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Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Weightg950Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Lengthcm12.4Technical DataHeader / Product LineCanonTechnical DataHeader / LocalizationEnglishTechnical DataHeader / ManufacturerCanonTechnical DataHeader / Packaged Quantity1Technical DataLens System / TypeZoom lensTechnical DataLens System / Special FunctionsZoomTechnical DataLens System / Lens ApertureF/2.8Technical DataLens System / Min Focal Lengthmm24Technical DataLens System / Max Focal Lengthmm70Technical DataLens System / Min Focus Rangecm38Technical DataLens System / Focus AdjustmentManualTechnical DataLens System / Max View Angledegree(s)74Technical DataLens System Mounting / Mounting TypeCanon EFTechnical DataLens System / Optical Zoom2.9Technical DataOptical System / Magnification0.29Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Diametercm8.3Technical DataLens System / System TypeLens
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Technical Details
- EF24-70 MM 1:2 8 L USMSee more technical details
By C. Tuff (UK)
After suffering with my 18-55mm kit lens for a few months I decided to be bold and buy this for my 450d.
First off, I will make the assumption that a lot of people considering this will also be considering the 24-105 f/4, just as I was. After reading a ridiculous number of reviews, I decided there wasn't a huge difference in quality, so it all came down to whether or not you want/need 2.8 aperture and your focal length requirements.
When I purchased this, I also had in mind to buy the 70-200 f/2.8 IS (Which I did buy... and it's lovely), so I decided the 24-70 was ample focal length to cover most things. I also just couldn't pass up the large aperture, and knew I'd always regret not taking the plunge. Decision made.
There's noticeable barrel/pin cushion distortion at the focal extremes, but this is easily fixed in Photoshop and unavoidable in zoom lenses. Chromatic aberration is evident throughout, although again I've not had it to the extent where Photoshop's Camera Raw couldn't remove.
On a crop body (1.6x), it is on the edge of not being wide enough @ 24mm for decent landscapes. You get away with it in most circumstances, but only just. I've found it great for urban photography, portraits (from 50-70mm) and weddings however. The ultrasonic autofocus is great, very silent and fast so no issues there.
Less about image quality... more about the L-factor. This lens quite simply feels expensive. It has a reassuring weight to it which doesn't bother me. The build quality and lack of plastic is great, and you just feel like a pro with this mounted on your camera. The supplied lens hood never leaves my lens unless I'm shooting with Cokin filters.
All in all, this is obviously a very expensive lens, but the quality is superb and the focal length is bang on for a number of applications. I love mine and you will too.
By J. R. Bestall (Herefordshire)
Yes, it's heavy. Yes, it's big. Yes, it's expensive. But if you want the best, the very best, this is it. I did consider the 24-105 but I didn't think IS was necessary and I wanted an f2.8 for a brighter viewfinder image and better bokeh so no contest. When I first used the 5D MkII/24-70 combo I couldn't put my finger on what the results reminded me of. Then it hit me. They reminded me of pictures I'd seen produced by a Hasselblad and Zeiss prime lenses. So buy one if you want the best.
By Dixon (Reading, UK)
What a fantastic lens! and I seemed to get it for a highly competitive price through amazon. It is much heavier than I was expecting but I guess with this level of robustness and quality I should have expected it to be.
Everything about this lens says quality feel appearance and most importantly results.
By Rob (UK)
The 24-70mm f/2.8L USM was my first L-series lens, and like many others I am now hooked. The L has got me. Send help!
I spent a lot of time reading reviews for both this lens and the various 70-200mm flavours, and decided on buying this one first purely because it was heralded as being a wonderful walk-around lens. It does not disappoint.
The box does not involve a lot of pomp and ceremony; it simply contains the beast itself (with lens caps), the hood, the lens case (tote bag style), manual, and warranty. I suggest spending a bit more and buying straight from Amazon to make sure you get UK stock with a valid warranty. You will find the serial number of your lens engraved on the metal docking ring which connects to the camera. Register this with a property tracking site!
As another reviewer mentioned, the lens is built like a tank. Very solid indeed, and weighty. The weight does put some people off, but I have to say I find that oddly reassuring. I'd be somewhat less than satisfied to spend all that money on something which felt light and flimsy.
One word of warning though is that for those of you using the Joby Gorillapod SLR Zoom, it does NOT do a good job of supporting this lens! You need to be very careful with that combo, because as good as it is the Gorillapod SLR Zoom can struggle to support this heavy glass.
One odd feature of this lens is that it reverse zooms. Physically speaking it is shortest at the 70mm focal length, and longest at the 24mm end. The front does not rotate, for those of you wishing to use polarising or graduated filters, and the lens hood stays static relative to the main body of the lens while the zooming elements move back and forth inside it. Because of the USM system, focusing is VERY quiet and VERY fast. It's so fast you can actually find yourself thinking nothing has happened.
Colour reproduction is simply wonderful. I use a Canon EOS 40D, and since buying this lens I have started shooting in full manual mode - it simply makes that big a difference to your shots that it is a massive confidence boost. I've also started using live mode more often, since the super sharp lens makes it easier to manual focus accurately with the underwhelming 230Kpixel LCD screen on the back of the 40D. When using live mode and manual, I've also found that I make more use of the invaluable histogram (RGB mode), which again is basically this amazing lens forcing me to up my game.
I generally set the white balance to whatever is appropriate for the scene, but I have found that the 40D often misses the mark and with shots from this highly accurate lens I find that reselecting a white point with the eyedropper tool in Lightroom gives a much more pleasing and accurate representation. For scenes which have no whites that I would consider using for a neutral point, I use the Lastolite Ezybalance Grey/White Card, which I'd recommend as a cheap and cheerful exposure and white balance accessory. It's not the best thing ever but it is quick and easy to use.
The bokeh this lens creates is just out of this world. At f/2.8 it gives a dreamlike and smoothly transitioned blur to objects both in front of and behind the plane of focus. I have yet to take a photo with this lens that has an unacceptable bokeh, and believe me when I say I have tried to take deliberately bad "worst case scenario" shots.
Image noise is very well controlled, even at ISO1600. In fact I have had better results at 1600 than at 800. The EOS 40D which I use with this lens has high ISO noise reduction, which clearly works well in combo with this lens.
I have seen no vignetting, pin-cushion or barrel distortion. This is likely because the camera I am using has a crop factor; I'd love to test this at full frame but I have no such camera so sorry I can't be of more help on that one. Chromatic aberration? Not seen any evidence of it at all. None. Diddly-squat.
In short this lens is fantastic and it has hooked me on L-glass. I'll be buying a 70-200mm next, and then dedicating the rest of my life to lobbying for the release of a Canon EF 10-24mm f/1.4L.
One final comment - I know other reviewers have mentioned it but I want to reiterate the point: This lens may burn a hole straight through your savings but YOU WILL NOT REGRET BUYING IT.
By Mr. S. Dixon (UK)
I did a lot of research before purchasing this lens, the images that were taken straight out of the box were rather disappointing, as they were noticeably inferior to those taken with my 17-40mm f4L lens. After contacting Canon UK, they suggested sending the lens to them to be checked, which I did on Thursday, on the following Wednesday I received my lens back, and it's performance exceeded all my expectations, it is now a superb lens, and to my mind, the level of service I have received from Canon UK is second to none. If you wish to purchase a superb lens, then you have no need to look further than this one.
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