Whether you were excited for this lens or not, the Canon 24-70mm f/4 IS L lens from Canon is available now. I was rather baffled when I heard the news of its release last November, and I'm still scratching my head at this one. It just seemed like a money grab to me. Nevertheless, if you want it, you can pick it up starting today.
Canon's new 24-70mm can be yours for a cool $1,500 which is considerably less than it's f/2.8 older brother. We'll have to test it in our studios before we can say anything for or against this lens, but if you're a fan of early adoption the price isn't too inhibiting.
Product Features
- Aperture Range: f/4.0-22
- Hybrid Image Stabilization (IS)
- Dual UD & Super UD Lens Elements
- Dual Aspherical Lens Elements
- Ring-Type Ultra Sonic Motor (USM)
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 1.25'
- Macro Mode With 0.7x Magnification
- Weather Resistant to Dust & Moisture
- Fluorine Coatings Reduce Fingerprints
- Zoom Lock Lever
My personal opinion is that this will be the new kit lens with the anticipated 7D MKII. Where that leaves the 24-105mm f/4 or any updates to that lens in the future, only time will tell.
germans have tested it already.
resolution was worse then EF 24-105mm f4.
if that is true this lens sucks.....
Why do you think it's a cash grab?
I personnaly don't like the 24-105 overall quality (image and build). The build will surely be better (all newer lenses are superb, brother just purchased 24-70LII and 70-200LII IS) and the Hybrid image stabilization will be better. Now, I shoot primes. (24LII, 35L, 50 1.4, 85LII, 135L) This will be my only zoom and only lens over f2. This should be a gem for hand held video with my C100. The MTF charts looks good so optically should be good!
This lens looks ideal for someone who wants macro capabilities out of their standard lens. If you already have a macro I don't see why anyone would get it though.
you have to be VERY close to your subject to have the macro functionality.
that is not very usefull.
it looks good in the feature list but the reviewer were not that impressed.
If the MTF charts are to be believed, it's incredibly sharp (although "the germans" may have proved otherwise...). I think we're seeing an update of the whole lens line to provide a higher level of resolving power in advance of a mega-megapixel release later in 2013. One of the major hangups many have seen with the D800 has been the relatively short list of lenses that can resolve all 36 mp. If Canon really is going into the 40+ range, that thing is going to need some incredibly sharp glass.
us shakey old guys will like image stabilization, but it wont get me to replace my 24-105 at that price. Why bother?
I work in a studio where we shoot with existing 24-105's, and while overall it's a not a bad optic, it suffers from one really bad malady, and that is chromatic aberration. It is absolutely hideous on this lens, and I've learn to spot this lens a mile away. A while back there was an article here about someone doing some rather cool stuff with cityscapes, and I knew the lens and camera used before reading a single line of text, and this was with web-res images! Nasty, nasty, nasty.
If Canon finally addressed this blatant shortcoming in this lens, then the new version can only be a good thing.
why not buying the tamron?
a stop better.. cheaper... good image quality.
and image stabilization
...odd commentary. Some photographers live in the 4-22 aperture range in the studio. It will be nice to have a low cost alternative to the larger aperture lens. The 24-105 is a lens I've owned. Twice. While it's great for a broad range of apertures I was never happy at the long and short ends of it.
Canon could have updated it to new IS system and coatings as well as other improvements. Since they didn't I have to assume the new 24-70 F4 is meant as the new kit lens standard on the middle and upper end bodies and we'll see the 24-105 shipped out.
lets pray this thing ships as a kit for a medium format eos mount. makes as much sense as anything else given the reception.
$1149 is what BH has it listed as.