Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS II USM
max. magnification 0.24x
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is a standard zoom lens made by Canon for full-frame DSLR cameras with the Canon EF mount. It belongs to Canon's professional L-series and covers a range from wide-angle to short telephoto, making it a general-purpose lens for travel, reportage, landscape, portrait, and product photography.
The lens is the second version of Canon's professional 24-105 mm f/4L zoom line and succeeded the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. Canon describes the model as a versatile standard zoom lens covering wide-angle to mid-telephoto shots and notes improvements such as Air Sphere Coating, improved peripheral brightness, and image stabilization rated up to 4 stops by the CIPA standard.[1]
The optical design consists of 17 elements in 12 groups, and the lens uses a ring-type USM drive with full-time manual focusing.[2] The closest focusing distance is 0.45 m, the filter thread is 77 mm, and the weight is approximately 795 g.[2]
Questions, comments, and user impressions about this lens can be left on the article's discussion page.
Lens usage
The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is designed as a walk-around professional zoom. At 24 mm it can be used for landscapes, interiors, architecture, and general scenes. At the longer end it is suitable for portraits, details, travel photography, events, and reportage. The constant f/4 aperture keeps exposure consistent while zooming, which is useful for both still photography and video.
Advantages
The main advantages of the lens include:
- Versatile focal range. The 24-105 mm range covers wide-angle, standard, and short telephoto fields of view in one lens.
- Constant f/4 aperture. Exposure and depth-of-field behaviour remain predictable across the whole zoom range.
- Image stabilization. The built-in optical stabilizer helps with handheld shooting, especially at longer focal lengths and slower shutter speeds.
- Ring-type USM autofocus. The focusing system is fast and quiet, with full-time manual override.
- L-series construction. The lens has professional positioning, weather-resistant construction, and a robust body compared with ordinary consumer zooms.
- Close focusing for a standard zoom. The 0.45 m closest focusing distance and 0.24x maximum magnification make the lens useful for detail shots, although it is not a macro lens.
Limitations
The limitations of the lens include:
- Weight and size. At about 795 g, it is much heavier than compact prime lenses and many consumer zooms.
- f/4 aperture. The lens is not as bright as f/2.8 standard zooms and does not blur the background as strongly as fast prime lenses.
- Price. As an L-series lens, it is more expensive than simpler 24-105 mm or 24-85 mm lenses.
- Edge performance and distortion. As with many standard zooms, image quality may vary across the frame and across the zoom range; architectural scenes may require correction for distortion.
- Designed for the EF system. The lens can be used on Canon RF cameras only through an EF-EOS R adapter.
Lens characteristics
Focal length range
The 24-105 mm range makes the lens useful as an everyday full-frame zoom. The 24 mm end provides a wide-angle view for landscapes, interiors, and environmental scenes, while the 105 mm end offers a short telephoto perspective for portraits, details, and more compressed compositions.
Canon lists the diagonal angle of view as 84° to 23°20′, the horizontal angle as 74° to 19°20′, and the vertical angle as 53° to 13°.[1] On APS-C cameras the lens can also be mounted, but the field of view becomes narrower because of the crop factor, making it less suitable as a wide-angle option.
Autofocus
The lens uses a ring-type USM autofocus drive. This system is intended for fast and quiet focusing and allows full-time manual focus adjustment without switching the lens out of autofocus mode.[2] Such behaviour is useful in reportage and event photography, where the photographer may need to correct focus quickly.
Image stabilization
The EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM includes optical image stabilization. Canon describes the stabilizer as improved from 2.5 stops in the previous generation to 4 stops under CIPA measurement standards.[1] Stabilization helps reduce blur caused by camera shake, but it does not freeze the movement of a fast-moving subject.
Optical design
The lens contains 17 elements in 12 groups.[2] Canon states that the design uses glass-molded aspherical elements and Air Sphere Coating to improve image quality and suppress flare and ghosting.[1] Compared with the previous version, the second-generation model was intended to improve sharpness, peripheral brightness, stabilization, and mechanical handling.
Close-up photography
The closest focusing distance is 0.45 m, and the maximum magnification is 0.24x.[1] This is useful for flowers, food, travel details, and product-like close-ups. However, the lens is not a dedicated macro lens and does not provide 1:1 reproduction.
Sharpness and image quality
For a general-purpose zoom, the lens is intended to provide strong performance over a broad focal range. In practice, it is most useful when the convenience of a single lens is more important than the maximum aperture of an f/2.8 zoom or the smaller size of a prime lens. Stopping down can improve edge sharpness and reduce some optical imperfections, especially in landscape and architecture work.
Differences from the previous version
The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM replaced the first-generation Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. The main changes include:
- updated optical design with 17 elements in 12 groups;
- improved image stabilization rated up to 4 stops;
- closest focusing distance of 0.45 m;
- 10-blade diaphragm;
- updated coatings intended to reduce flare and ghosting;
- revised construction and controls.
Sample photographs
- Sample photographs taken with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
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Issyk-Kul lake, Kyrgyzstan -
Arabel valley, Kyrgyzstan -
Ak-Sai canyons, Kyrgyzstan -
Kok-Moynok canyons -
Barskoon waterfall
Overall assessment
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is a practical professional zoom for photographers who need one lens for many everyday tasks. It is especially suitable for travel, events, reportage, landscape, and general full-frame photography. Its strengths are the useful focal range, constant f/4 aperture, optical stabilization, USM autofocus, and L-series construction.
The main trade-offs are size, weight, price, and the f/4 maximum aperture. Photographers who need stronger background blur or better low-light capability may prefer a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens or fast prime lenses, while those who need a lighter kit may choose a simpler standard zoom.