Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM Telephoto Lens Review

Typically when you go to buy a DSLR and you don’t have any lenses already, you would opt to buy one with what is called a kit lens. It is called a kit lens because with DSLRs, there are two main parts to the camera. The body and the lens. Together they form a “kit,” you need both in order for the camera to take photos. Usually, when I think of kit lenses I think of cheap, low quality optics and casing and worst of all, a variable aperture over the focal length range.

The Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM forces me to change that perspective. Canon has been using this lens as the kit lens for their enthusiast full frame cameras for years now. It offers a broad focal range, decent features, the optics are far from low quality, and the casing can definitely take a beating. Best of all, it offers a constant f/4 aperture across its focal length range, but it is not cheap.

SPECIFICATIONS AT A GLANCE

WHAT’S INCLUDED

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM comes with both the front and rear lens caps, EW-83H lens hood, LP1219 soft lens case, Canon EF lens CD, the manual, and warranty card.

LENS BODY CONSTRUCTION

The body is built as solid as other L quality lenses and weighs in at 670g or around 1.47lbs. It does have weather sealing which is to be completed with a UV filter attached. I have personally shot with this lens in a few storms and have yet to have any issues with the water ruining it.

The lens mount is EF, thus it will mount onto both Canon full frame and crop bodies. However, shooting on a FF will give you the best wide angle perspective. I find this lens very useful when shooting interior shots of cars as I am able to go wide enough to capture the whole dash in a single frame.

The ring-type USM focusing system in the lens is very quiet, fast, and accurate.  It is an inner focusing system with focusing cam design. For the most part, this allows for focal length adjustments without the need to refocus. When focusing, the front element does not rotate, which is good news for those who use polarizing filters.

The zoom and focusing rings are both butter smooth and have no play in them. The focus ring is dampened very well, at times I almost do not even notice that I hit the bump stop at the focus ends. It also features full time manual focus, so you won’t have to worry about ruining your focus motor if you take over the autofocus.

The front lens filter thread size is 77mm.