Product Description
When manoeuvrability is important and lens quality crucial, the L-seriesEF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM stands alone as the professional's lightweight standard zoom.L-series qualityThe EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM incorporates Canon's highest standards of precision optics. The L-series is Canon's flagship professional lens range, combining outstanding image performance and ultimate operability with dust and moisture resistant construction.LightweightWeighing just 670g, the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM offers 4.3x zoom in a lightweight body.Fixed apertureWith no change in aperture over the full focal length range, photographers can set exposure at the widest aperture and zoom through to 105mm without slowing shutter speed.Image StabilizerThe EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM features Canon's 3-stop Image Stabilizer (IS). Ideal for handheld work, IS allows use of shutter speeds up to 3-stops slower with no perceptible increase in image blur. For stabilised panning, IS Mode 2 only corrects for unwanted vertical shake.Super UD and aspherical lens elementsThe lens incorporates a Super UD (ultra-low dispersion) glass element to eliminate secondary chromatic aberrations and aspherical lens elements to correctspherical aberrations. The result is crisp, high contrast, undistorted images throughout the entire zoom range without colour fringing at subject outlines.Auto focusA ring USM (Ultrasonic motor) uses ultrasonic frequency vibrations to drive responsive, near-silent high speed auto focus. Good holding torque stops the focusing lens group with precision without overshoot. Full time manual focus override is available without having to switch out of AF. Minimum focus distance is 0.45m throughout the zoom range.Super Spectra coatingsOptimised Super Spectra lens coatings and lens element shaping suppress flare and ghosting - more prone to occur with digital cameras due to reflection off the image sensor. Coatings also help achieve true colour balance and increase
Customer Reviews:
Stunning walkaround lens.......2007-09-12
I bought this lens in a pack with the canon 5d body and what a pair they make!
This lens was designed for the 5d and was released at the same time. With the 5d being full frame you get the full 24mm at the wide end which is great and it goes all the way to 105mm with no croping/zoom factor typical of crop sensors...If you're using it on a 1.6 crop body you'll get say 39 - 168mm, not exactly wide but it has a handy zoom.
The lens is very well built and all the control rings are very smooth. Both rings sport rubber grips that are comfortable and easy to hold. There's a switch to turn off the IS and also one for the AF system. There's a window on the lens barrel giving distance information. The lens feels substantial and is quite chunky - I like it, it feels solid.
As a walkaround lens you really couldn't ask for much more. You have real wide angle at the botom end (24mm) and every usable focal length in between right up to 105mm. As a portrait lens it's superb giving you 50mm, 85mm and 105mm all in one. Now I know certain fixed focals will be better but for versatility and image quality this lens is excellent value. Colours are crisp and sharpness is really excellent. Detail again is really superb. Things can be sharpened up at the extremes a touch by stopping down a bit but the images are great either way. The lens produces a beautiful background blur too, very, very smooth - again excellent for portraits. The lens does extend about 1/3 of its length when zooming - this may factor into it for some folks making a choice.
Anyone taking a serious look at this lens knows a zoom lens is always a compromise but with this you won't necessarily feel compromised - it really delivers the goods across the range and it saves changing lenses.
A lot of folks looking at this lens are probably looking at the 24-70 L because it has a faster max aperture of f2.8. The 24-105 does however have image stabilisation which will help you get shots in low light you otherwise couldn't with a lens of f4 max aperture like the 24-105. The choice is this - take the faster 2.8 with no IS and less overall range on the zoom OR take this with it's slower max aperture, IS and extra 35mm zoom range. It really is swings and roundabouts especially if you own a 70-200 as well because you won't miss the 35mm extra. I've never owned the 24-70 but a lot of folks online seem to think it has the edge on image quality over the 24-105, but that's all it'll be - the slightest edge that mere mortals such as you and me will probably not notice unless a picture is enlarged to 8 foot square. I can't honestly see anyone being disappointed with this very versatile lens.
Being an L lens it comes with a soft carry pouch and a hood. It takes 77mm filters.
Highly recommended.
Top notch.......2007-03-12
I got this to go with a 400D, and I've got no regrets. It's sharp, solidly built and provides great images. It is quite heavy, but not so much that I've considered to an effort to carry, and it has (as I'd hoped) become my default 'walking around' lens.
I did consider using the 24-70 F2.8, but decided (eventually) that the extra money, weight and reduced focal range outweighed the benefits of F2.8 and I've no regrets with that decision.
There were problems with early models of this lens not providing sharp images under some circumstances, but those have been fixed, and new lenses shouldn't be affected. Check the Canon WEB site for more information on the problem.
This one... or the 24-70?.......2007-03-09
...and that is the point, I guess.
It's cheaper (slightly), lighter (quite) and with IS, whereas you stop at f4 instead of f2.8.
I've tried both lenses and, in the end, bought the 24-70 2.8. Why? Let's see... With the 24-105 f4:
PROS: at 24-105 you get slightly more versatility with the lens, a fact I waived because I've got the 70-200, (the "cheap" f4) and don't mind changing the lenses. And it's lighter, and cheaper, etc, etc...
And there is the IS, which is handy... on unmoving objects.
CONS: It's not 2.8. And the image quality is... well, I won't go there, because of all the reviews I've read, it can go both ways. But I was more convinced with the 2.8. And it's heftier, feels more rugged (stupid, really, becuase both of them are L grade lenses, but there it is), and it's 2.8 (did I mention that already?) so...
Perhaps it's not right to review one lens comparing it -and recommending- another. ut I feel that when you want to buy a lens like this one, you have to consider the two contenders.
It IS a great lens. I just went the other way.
Product Description
Eos 5D IS Double Zoom Kit The full frame 12.8 Megapixel EOS 5D. Discreet enough to avoid attention with resolution enough to keep the toughest picture editors happy. Travel light without compromise. Image Resolution: 12.8 Megapixel Lens Construction: N/A Digital Zoom: N/A Optical Zoom: N/A Maximum f/number N/A Movie Mode: N/A Internal Memory: N/A Memory Card Compatibility: CompactFlash Type I / II (Microdrive compatible) LCD Size: 2.5 Power Options: BP-511A battery supplied Power adapter ACK-E2. Interface: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (Mini-B PTP) Video output (PAL/ NTSC). Pictbridge Enabled: Yes Box Contents: Camera Body EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens (w /case and hood) EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens (w / case and hood) Battery Charger Battery Pack Wide Strap. Warranty: 1 Year.
Product Description
The Canon EOS 5D digital reflex camera is without doubt the most advanced model on the market. The digital equivalent of the EOS3 and EOS5 from the traditional series the EOS 5D "best reflex camera 2006" (by TIPA the Technical Imaging Press Association) is designed for experienced photographers who have yet to switch over to digital. ------The magnesium and polycarbonate alloy body offers all the framing conditions of a traditional reflex camera. As a top of the range digital camera the EOS 5D benefits form all the latest advances in digital technology and the accumulated experience of the EOS digital range. Including notably a full format second generation CMOS sensor with a resolution of over 12 megapixels to allow for the accurate reproduction of even the most subtle nuances in shadow and low light conditions. The EOS 5D features a burst mode of 3 frames per second in JPEG format. ------The sophisticated autofocus system works even for moving subjects. Get a good view of your work and work in progress on the 230000 pixel 2.5" LCD screen. The colour matrix and parameter settings are replaced by the new Canon image style based on 6 presets that simplifies control of image production and applies the desired treatment directly to the photograph in the same way as different types of film can be used in this way in traditional cameras. In this way you can select the contrast and crispness the tint and colour saturation that you require. You can use the C button to establish an alternative set of parameters and switch quickly between two settings. The EOS 5D is shipped with EF 24-105 L IS USM lens in this offer a light zoom with large exposition which represents an excellent compromise between performance and size!
Customer Reviews:
Serious kit for folks taking their photography seriously!.......2007-09-19
Anybody looking at spending two grand on camera gear (and at that only a body and 1 lens) is looking for something good and believe me this pack delivers.
The 5D is one hell of a camera. There's no other way to describe it. Photos from this camera look so good straight from the camera it's almost unbelievable. Image resolution is simply excellent and of course the benefits of having a full frame sensor mean your lenses do what they say on the barrel!
The body itself feels substantial - much more so than something like a 400D. The 5D body also has a lot of metal construction so should be hardier than the plastic bodies of the cheaper entry level DSLRs. It's also bigger enabling a good grip.
The first thing you will notice if you're upgrading from a crop sensor DSLR is the awesome viewfinder. Having a full frame sensor allows the camera to have a larger mirror and consequently you get a much bigger and easier to see picture through the viewfinder. This really aids composition as it simply allows you too see more clearly what you're doing.
This camera, being aimed at enthusiasts and pros, doesn't have the same range of modes as the 400D as I expect the designers of this camera figure anyone shelling out this much will know what they're doing so what you get is Av, Tv, B, P and a full auto for lazy moments.
ISO ranges from 100 - 1600 (50 and 3200 are added with the ISO expansion turned on) and the camera produces stunning results at higher ISO values with much less noise than my 400D at the equivalent setting. Coupled in with the IS lens in this pack you have a formidable package enabling you to get fantastic shots in poor light you simply could not get with other equipment. I have personally achieved beautifully sharp images at 1/8 of a second hand held at 98mm zoom.
There's so much on this camera it's hard to condense down for the purposes of this review.
The screen is clear and image review is fast. Navigation is achieved with a wheel at the back for scrolling through menus and settings. It's quick; the only thing slowing you down is the wealth of options available to scroll through! There's also a little joystick for moving around zoomed in images on the screen. Camera information is displayed on a mono lcd on the top of the camera leaving the larger LCD screen off most of the time - probably saving a lot on battery life.
The list of custom functions is extensive and includes mirror lock up, shutter curtain sync, noise reduction, exposure level increments to name but 4 of the 21.
Continuous shooting speed is fairly slow at 3fps but this is a camera aimed at portraiture and landscapes so it can't be marked down for that but will be a consideration if you're a hard core sports/action photographer. For wedding photographers and folks looking for a very high quality travel camera this is the one.
The camera does have a true 3.5% spot metering mode amongst the other evaluative modes - very handy.
I'm not going to say too much about the lens as I posted a separate review so please check it out. What I will say is that the 24-105 is a perfect lens to complement the 5D - it offers superb image quality with a great range of focal lengths and is a great walk-around lens.
Battery life is good - I always have a spare with me but I've taken hundreds of shots on one battery and it's never actually run out yet. The manual quotes around 800 shots under optimum conditions.
I would consider a 2gb card the minimum for this camera. The display rather conservatively suggests a 2gb card can hold 114 shots when empty but it's easily into the high 170's. Raw files come in around 10 - 12.5mb. Tiff's from these are huge. Transfer of images across USB is incredibly slow however.
If you're looking to upgrade from something like a 400D it's a no-brainer. The 400D is a fine camera and I will be keeping mine no question but the 5D is just something else. If you have the cash and really want to expand your photographic horizons the 5D will not hold you back, in fact it will inspire you. An interesting note, most of the major online stock agencies will accept images from the 5D - the first non 1-series Canon to attain the honour....that says a lot about the image quality.
Very highly recommended.
UK Electronics:
- Canon EF 55-200 f/4.5-5.6 2 USM
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- Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.4 USM - Canon EF
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- CD Cassette Adapter
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