Canon EF 24 105mm F4L II USM Review | 54 Data compared

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is a versatile, weather-sealed standard zoom designed for durability and improved performance with an upgraded optical formula, reduced distortion, and a 4-stop Image Stabilization system. Key advantages include the Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to minimize flare, high-quality build for demanding environments, and effective handheld shooting capabilities. Conversely, the review notes the lens is larger and heavier than its predecessor, features a stiff zoom ring, and exhibits significant vignetting at f/4. While designed for uniformity, it sacrifices some peak sharpness compared to other modern lenses, and the barrel design allows for potential lens creep.

The Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS II is a versatile, full-frame, mid-range zoom praised for its exceptional focal range, constant f/4 aperture, and impressive central sharpness. It features robust four-stop image stabilization, quick manual focus override, and a durable design that prevents internal dust. Conversely, the lens is notably larger and heavier than its predecessor, with ordinary autofocus performance that offers no significant speed improvements, according to Ken Rockwell. Additionally, it suffers from visible focus breathing, which causes the image to change size during focusing, particularly at the 105mm setting. Ken Rockwell

The DXOMARK lens review characterizes the Canon EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM as a highly versatile, good-performing zoom lens that compromises absolute center sharpness to achieve better optical uniformity. Evaluated with an overall score of 24 points and a sharpness score of 14 P-Mpix, the lens features a redesigned configuration of 17 elements in 12 groups, including four glass-molded aspherical elements. Major pros highlighted in the testing include exceptional consistency across the image field at all focal lengths, outstanding control over lateral chromatic aberration, excellent light transmission, and low levels of distortion and vignetting. On the mechanical side, it is elevated by a dust- and water-resistant build, Air Sphere Coating, an upgraded 4-stop image stabilizer, and a 10-blade diaphragm for smoother bokeh. Conversely, the review notes prominent cons regarding its raw resolution capabilities, specifically citing a surprisingly low peak center sharpness score that fails to match the original lens or the cheaper STM variant. Optical performance also dips noticeably at the 70mm mark when shooting at wider apertures, revealing lower sharpness compared to both alternative models. Furthermore, physical trade-offs...

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens is a versatile, weather-sealed standard zoom offering excellent central sharpness and an upgraded 4-stop image stabilization system. The Photo Review assessment highlights its superior build quality, effective coating against flare and ghosting, and its utility as a reliable "walkaround" lens for both stills and video. Conversely, the lens shows vignetting and slight edge softening at the 24mm f/4 setting, along with noticeable barrel distortion that often requires correction. Furthermore, it is heavier and larger than its predecessor, and given the incremental sharpness gains, the higher price point may not justify an upgrade for some users.

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS II USM is praised by ePHOTOzine as a reliable, versatile, and well-built lens, making it an excellent choice for travel photography. It delivers exceptional central sharpness, low flare, pleasant bokeh, and effective image stabilization. However, the review notes that the lens has a high price point and exhibits weaker edge sharpness, particularly at the 105mm focal length. While offering solid overall performance, the image quality at the edges drops at the telephoto end, despite high performance elsewhere.

The PCMag review characterizes the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM as a robustly built, versatile lens featuring a 4.4x zoom range, constant f/4 aperture, effective image stabilization, and fluorine coating. While praised for its solid construction and minimal vignetting, the lens falls short of top recommendation due to notable, visible distortion at 24mm and a significant drop in sharpness at the 105mm telephoto end. Given these performance issues, the review concludes that the competing Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM Art offers better value and superior consistency.

The Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM II is a highly versatile walk-around lens that shines in color reproduction, contrast, and professional-grade build quality. It improves upon its predecessor with enhanced sharpness—particularly outside of the center—and better light transmission, offering a noticeable quality leap for photographers upgrading from non-L series glass. Key pros include its dust-and-weather resistance, reliable autofocus, well-controlled chromatic aberration, and a flexible focal range that provides extra reach for portrait and studio work compared to a 24-70mm lens. However, the lens falls short for low-light photography and environments requiring heavy background blur due to its modest, maximum f/4 aperture, which yields flat bokeh. A notable con is its lackluster image stabilization for still photography, which can result in unexpected motion blur at slower shutter speeds, though it performs adequately when shooting handheld video. Additionally, the lens is larger and heavier than the original version, and its long-term resale value is potentially compromised because it is frequently bundled as a common camera kit lens.

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is a versatile, robust, and weather-sealed full-frame lens that covers a highly functional focal range from wide-angle to medium telephoto. This successor model features notable upgrades, including an advanced Air Sphere coating that successfully eliminates lens flare, reduced lateral chromatic aberration, and an updated optical design with a 10-blade aperture for smoother bokeh. Its improved image stabilization system offers a crucial advantage of over three stops of correction, making it highly effective for handheld shooting in low light. Additional physical pros include a 0.45x magnification ratio that is excellent for close-ups, constant f/4 brightness across the zoom range, and a new zoom lock switch to prevent lens creep during travel. Despite these enhancements, the review highlights several distinct cons, noting that the lens is physically larger and an ounce heavier than its predecessor. Crucially, the overall sharpness and image quality do not show a clear, significant leap over the original ten-year-old model, requiring photographers to stop down the aperture to achieve crisp edges and corners. Without in-camera or software corrections, geometric distortion...