morgan (The Last Hometown)
114 out of 116 found this review helpful
I have owned two copies of this new lens (Nov 05 and Jan 06 builds). Both consistently front-focused on my Canon calibrated 20D. I kept the Nov 05 lens (much sharper than the Jan 06 copy when manually focused) and sent it to Canon for "calibration." The Jan 06 lens went back to Amazon with a note indicating how it was defective. The calibrated lens now provides very sharp and contrasty images, even wide open at f4 for 24-85mm. Image quality fades somewhat as 105mm is approached but is still excellent if the aperture is stopped down to f5.6. I've conducted controlled tests and this lens is just as sharp at f4 as my Canon 50mm f1.4 when stopped down to f4 and at 70mm it matches the image quality of my excellent 70-200 f4L. The image-stabilization really works and allows sharp photos of stationary or slow moving subjects to be taken in the same light as an f1.4 lens. I'm happy with the final outcome but Canon's poor quality control makes getting a good lens a matter of luck and/or determination.
Wonderful general purpose lens, with the expected limitations May 11, 2007
M. Broderick (Oklahoma City, OK USA)
75 out of 78 found this review helpful
The name of the game here is portability, flexibility, and good but not incredible image quality.
This lens is often tagged a "walkabout" lens, and that's a good description. There's nothing better if you want to carry camera and lens about and get a variety of shots in the range from wide angle to short telephoto. It's difficult for lens designers to make all the compromises necessary to have a lens go from wide angle to telephoto, and have a max focal length over four times the widest focal length, but Canon has done a good job here. The image stabilization works excellently when hand held (it cuts image quality if you use the stabilization from a tripod, though). The f/4 maximum aperture cuts the size and weight down quite a bit. Image quality is excellent for a zoom from about 30mm up to 90mm, good from 90mm to 105mm, and tolerable from 24 to 30mm (getting better in the 28 to 30mm range). As expected, image quality is best stopped down to about f/8, but is still good wide open at f/4.
I can't say the lens has major flaws, but relative weaknesses are the wide angle performance, and the f/4 maximum aperture. The lens is not fast enough for shots of moving subject indoors. For stationary subjects, the image stabilization lets you take shots with slower exposure times than you'd expect, but stabilization won't do anything to improve a moving subject.
Build quality is excellent as expected, but the lens is quite compact and light, much better than the 24-70/2.8 zoom that is its obvious rival.
Also, if you are after the absolute maximum image quality, prime lenses will do better than this lens in the normal and telephoto range (35 to 105). My $75 50/1.8 lens far outshines this one in sharp, crisp imaging. Zooms that don't have to accomodate both wide and telephoto focal lengths will also outperform this one--My 70-200/4 lens is much sharper and more contrasty, and even my 16-35 lens outperforms this one in the 24-28mm range (the 24-105 does do better from about 30-35mm, though). All these things aren't surprising, and they are no reason to condemn or even criticize the 24-105.
If money isn't a major concern for you, and you want a superb compromise lens, this is the one to pick. The only lens that can hold a candle to it is the old 28-135 IS zoom. If you get that one, you'll get inferior image quality and much less effective stabilization. But you'll also save quite a bit of money!
 Disappointed with first copy! May 1, 2006
R. Lloyd (East Coast USA)
64 out of 86 found this review helpful
I'd read all of the great reviews of this lens and ordered one.
I compared sharpness of the 24-105 to my Canon 17-85, 70-200 F2.8IS and the tamron 28-75. All three of these (YES EVEN THE 17-85), absolutely exceeded the 24-105 in contrast and sharpness. The 24-105 was not even close to the other three. All were shot at F5.6 at about 75-80mm. The 24-105 looked like a $100 lens compared to the other three!
That copy is on it's way back to Amazon. I'm hoping that it was just one of those infamous 'bad copies'.
COMMENTS added 08May2006: I received my second copy of the 24-105. The sharpness and contrast of the second copy are equal to that of the 70-200 F2.8IS. If you are planning on buying this lens, test it to make sure your copy is truly of "L" quality!
Great walkaround, first L lens. January 22, 2006
L. Jones (California)
40 out of 41 found this review helpful
I believe where this lens meets it's expectations is the ability as a walkaround that can shoot everything with quality.
I was looking for a lens that would allow me to have two lenses on a shoot. One being a longer zoom, or one a prime portrait low light, whichever needed, along with my new 24-105Lf4IS... I got tired of lugging alot of lenses around.
The Image Stabilization in this lens is superior to the older version, which makes up for low light situations. It would have been nice though if Canon could have managed a f2.8-4 instead, but the lens takes excellent quality L shots, better quality and color than the 17-85IS. Hand held at 1/7s no prob.
It has become my "always on" lens, the colors are very pleasant, replacing my 17-85IS. If you are looking for a step into the "L" world, this lens is it. You can add the primes later. Now I'm hooked on my first "L".
The 24-105L coupled with the 70-300IS would make a complete package for quality range and pro shots.
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