I’ve had my 24-105 f4 L since 2006 and it’s still going strong. It’s been on my 5D I, II and III (still using it on my III) and produced sharp images on all of them. It survived a cycling tour of rural India in 2008 and it’s only been repaired once after the diaphragm got stuck a couple of years ago. Great to see you’re still using yours and thanks for your thoughts Roy. An update. I have been using this EF lens for a few months now on a Canon R5 body with adapter and it’s still incredible sharp and works well with the IBIS.
Your style of doing these experience- and actual day-to-day use based reviews are really refreshing in comparison to the not-so-real-world-applicable pixel peeping ones that youtube is full of. Great work! Thinking about adapting older, used EF lenses like these with my S5 IIX and your reviews have been helpful. Thanks!
Great, articulate review! On my second copy of this lens, first one gave up the ghost after 11 years service. Just sourced another for $500 here in Sydney. I shoot with this lens on my 5DMKIII and the 70-200 f/2.8 on my 6D. When I do something like a wedding, the 24-105 is responsible for at least 85-90% of the shots.
I'm a happy owner of a 5D MKIII, and today I got this lens in mint condition with a Uv filter already mounted. I'm was impressed with the performance from the first few shots. This will be my last lens. I have a 70-200mm f4L, 50mm 1.8 STM, ef-s 24mm STM and ef-s 18-135mm STM. Obviously the ef-s is for my 250D.
You are the VERY FIRST person that has arrived at the same conclusion regarding the 24-105L that I have. Either sample variation OR inability/lack of AF fine tuning early on. In reality it's a FAR better lens than the internet would have you believe. I think most people's opinion are not really informed by actual long-term use but more internet "common wisdom" along with the fact that there's a billion of them as they were included in kits for basically free from the 5DII so there's the "kit lens" bias.
@@RoyRiley Ps. if you shoot verticals for a living that need a 4:3 crop for their intended use pretty much every lens is fine ;-) Ya gotta love the "but the corners" crowd pretending no crops are ever done or even straitening or everything is shot at f11 and the corners are actually in focus all the time... ahhh the power of being and old man and living photographic reality in the commercial world for a few decades ;-) Gimmie all your 17-40L's as well hahaha. I find for the most part the glass is not the limiting factor (with some exceptions and for those I use the new TSE's that are superb and can actually get the stuff in focus you need for actual sharp)
@@robertboyer5926 I totally agree! Some jobs require pin sharp through out and then, as you say it is important to use the right tool for the job but in so many cases I actually like the look from lenses that are soft in the corners, vignette, flare ect. So long as the important part of the image is sharp then I am happy enough.. I remember having a conversation with a Nikon rep about a certain lens ( cannot remember which one.) but I told him that I loved it because it “flared beautifully” he spat his coffee across the room and then explained how Nikon prided itself on their exceptional flare control… that may have been true but in my hands it was the flare I was most excited about!…
@@RoyRileyI always look for character, not the least in a lense. One cannot argue that the 24/105 has no character. It does. I think that the influence of this lense in habitualizing certain ways of seeing through a lens at all is underestimated. It's enormously practical, and widespread to a almost comical extent, almost like a Rolleiflex 2eyes was in its days. I would like to know the number of shots done with this one. And I like that, to join this flow and ease in understanding perspective and character of a shot because we know the characteristics by heart. Realisticly, if you catch attention with a shot (if you want that at all) with that lense, you won it and not the lens.
Got this lens as part of a package along with the 6ad and Pixma Pro-100 back in 2016. All three are still running rock solid to this day. Excellent review!
Just stumbled across your channel, and I really like the 'real world' information instead of the usual 'what's new and trending' stuff. I've quite recently acquired this lens second hand, completing an f4 'trinity' for use on my also second hand 5D mk2, all for about 2000 euros total. Nice to see you informing people on just such options instead of spending double or triple on new gear!
Thank you for your comment. It’s really great to get such feedback. I really appreciate your time for watching and thinking to write. Good luck with your cameras and lenses! Such great value. All the best. Roy
I also got a 5D MK2 that I bought 2nd hand, and true... it is a bit clunky and old fashioned compared to some modern gear. But I still love the feel + reliability.... besides that..... for what we pay for a 5Dii nowadays its a tank that will last us years, a solid workhorse!!!
Got the lens for my Canon 6D and now the RF version. Love it, because you can take realy good images with it because of the 24-105 range. Great subject! Keep em comming!
I got mine just the other day (quickly followed by the 55-250). Really looking forward to giving it a workout with my 7D Mk II and 1DX Mark III. I think it will also work nicely with my original old 300D and 20D. If I take photos half as good as what you showed, I'll consider myself successful!
Was looking at the Sigma 24-105mm Art. Nearly pulled the trigger but went for the Canon 400mm f2.8. Can do everything the 24-105 can do if you are prepared to stitch a bit.
I've been going back and forth between the RF 24-70 and 24-105 for months but finally pulled the trigger on the RF 24-105 yesterday! As a Prime Lens shooter this is going to be my first ever Zoom. I settled on having the extra 35mm of range since it'll be more flexible as a walk around lens. It would have been nice to have a few extra stops of light for Portraiture but that's what my EF 85MM 1.4 is for haha and I saved myself about $1100 Love your channel Roy! You're an inspiration and deserve way more subscribers!
This is a great lens & brings back a lot of memories. I had one of these & replaced it 10 years ago with 24-70mm f2.8 lens. I went for the 1 extra f-stop, which I think in todays age doesn’t really matter so much as noise reduction on the higher ISO settings is very good.
@@RoyRiley This is a very under rated lens. When I had this lens I hardly saw other photographers use this lens. I am talking about the 2,000s’. I was shooting a lot of press work back than. All these Reuters or AP guys would never have a lens like this.
This is a great assessment of this lens. I'm heading out later this week to document a light festival and have to choose one body and lens because there will be thousands of people on the streets and I don't want the clutter of carrying two bodies w/a 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 so I'm choosing my Canon 5D Mark iv and same version of the 24-105 f4 that you have here. I too had a bad copy of this lens many years ago but came across a very sharp copy and it is always the lens I choose when I am heading out the door (if I'm only taking once camera/lens with me). I think it's very hard to beat the 5D Mark iv w/24-105 f4 for an all around combo.
Just a note of thanks for all your informative and well presented vids Roy - especially this one. Reviews like this from a pro, firmly rooted in real world photography, are preferable to spec sheet and technical test-based reviews. I have just bought a used 6D, my first full frame DLSR, moving up from a 100D. I am researching a do-it-all (nearly!) zoom to complement the 6D, and this lens is now on my short list.
Glad you are enjoying the videos. Might be worth looking at the 24-70 F2.8 or f4 too. The 2.8 lens is great but heavy and the f4 version is a great size and weight
Thanks for an honest well balanced review, if I only bought ONE lens then I might have purchased this. But I normaly work with 2 lenses by default, one is my 24-70 and my other is the 70-200 if I ever need an extended range. Keep posting, I'm looking forward to some more "old gear" reviews :)
Cheers Paul! I like to present things as I find them after hacking it out on assignment. I am growing more and more bored of reviews where someone just opens the box and declares something good or bad. On another note I have been using the RF 24-105 lately which pretty much solved all of the issues with the EF lens and is super sharp everywhere… only trouble is it snaps like a dry twig in the wind if you happen to half drop it.
@@RoyRiley so true. I have trawled through so many ‘reviewers’, most just do not even understand how it might be used. I am English but living permanently in Tennessee. I am a retired pro photographer and it’s quite a relief to find these things reviewed by a pro as I am getting back into the trade as I am getting an itchy shutter release finger. Have found a potential niche here so I am restocking and updating my kit. Wish me luck. Cheers Roy.
The nice thing about the II version of this lens is that it caused a significant drop in the secondhand price of the classic one. Good to see that you as a pro use a secondhand lens. The obsession with the latest gear is a great boost for the economy!
I've had mine for years now. It has a very slight creep not as bad as yours, But it is shop throughout the whole focal length, And has never let me down. I switched it from my 5D mark 2 to my 5D mark 3I just absolutely love it. Side note. I remember in 1 of your videos You remarked about your camera strap and you wish it didn't screen canon. I use a black marker to wipe out anything I didn't want to say on my Strap. Just an idea. Love your videos keep up the good work.
@@anthonyde4314 cheers Anthony! Glad your 24-105 is still doing the business. Good idea about the strap. Get busy with the sharpie! Doesn’t it get messy if you’re wearing a white shirt shooting in the rain??
In my view, this is Canon’s best lens from a utilitarian point of view. In 10 years of shooting Canon FF digital cameras, I have probably taken 75% of my images with either the EF or RF version of the lens. With either one, I have been satisfied with the results.
I just picked up a used MK I version online last month. It was priced really low due to the loose zoom/zoom creep at a little over $300 USD. Other than the zoom creep, the lens was in near perfect condition - just a small dent near the zoom ring. I wanted a 24-105mm for my hikes along with the 6D Mk II to replace my Tamron 35-150mm which is significantly heavier and bulkier than the 24-105 ( I use the Tamron for mostly portraits/plant photography now) I have found no real issues with my pictures or the lens itself, I love that I can now shoot wider at 24mm and the fact that this is my first L lens makes it even more exciting to use.
So I have used this lens on my 7d and found it very useful both in studio for portrait work and out and about/ weddings etc. However I I'm really looking forward to using it soon on my first full frame DSLR. It was very pleasing to see just how robust you have found it to be. Once again thank you for some great easy to watch informative content. 👍🏻.
the ef-s 17-55 was in my opinion the best trans-standard for my 7d. Gave me fantastic images. Funnily enough, It was more expensive than my 24-105... at the time of purchase (got it new, the L, I got second hand)
Great video, I've just bought one from MPB and your video came up while I was doing a bit of research. I think one of my favourite lenses is on your shelf the Canon 85mm 1.8, it's a stunning portrait lens and I use it a lot for gig/concert photography.
Hey Roy, I couldn't agree more on your assessment of the Canon 24-105mm lens with the incredible usefulness and versatility but lacking in character and that elusive magic. I like your yin and yang analogy as I really like the lens and use it frequently but I don't love it. I have lenses with character and magic but are lacking in usefulness so don't get used as much. It's a weird dichotomy of sorts as I've yet to find that perfect unicorn lens. Roy, I'm so glad I found your channel and great content. You offer insight, knowledge and perspective that only an experienced real world photographer can offer. Wishing you godspeed growing your channel mate.
Thanks for a very useful review, it’s great to hear about how high-spec but older lenses are faring these days: so many of us can finally afford them as they’re going ‘cheap’ used, but most reviews of them are very old or the lens hadn’t been tested for long. The perspective of someone who’s used them for a while is handy. I’m planning on upgrading from my 50D to a 5DIII soon and don’t have any EF lenses that are less than 100mm, so am really strongly considering this or the 24-70mm F/2-8 to fill that gap. The cheaper price and greater focal range on this one are very tempting!
@@RoyRiley thanks! The variability between lenses is one of the things that’s got me nervous: I’ll buy from MPB and get one that’s in ‘excellent’ condition but guess it’s not necessarily the case that a lens in good condition is a lens from a good batch, and I don’t think you can tell beforehand with the lens ID… ah well, it’s a smaller gamble when buying one at used prices at least!
Roy, I have been a Canon user since the early 70's and have owned and still own virtually every Canon I have ever purchased along with several Nikons and my favorite Mamiya 645-S1000's. I want to thank you for your video's, LOVE them a great deal, very informative from the perspective of a true professional, I have learn a great deal from you and appreciate your passion for the art. Regarding the 24-105 L lens, I cant recall which 5D I purchased which came with this particular lens either 5d mk I or my 5D mk II ?? In either case, I had actually put it away for some time somewhat viewing this lens as what it was, a "Kit Lens" until one day I mistakenly grabbed it and place it in my bag, BTW its been some 10 plus years since I did that. I have not looked back since and while I certainly use other lenses, my default tends to be the 24-105 as an "All Around" lens. I can consistently count of the quality of the images with hick ups here and there but I chalk those hick ups to user error not the camera or lens..."Always Learning". Additionally your comment regarding Low light not being an issue for an F4 lens, is spot on! Thank you again for your review of this particular lens.
Hi,i have my 24-105 since 10 Years. First with a Canon 5DII. Then i change to Sony A7II and still use it with a Adapter (Sigma MC 11) And I love it. Greetings from West Germany.
A rubber band, stretched over part of the focus ring and partly over the part of the barrel that extends out of the lens body...thingy...did it for both of the ones I had. Fantastic lens...after correcting its shortcomings in lightroom. I also find that the zoom range is just right for most occasions and its sharp enough to be able to crop in a bit...only a bit mind you.
I did like your review , my EF cameras & lenses are staying around but my first lens I picked up with Canon's EOS R is the 24-105mm / f4 L so I have been checking it out. Did notice a nice back round blur taking closeups of flowers around + - 85mm like I would expect from a traditional portrait lens.
Hello again Roy. You kindly replied to my recent comment on the Canon 5D mk III. When I purchased the camera new it was supplied with this lens (as a kit lens) which I do use extensively. I have noticed that with age there is a tendency for zoom creep. However, I wonder if I may ask you a question please? You spoke of some sharpness issues. I too have noticed this sometimes and have always put it down to my age (69). Now, I am aware that there are "tolerances" to which cameras and lenses are manufactured. So my question is this: do you believe or recommend "calibrating" your lenses to your bodies? Is this something that one should do? (Sorry 2 questions!) I would be really interested to hear from you on this issue. Thanks in advance.
Hi David. Good to hear from you again. Happy to answer questions! I believe calibrating your lens to your camera body is a very good exercise and will ultimately help with sharpness. Some of my lenses have been bang on from day one, others have been a bit out until calibrated. The odd one or two have always been a bit soft no matter what I do! Good luck with it all. Best wishes. Roy
@@davidmackenzie1565 Good luck with it. Would be interested to hear how you get on.. Would be great if you can get a sharper image from your set up by calibrating.
I have had two copies of this lens over the years. The first one I bought second hand and it was fantastic, loved the lens and was as sharp as can be. Unfortunately that lens was stolen with a lot of other camera gear of mine. I replaced it with a new copy of the lens and it was terrible, very soft results from it, so I sold it and replaced with 17-40 F4 L which I am very happy with. Am slowly coming round to the idea of getting another 24-105, but this time I'll look for an old model and check before I purchase to see that it is indeed sharp. Once again a great review that you have done.
Always sad to hear of stolen gear. Sounds like your experience has been similar to mine. If possible give it a good test before buying would be my advice.
Another great review video! I do really like my 24-105 since like you said it covers so many scenarios! It's so versatile. I'll admit when I first got it I wasn't completely sold on it since on my 6d it seemed like it needed calibration. But when ever I microadjusted it it seemed like it pushed the focusing issue further down the line. Once I got my 5diii this lens has been really good for me! It didn't need any adjustments and just bangs off nice photos ;)
@@RoyRiley Really? Got a 5D mark 3 a few months back AND am so desperate to decide whether to get the Canon 24-105mm or the Sigma Art 24mm-105mm.....HELP!!!
I bought this lens and was really disappointed, but don't know whats happened after New Year's 2022, I've fallen in love with it and taken some of my best shots yet. Love these videos, love the passion, keep creating, its really useful
I like your reviewing style. Watching you we know what to expect ( and not to expect which is more important to me ) from lenses, well done and thank you for your great content 👏👏
Thanks for the feedback and pleased you find value in this content. I try to keep it straight down the line and based on experience rather than specs or anything else. All the best. RR
Good review and about what I was expecting. I just got mine as a walk around lens for my film EOS3. I’m not expecting miracles, I just want to not have to think about whether I want the 35 / 50 / 85 when I go out. I already own the Olympus 12-100, which I have a love-hate relationship with, and I’m wondering if some time with the canon will give me a fresh perspective on how good or otherwise the Olympus is. I’m pretty sure the Olympus will win at the short end based on your comments about barrel distortion.
@@RoyRiley such a great focal range, and the IQ is very good especially at shorter focal lengths. I alternate between my EM1 and EM1 mark2, it performs well on both. It’s much like other 24-105s, I seldom use it for moving subjects in low light because of f/4, so for static subjects either camera is fine. I’d like something with more modern autofocus to pair it with but I’ve already spent too much on Canon & Sony stuff.
@@RoyRiley just did some side-by-side sharpness shots with both at 50mm in full frame terms, using on-camera lighting from the NEO3, both at f/4 because that’s their sharpest aperture on both my copies of the lenses, and ignoring DOF differences because shooting a flat surface it doesn’t matter. Both files opened in Lightroom with default lens corrections and default sharpening applied. The Olympus left the canon (EOS R) for dead in terms of sharpness and clarity. Of course the canon has extra resolution, but the difference was clear whichever way you looked at it. The canon definitely produced perfectly acceptable results, and once you fed it through topaz it was pretty comparable to the Olympus. The Olympus white balance was much more neutral (accurate?) even punching the exact colour temperature into both, the canon file looked much warmer by default, but that’s a system difference rather than lens. Other differences of course are the extra range of the Olympus and the IS that allows hand held shots in the range of 1-2 seconds at 12mm, vs the Canon’s improved high ISO noise performance and shallower DOF. Second hand the canon is also half the price of the Olympus, so it really depends on what’s important to you. Edit: tried f/4 Olympus vs f/8 canon both at ISO 200, 100mm FFE. Olympus still wins on sharpness, but the canon stayed much cleaner in out of focus areas due to the extra sensor size. The extra noise of the oly was noticeable, even at base ISO.
Thanks Jay! I have not forgotten your question about starting out in photojournalism. What sort of thing do you wish to shoot? Interesting times for China. Good long form project?
@@RoyRiley Thanks for the reply! Well I feellike being here in these times, as an expat, there are things happening as the times are changing here, but I just don't really know about starting out. Things like newspapers and magazines, websites, I don't know the process of approaching these people. So many things are not allowed to be reported here, but of course there are ways to get them out. I'm not sure I'm making any sense now haha I guess I'd like to hear about how you got started in what you do, how to move it along and make it grow for you, how to get this kind of documentary work. Thanks a lot mate, it's really very much appreciated.
@@jayse1195 I have close family who have just left because of how tricky things are are becoming. I understand how difficult Things can be. Often we are living through the major changes in history without even knowing it. I would begin to document how life is around you with a view to building a larger body of work over time. With regard to getting g work from newspapers and magazines. It’s never been an easy task and is probably harder now than ever but it is still possible. You have to be the solution to a problem. Your being in the location you are in could well be of great value to a picture editor somewhere.
Thats my go to all around lens while traveling or shooting video cuz of the IS. The bokeh is looking good to! Solid beater lens! Owned mine for like 10years , Love the 24-70 2.8 more but its far heavier and that little of a focal lenght to 105 is often critical while traveling. Sometimes i bring my 35mm 2.0 or 50mm 1.8 in my pocket if i know im gonna be in low light situations.
Hi Roy, another great video that I really enjoyed . . . . . .so refreshing to find somebody who is using / reviewing kit that is mostly affordable and attainable . . . . . . . .I have owned 2 Canon 24 - 105 f/4.0 L IS lenses over the years, both were soft at 24 and 105 but sharp in the mid range and both suffered the distortion that you mention and the lens creeping towards 105 too . . . . . .such a shame as that range is perfect for 95% of the fotos that I make ! I might try a Mk. 2 ? Meanwhile, my trusty 35 f/2.0 IS just goes on and on producing beautiful sharp distortion free images and my legs do the zooming . . . . .love your style and content . . . . .thank you . . . .
Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate such positive feedback! Yes. I wonder about that Mark 2 lens myself! I am currently trying not to spend any more money on EF lenses because it would seem that mirrorless is becoming the future. The R5 is great but I keep feeling myself being pulled towards the world of Fuji.. we will see. Good luck with your photography and thanks again for your comment. R
What would this be like on the 5D mk ii ? Great Video's Roy, many thanks. I have killed my Olympus MFT stuff and am going to Canon, after several Nikons!
Goes really well with the mk2 in fact I believe it was the original kit lens. Thanks for your kind words! I have always been interested in the Olympus mFT cameras. Tiny size and some amazing lenses but FF does always deliver when push comes to shove!
It you take the lens in to canon there is a rubber ring inside that gets worn out and allows the creep to happen. Replace that ring and your issue is resolved. Not sure if they still service these now though.
Thank you. I did not know this was something that Canon could fix. I wonder how much it would cost? I did try the fix of sticking a rubber band around the join and that does sort of fix it but can present its own problems!
Thanks for your opinion about this lens. There are a lot reviews about this lens, cause as you said, now you can buy it used for 400$. Sometimes i see also the v2 version for 600$ which is also a very good price. Many are currently switching to mirrorless systems and selling their old parts quite cheaply.
@@RoyRiley Hehe 🙂maybe... or maybe its because its an F4 kit lens. That's why many don't like it. Im also not sure if i should buy it but i'd rather buy a 24-70 2,8 L for the same price. I use now a 35mm 2,0 IS which is a very interesting lens. It works for everything except for tele of course. When i think about Leicas, that have only a fixed 24mm, then im confused and don't know what i need or should buy next.
My very old version died a few months ago and I am not sure what to replace it with. like you I had a love hate relationship with it. Don't know if I should buy a used version of the original or buy the MK11 version or go Sigma Art 24 -105. By coincidence is only photograph farming so I am often working in milking parlours.
Haha! You will know the cow urine situation well then! I am interested in the Sigma Art 24-105 you mention. Might be one to look out for. My experience of Sigma has been mixed but I have an open mind to these things. Thanks for your comment and good luck whichever lens you choose. All the best. Roy
@@scrivphoto Any lens that has been through the hands of the great Peter Macdiarmid must be worth having! I have the Art 50mm which is also very good but quite heavy which can be a pain. Let me know how you get on if get hold of the 24-105..
Greetings Roy. I just found your channel and have enjoyed the few videos I’ve watched so far. I’m a hobbyist and owned the 24-105 for several years. The creep you speak of became such an annoyance that I finally traded for a 24-70 f4. This lens has a lock plus a macro feature and it’s a great lens for me as I don’t need an f2.8. However, I have now discovered the loss of that extra 35mm reach is a much bigger pain than lens creep ever was.
i have the 24-70 and 70-200 both F2.8 but I'm still looking into this one. feels like that lost middle between them both and with IS is a nice addition. would be interesting how it would work on 1dx mk1 but I would suspect it would be a beast
Interesting. I don't have too much experience with Sony lenses but would like to get hold of a bunch to try out. Keep looking at second hand Sony A7r3's seem like good value!
I saw your video and loved it because that lens works for most things. I paid 1000 when I bought it and was disappointed it was F 4.0 because of the cost and I really would have loved a wider aperture. If I am going on a trip and weight wise only want to take one lens, I take the 24-105 lens. I have a 50mm and 85 fixed, but my favorite lens is 70-200. I seem to love the images from that lens the most. I shoot a few weddings and that one is just so heavy, but I still love it. I lied your video and agree the 24-105 has great versatility even though it’s an F4. Thanks for Your video!
I bought the 24-70 F4 2nd hand and is EVFM . I have looked at the 24-105 . At the moment there is exceptional 2nd hd prices . But is it a lense i really need now ...when i have a f2 135mm Samyang . I guess i'd buy one if my f4 succumbed to a accident
Interesting what you say about the build quality. Mine has failed twice with the image stabilization (Repaired by a respected London firm) and it doesn't get anything like the use of a full on professional will give it. In fact this second time I lost confidence in another expensive fix, so haven't bothered. Thanks for the review.
Honestly I think there are good versions and bad versions of this lens with regard image and build quality.. and it’s the luck of the draw which one you get. Sorry to hear of your repairs
Great video, I am subscribed after finding you channel today. I too have a copy of this lens also and mine has the ‘pain in butt’ lens creep. I fixed mine with an inexpensive rubber lens band from Amazon. You can use the band to lock the focus securely or set it with just enough hold to tighten up the zoom slack. 👍
Cheers Colin. I had heard of this fix before but never thought it would work. Now though I will look into it for sure! In some ways I have got used to the creep and almost automatically expect it and adjust for it without really thinking! I wonder if I fix it will it take me another few years to re-adapt. We will see. Thanks for your time, subscription and the heads up for this fix. Best wishes to you. R
@@RoyRiley no probs. I went on Amazon and typed in ‘lens band’ and bought a set of bands. Just did it there and the title/description of the item is - DSLRKIT Photographer's Wristband SET/Stop Lens Zoom Creep 😊
@@colinhendry3 Thanks Colin. I just watched a video where another solution has been found with a tiny rubber band that kind of slots in alongside the zoom ring and apparently adds just enough friction to slop the creep. I might try both methods! All the best. Roy
5D MK II with this lens for $700 U.S. is for sale nearby, original box, CF cards, cords, manual. I used to be a B&W hobbyist in the 1970s - 80's, darkroom, Tri-X, D-76. Looking to return for a hobby and might buy this kit.Thanks for video!
No worries Mike! Tri X! YES! Spent many years in a black and white darkroom so can relate. Sound like a good deal with the lens. Wishing you many happy exposures in 2022. RR
I got this lens in aug for my birthday as a replacement for the old 18-55 kit lens lol and wow love it and fits perfectly between the 16-35 L and the 100-400 mk2 L
@@RoyRiley that how you got all the lenses out in the shop and tried them one after the other I know from film cameras there wasn’t any in body micro adjustments but did you try that back then or was it before you knew about the in body lens calibration . my 1st dslr and canon was a 20D with the sigma. 70-200 2.8 loved that lens I never knew about calibration back then lol . I’ve only just traded the 70-200 in for the 100-400 a couple years ago but I want another lol 😂 with my 24-105 I was surprised how much calibration was needed it was like -2 on the wide end I think it was and +9 on the tele end and images look great
Spot on thoughts in your video. I've always thought the 24-70mm is a bit of a 'meh' focal range, 70mm is neither fish nor fowl, really just 50mm plus a stride closer, whereas the 24-105mm is proper useful. But everyone has a 24-70, so at great expense I bought the Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8, pin sharp but I've never liked it (especially when I found out about it's 'delicacy' to being knocked, even quite gently). For what it's worth, the 24-105mm is the lens Martin Parr uses on his Canons. At his exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery a couple of years ago, there was a photo enlarged literally to the size of a wall which had been shot on that lens. Even MP said he was surprised it was sharp enough to be that big. I want a 24-105 (probably a Sigma)...!
Cheers Andrew! I am interested in that’s Sigma too. Let me know how you get on if you get your hands on one.. got the 50mm art and it’s very good but heavy and prone to steaming up in a heartbeat
TBH, the point of the 24-70mm focal range is partially due to the excellent 70-200mm lenses that can switched to at that point. But, that's an extra like $2k or so depending upon the specifics and if you're just needing that extra bit, probably not owrth it.
Definitely my go to lens. Its great for nice wide landscapes and tight telephoto shots and at 105mm you can get relatively good bokeh (or at least its good enough to impress my family:). Also as a hobbyist, the cheap price (picked mine up for $375) pretty much cancels out all of my small gripes against it. Wish it was F2.8 but I can see how that would be bad from a business perspective as Canon would be making some of their other top selling lenses (24-70s and most 70-200s) obsolete with a 24-105 F2.8.
Yup a 24-105 F2.8 would be very nice! Maybe one day we will see such a thing. I guess it would be quite heavy and expensive though and that might ruin it for many. Thanks for your comment. All the best. Roy
I love mine. Great sharpness in the center and contrasts. It is the lens I still take as a one lens combo on holidays. Unortunatly mine seems to be quite a bit decentered. It looses sharpness to the right boarders and espacially to the upper right corner. And once you remarked such a flaw you just keep on looking for it. I got mine second hand and probably I got one of these bad copies. Did someone had the same problem and is there a reasonable way to fix it?
Hi. I have had a similar problem but with a different lens.. a very old 17-35mm on that occasion a repair did not fully resolve the issue and like you say.. when you know it’s there it becomes harder to live with. In the end I retired the lens and bought a new one which did not have the same issue. Not 100% sure why this happens but put it down to heavy use and worn parts. Apologies I cannot give more help. My only suggestion would be to try to calibrate the lens to the camera and see if this helps. All the best. Roy
I bought this lens used from a photography shop here in Rome for 400€ and I appreciate the construction quality but I find it to be a bit too much of a compromise. Sure it covers a good focal range but it just doesn’t get to the point of being considered the Swiss knife I was looking for. I would never go on a travel with this one lens only, I also need my primes (35 and 50), and a longer telephoto (70-300) to feel covered in most situations.
I lost mine , and a lot of other kit , recently in a flood . It was a very good lens , especially for travel . I will probably replace mine with a 24-70 f/2.8 just for the extra stop as it will be used on both a full frame and crop body .
Sorry to hear of that loss man.. it sucks to lose camera gear. 24-70 2.8 is a great lens. I had one for years until an airline wrecked it. Probably one of my all time favourites because it’s a lens that has good character. More like a prime than a zoom.
Hi I know this may be a silly question but still trying to understand ‘Canon/Camera language’ but can this lens fit on a Canon EOS M50 Mark II MirrorlessCamera?’
About zoom creep, I bought this lens from a store and they had properly serviced it. It had cleaned from dust, replaced flex cable and lubricated it. I don't have any zoom creep in it and I've shaken it like in this video. Lens works like a new. I highly recommend owners of this lens to take it to professional and let them service it, it's worth it.
Good advice! Trouble is with heavy daily use it might not take that long for the zoom creep to “creep” back in.. time will tell I guess! Wishing you many years of creep less zooming
I had this a while back.. clearly I had a bad copy.. it was floppy and dark at the long end. But still great as somthing you could do a whole assignment with with no lens changes. Oddly Im jut in the market for a bargain FF canon walkabout lens and I chose to get the old 24-70F4L instead - It feels a bit more solid but Im feeling the AF motor might be prehistoricly slow. It would be good to put the lenses side by side sometime as they are both affordable. On other matters I bought an RP as my walkabout camera.. first impressions are excellent.
I owned one almost 10 years ago and moved it on less than two years later because it simply wasn't working for me. It was often soft and out of focus, even after lens calibration. I did some reading later and in a change of my work style I needed more versatility that my couple of primes could offer so I got another, a used one for dirt cheap. It was a great choice and this particular one serves me very well these days. It's pretty sharp and the image stabilisation is extremely helpful. For a fairly light lens it's very robust and has been through some intense rain and dirt and never stop working. It's frustrating that these things aren't always Exactly the same as the next out of the box, but with glass and some many moving parts and bits of tech in something you can hold in your hand, we can't expect them to always be exact and perfect. Great as always
Love this. Thank you. I have the mkII it does have a lock and it does creep a little if unlocked. However I find myself neglecting this lens too much for its versatility and wide to mid range. I have the 16-35mm, 70-200mm, 100-400 plus some primes and rarely use the 24-105. It's cumbersome and exhausting sometimes to carry all those other focal lengths switching around to catch action when 24-105mm would have been enough. Lol
Haha! I do the multi lens shuffle too often when really this lens is enough. It’s just that time when you really want a 200 and 105 does not feel enough or 24 is just not wide enough…. I might give the mark 2 a throw if one appears at the right moment.
I like the new version of this lens because of the new stabilizer, it´s the best i´ve tested and also the gamut colour is improved (less green, more red), less vigneting and distortion, better colour. Nice video Roy
@@celestialvonnoodleson in my opinion it’s a balancing act and there is no real right or wrong answer. A good camera is obviously required but often people have cameras that are very capable but stick rubbish glass on the front which seems a bit daft but great glass on an inadequate camera also seems a bit silly. Very much depends on what you wish to shoot and we all have to make our own choice with our own budgets in mind. What I will say is Money spent on good quality lenses is never wasted and they tend to last a good long time And hold value well where as cameras do get out dated and lose value. With all that in mind it’s just about learning to use what you have access to to the very highest level. I would say 9 out of 10 photographers.. me included, never use the gear they have to it’s fullest potential. A good picture is a good picture regardless of what camera or lens it was taken with and my advice would be to spend time learning the basics and trying to explore what it is that you wish to achieve with your photography. With those answers will come the clarity needed to k ow what gear is truly required to achieve the outcome you desire. Hope this make sense… It’s been a long hot day! Best wishes. R
I shoot mine on a R7 and use a speedbooster adapter. This increases the brightness to the equivalent of an f2 and yields a slight apparent improvement in IQ.
I just LR processed a set of photos taken during a single day in Lucerne. I started the day on a walk about while the wife was getting ready. Two 5dm3s with the Canon 24mm USM and a Zeiss 50 1.4. I switched to a single camera later in the day with the 24-105. The morning images are much sharper with the 50 stopped down to 7.1 giving me an image on the bridge that is spectacular. In reviewing the zoom images, the lack of sharpness could be my fault. My ISO was too low along with my shutter speed being too slow. The aperture was in the range of 9. I really thought I was a better photographer. I only wish I had one of the primes with me in the evening, and a spare battery.
Roy, bought this lens - “white box” from Amazon. Mine is sharp as well, and I am finding the versatility very useful. Great to pair with the 16-35 for a lightweight walk around kit. I don’t care for the zoom creep either, but the pro’s outweigh this con. Thanks for your perspective on this and the 16-35.
I guess some of these lenses are getting on a bit these days! I have never had an issue with IS getting stuck on any of my lenses. I think I must have been quite lucky though because most of my lenses have been through the wringer somewhat! I guess it can be the luck of the drawer!
Nice review. I sent my lense into Canon and had it back within a week and no creep since then. I will never trust Sigma again. They make great glass but the speed of the auto focus is not as good. The biggest problem with Sigma and Tamron is that when Canon comes out with a new iteration of body they are not compatible and will only work wide open. This happened 3 times, 2 with Sigma and once with Tamron with EF mounts
Sigma, Tamron and the other 3rd party lens manufacturers are typically at a significant disadvantage in this regard. They don't get the secret sauce of how the camera AF works and are limited to what they can reverse engineer. I think even Sony, only provides partial specs to 3rd parties. As a result, there's always going to be potential issues, it's part of why Sigma sells that lens dock to deal with such things.
if all you're doing is basic street and landscape, and some studio/controlled environment photography, you can get a 5d Mark II and this lens for well under $1k, leaving enough money for some CF cards, batteries, strap, tripod, bag, etc etc lol..
I have used the EF 24-195 F4 L a LOT...it was given to me by my employer...yes I used to shoot profesinally...with a 5D2. I never liked the Canon 24-105 L. I used my own Sigma 24-105 F4 Art, it was WAY sharper. And it still is. :)
I have yet to try that sigma 24-105.. any drawbacks worth considering? ever had problems with it fogging up when going from warm to cold or vice versa? I seem to have that with the ART 50 more than other similar lenses and it can be a pain in the neck for the kind of work I do
@@RoyRiley Not really, but it's not weather seald as the EF L is. I have used it outdoors in the winter, but kan't remember having any problems with fogging. I used to work with car photo and was in and out like 100 times a day. Shot both in- and outdors.
Great video Just ordered one for my birthday looking forward to getting shooting with it and finally replacing the old basic 18-55 kit lens the 24-105 will fill the gap nicely between the 18-35 1.8 sigma art lens and the canon 100-400L mk2 👍👍👍
@@kingjay8212 love it I ended up trading the sigma in for a canon 16-35 2.8 mk2L and got a 5Dmk3 for landscapes (although I hope to upgrade that to the 5dmk4 )shots and keep the 100-400 mk2 on the 7dmk2 for the telephoto shots
That´s funny! I have got this lens second hand and it has got exactly the same creepy way of zooming in while hanging downwards. I thought mine was the only one because it´s so old. Definetly my preferred lens!
Yes the dreaded zoom creep! There is a fix where you use a tiny rubber band between the zoom ring and the body. It adds just enough friction to stop the movement but in my experience the rubber band breaks quite quickly… I just got used to the creep and allow for it now. It’s amazing how adaptable we are with time!
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@@RoyRiley me too. I am used to the fact that I have to check the zoom before each shoot. I will leave it as it is.
Just recently got a used 24-105L Canon. F/4. I've seen many posts/reviews where they do tests F stops above 4.0?? 5.6, 8 ect....... How can this be done if the lens is fixed at f4??? Camera do it electronically?? Thanks
F4 is the maximum wide open aperture. All the other aperture options should also be available when the lens is on the camera. Yes through the electrical contacts you see at the back of the lens.
This lens was my walk around on my crop body XSI since 2008 and on (to my 60D). In 2018 I got a FF (6DII) and I assume it will be the best walk around for FF as well. It is currently my widest lens on FF which is equal to 15mm on crop.
I had 3 copies of the Fujinon XF 16-80 f4 and all were terrible at 16mm! Even a Sony RX100 III is sharper … It would have been a perfect small zoom lens but it’s flawed 😢
I accidentally solved the zoom creep on mine. Years ago I slipped while sitting down on a park bench. The lens hit the concrete upstand and I thought 'splash one lens!'. Took it to the local Canon agent who said "Everythings fine, the zoom barrel has a tiny tiny dent. It's slightly firmer to use, but definately won't creep now!"....and he was right. It goes everywhere with me, onto every shoot. Has saved more than a few bad moments. They'll probably put it in my coffin! 🤠
owned both versions over the years the mk1 was great but as you have highlighted they were very hit and miss sharp copies and soft ones, mine was great but my friend had a shocking copy. onto the mark ii version now and i can concur it is great, totally different slightly bigger but the af, IS and lock features are much improved image quality for me is id say pretty much the same, although some reviews do say its sharper, i haven't noticed any difference at all if I'm being honest. onto your point about going mirrorless, don't do it!!!!! as a pro tog at the time shooting 1dx, and 5diii, i sold literally all my gear and went over to Sony a7iii mirrorless, spent 5 years shooting pro with it and guess what..... im back, yes the mirrorless stuff is great for some stuff like AF and low light etc, but in no way a game changer im, imp now back on dslr with my 5dmkiv and l glass and loving it. don't make the mistake i did and sell up completely and then have to re buy it all back, dip your toe in by all means but run parallels don't be fooled by the mirrorless is better movement, pro tog her passing advice, they isn't all that, and you can never ever beat and OVF imo.
Thanks for this. Always great to hear others experiences and opinions. Especially when based on pro use. So… I did go Mirrorless with the R5. Shot hundreds of assignments with it over the last year or so and while it’s not perfect I’m learning to live with it and rely on it and overall I think it’s a very good tool. Having said that so is the 5d4.. possibly one of the best cameras ever! We each have to find the right tool for our own purposes. Good luck with your journey
hey that's great to hear dude, i am glad you are enjoying the mirrorless journey, i went r6ii as didn't particularly need the megapixels and file sizes, however i do still find myself picking up and running with the 5div, i just love it. did you keep your 5d i presume you did. @@RoyRiley
i love my the canon stuff the R5/R6 are awesome. did you ever dip into Sony A7 range, the canon mirrorless stuff imo deffo doesn't perform as well low light, sony really did nail that do miss it for that if im honest. @@RoyRiley
So much of photography is down to the photographers eye, technical ability, lighting, the subject and the edit. The lens is just the thing that resolves the sharp image.. this lens is reasonably capable and will mostly create pretty sharp pictures. If your lens is not faulty then I would politely suggest seeking to improve some of the other factors I outlined above. Hope this helps! Wishing you big success. RR
@@PrincessSkilla what camera are you shooting on? What do you mostly shoot? And what mode do you usually shoot in? Are you comfortable shooting in full manual mode? The reason I ask all this is purely research!! But This lens is a heavy weight professional piece of kit and needs some understanding to get the best from it
I have 1 of these lenses and I love it I don't mind at all the lens creeping I just recomposed and that's fine by me I bought it used excellent plus condition looks brand new it did not come with a hood, so I had to buy that brand new I was glad to do it. I'm sure your friend will be happy to know that you're using that lens And by the way a lens is not that expensive. I upgraded to this lens before I was using a 24-1053.5-4.5 not an L. lens but tthe photos still came out very sharp. I still have it by the way. Is L. lyns has not let me down it's very sharp at all focal lens and it's might go 2 lines when I just wanna go out and shoot not shooting a job just go out and enjoy myself as well as a job I'll never get rid of it love it. Ok. Happy shooting.
Got one with the original 5D and still have it. In fact, years ago it got dropped on concrete with the camera attached. It took it right in the nose. The attached filter was bent and broken, the lens was completely fine and still it. Amazing. M copy is sharp if you close it down. Based on reviews I see no reason to go to version 2 and it also seems like the R glass one does not really offer any benefit per se. I'm going to ride that EF L glass and Canon DSLR"S for a long long time. The new R stuff is crazy expensive. You would think it's Cana-Leica. Freaking Leica stuff made in Portugal and Asia, and then breathed on by some guy in Lederhosen who can't pronounce the letter W and has letter V confusion. Somewhere the madness has to stop.
Amazing comment man! Bang on! Leica is a whole different game! However.. and in total contrast.. The AF on the R cameras is next level. That is the main reason I have an interest. Most of the time for me and for most people, honestly this is not too much of an issue because the DSLR's are plenty good enough but in the pro world if you were going up against someone who is armed to the teeth with R cameras and glass.. and there is only one picture worth having.. What would you do?
@@RoyRiley what would you say to someone with an R body, but EF glass + Canon EF adapters with or without the control ring? Imho, I’m not sure if the R glass is worth upgrading to when I’m stacked with EF USM L lenses already. Instead of upgrading, I took the money and bought adapters for each of my lenses (not all w/ control ring) and loaded ‘em up in my camera bag. I could buy a whole ‘bother RF body with the money I saved. Shoot, I just did with a preorder for a EOS R7! :-)
@@rawhides I would say probably stick with the Ef glass until a lens needs replacing and then start moving over to the RF lenses. I think the ef lenses work fine with the adaptor. It’s a bit of a pain because it’s something else to think about though. Why not just one adaptor that stays on the body rather than an adaptor for each lens?
Sorry about your friend. I like the realistic look at that lens... Maybe the compromise is worth it to me...I don't make money from photography, I just want a sharp standard lens for less money. I got a nifty fifty and a 70-200 f4L lens so I guess I'm hanging on, but the 70-200 is so big I can't just walk around with it.
I don't have a full frame camera i have a crop sensor camera the canon 80d i guess when the prices goes down I'll buy me a full frame camera but for right now i only have the 80d and i want a good lens that can do everything with. I want a few pointers. I want to know how good this lens is and would it fits my canon 80d
Hi Chief. Probably the closest good lens to 'do everything' on your 80D would be the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. On your camera, it'll work like a 28-216mm zoom, with a pretty handy aperture range.
@@chiefbubba2581 Even better, consider the Canon efs 10-18mm . That will give you ultra wide (16mm on a full frame), to 217mm (top end of the bigger zoom). Both good lenses with good resale. Two good midrange lenses for a really solid midrange camera.👍
@@kiwipics4003 so I'm better off buying the 10-18 and the 18-35 and the 18-135 and everything cool. i was really looking at just 2 lens but 3 is good right.
I’ve had my 24-105 f4 L since 2006 and it’s still going strong. It’s been on my 5D I, II and III (still using it on my III) and produced sharp images on all of them. It survived a cycling tour of rural India in 2008 and it’s only been repaired once after the diaphragm got stuck a couple of years ago. Great to see you’re still using yours and thanks for your thoughts Roy.
An update. I have been using this EF lens for a few months now on a Canon R5 body with adapter and it’s still incredible sharp and works well with the IBIS.
Cheers Martin! Sounds like your gear has led an interesting life!
Ayyy! Hello fellow R5 + adapter 24-105 f/4 user!
Your style of doing these experience- and actual day-to-day use based reviews are really refreshing in comparison to the not-so-real-world-applicable pixel peeping ones that youtube is full of. Great work! Thinking about adapting older, used EF lenses like these with my S5 IIX and your reviews have been helpful. Thanks!
Great, articulate review! On my second copy of this lens, first one gave up the ghost after 11 years service. Just sourced another for $500 here in Sydney. I shoot with this lens on my 5DMKIII and the 70-200 f/2.8 on my 6D. When I do something like a wedding, the 24-105 is responsible for at least 85-90% of the shots.
Nice set up! It’s a great lens for getting the job done with minimal fuss. Glad you found another good copy. RR
I'm a happy owner of a 5D MKIII, and today I got this lens in mint condition with a Uv filter already mounted.
I'm was impressed with the performance from the first few shots.
This will be my last lens. I have a 70-200mm f4L, 50mm 1.8 STM, ef-s 24mm STM and ef-s 18-135mm STM.
Obviously the ef-s is for my 250D.
You are the VERY FIRST person that has arrived at the same conclusion regarding the 24-105L that I have. Either sample variation OR inability/lack of AF fine tuning early on. In reality it's a FAR better lens than the internet would have you believe. I think most people's opinion are not really informed by actual long-term use but more internet "common wisdom" along with the fact that there's a billion of them as they were included in kits for basically free from the 5DII so there's the "kit lens" bias.
Thank you for this comment. I value your opinion and to know we are on the same page is a really good thing! All the best. Roy
@@RoyRiley Ps. if you shoot verticals for a living that need a 4:3 crop for their intended use pretty much every lens is fine ;-)
Ya gotta love the "but the corners" crowd pretending no crops are ever done or even straitening or everything is shot at f11 and the corners are actually in focus all the time... ahhh the power of being and old man and living photographic reality in the commercial world for a few decades ;-) Gimmie all your 17-40L's as well hahaha. I find for the most part the glass is not the limiting factor (with some exceptions and for those I use the new TSE's that are superb and can actually get the stuff in focus you need for actual sharp)
@@robertboyer5926 I totally agree! Some jobs require pin sharp through out and then, as you say it is important to use the right tool for the job but in so many cases I actually like the look from lenses that are soft in the corners, vignette, flare ect. So long as the important part of the image is sharp then I am happy enough.. I remember having a conversation with a Nikon rep about a certain lens ( cannot remember which one.) but I told him that I loved it because it “flared beautifully” he spat his coffee across the room and then explained how Nikon prided itself on their exceptional flare control… that may have been true but in my hands it was the flare I was most excited about!…
Most reviews are a joke tbh .
@@RoyRileyI always look for character, not the least in a lense. One cannot argue that the 24/105 has no character. It does. I think that the influence of this lense in habitualizing certain ways of seeing through a lens at all is underestimated. It's enormously practical, and widespread to a almost comical extent, almost like a Rolleiflex 2eyes was in its days. I would like to know the number of shots done with this one. And I like that, to join this flow and ease in understanding perspective and character of a shot because we know the characteristics by heart. Realisticly, if you catch attention with a shot (if you want that at all) with that lense, you won it and not the lens.
Got this lens as part of a package along with the 6ad and Pixma Pro-100 back in 2016. All three are still running rock solid to this day.
Excellent review!
Just stumbled across your channel, and I really like the 'real world' information instead of the usual 'what's new and trending' stuff. I've quite recently acquired this lens second hand, completing an f4 'trinity' for use on my also second hand 5D mk2, all for about 2000 euros total. Nice to see you informing people on just such options instead of spending double or triple on new gear!
Thank you for your comment. It’s really great to get such feedback. I really appreciate your time for watching and thinking to write. Good luck with your cameras and lenses! Such great value. All the best. Roy
I also got a 5D MK2 that I bought 2nd hand, and true... it is a bit clunky and old fashioned compared to some modern gear. But I still love the feel + reliability.... besides that..... for what we pay for a 5Dii nowadays its a tank that will last us years, a solid workhorse!!!
Same here, December 2021 in Canada, and I just bought a 5D Mk2 and 24-105 F4 L second hand. Great camera and still has a lot of life left
Got the lens for my Canon 6D and now the RF version. Love it, because you can take realy good images with it because of the 24-105 range. Great subject! Keep em comming!
It really is a great range of focal lengths. That RF version though.. really nice lens.
I got mine just the other day (quickly followed by the 55-250). Really looking forward to giving it a workout with my 7D Mk II and 1DX Mark III. I think it will also work nicely with my original old 300D and 20D. If I take photos half as good as what you showed, I'll consider myself successful!
Nice set up you have! Thanks for your comment. RR
Was looking at the Sigma 24-105mm Art. Nearly pulled the trigger but went for the Canon 400mm f2.8. Can do everything the 24-105 can do if you are prepared to stitch a bit.
Haha! The perfect lens for the socially distanced photographer
I've been going back and forth between the RF 24-70 and 24-105 for months but finally pulled the trigger on the
RF 24-105 yesterday! As a Prime Lens shooter this is going to be my first ever Zoom. I settled on having the extra 35mm of range since it'll be more flexible as a walk around lens. It would have been nice to have a few extra stops of light for Portraiture but that's what my EF 85MM 1.4 is for haha and I saved myself about $1100
Love your channel Roy! You're an inspiration and deserve way more subscribers!
Wishing you good luck with your news lens. Thank you for your kind words. All the best. Roy
This is a great lens & brings back a lot of memories. I had one of these & replaced it 10 years ago with 24-70mm f2.8 lens. I went for the 1 extra f-stop, which I think in todays age doesn’t really matter so much as noise reduction on the higher ISO settings is very good.
Thanks for your thoughts. Just been using the new 24-105 RF F4. Really feels like a step up in terms of IQ and no zoom creep! But pricey!
@@RoyRiley This is a very under rated lens. When I had this lens I hardly saw other photographers use this lens. I am talking about the 2,000s’. I was shooting a lot of press work back than. All these Reuters or AP guys would never have a lens like this.
@@NoName-jq7tj... as the snobs they are. Rarely go 4 a sensible solution, style is what defines the parameters of the game they play.
This is a great assessment of this lens. I'm heading out later this week to document a light festival and have to choose one body and lens because there will be thousands of people on the streets and I don't want the clutter of carrying two bodies w/a 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 so I'm choosing my Canon 5D Mark iv and same version of the 24-105 f4 that you have here. I too had a bad copy of this lens many years ago but came across a very sharp copy and it is always the lens I choose when I am heading out the door (if I'm only taking once camera/lens with me). I think it's very hard to beat the 5D Mark iv w/24-105 f4 for an all around combo.
@@jasonwhitman1548 stuff a 50mm 1.8 STM in your pocket and it’s all gravy!
Thank you! I needed your opinion because I plan to buy it!
Just a note of thanks for all your informative and well presented vids Roy - especially this one. Reviews like this from a pro, firmly rooted in real world photography, are preferable to spec sheet and technical test-based reviews. I have just bought a used 6D, my first full frame DLSR, moving up from a 100D. I am researching a do-it-all (nearly!) zoom to complement the 6D, and this lens is now on my short list.
Glad you are enjoying the videos. Might be worth looking at the 24-70 F2.8 or f4 too. The 2.8 lens is great but heavy and the f4 version is a great size and weight
Thanks for an honest well balanced review, if I only bought ONE lens then I might have purchased this. But I normaly work with 2 lenses by default, one is my 24-70 and my other is the 70-200 if I ever need an extended range.
Keep posting, I'm looking forward to some more "old gear" reviews :)
Thank You! Yes for years I was a 24-70 and 70-200 shooter too. Probably the most dynamic set up ever!
As usual a perfectly balanced review. Rare to find. Thank you.
Cheers Paul! I like to present things as I find them after hacking it out on assignment. I am growing more and more bored of reviews where someone just opens the box and declares something good or bad. On another note I have been using the RF 24-105 lately which pretty much solved all of the issues with the EF lens and is super sharp everywhere… only trouble is it snaps like a dry twig in the wind if you happen to half drop it.
@@RoyRiley so true. I have trawled through so many ‘reviewers’, most just do not even understand how it might be used. I am English but living permanently in Tennessee. I am a retired pro photographer and it’s quite a relief to find these things reviewed by a pro as I am getting back into the trade as I am getting an itchy shutter release finger. Have found a potential niche here so I am restocking and updating my kit. Wish me luck.
Cheers Roy.
The nice thing about the II version of this lens is that it caused a significant drop in the secondhand price of the classic one.
Good to see that you as a pro use a secondhand lens.
The obsession with the latest gear is a great boost for the economy!
Just curious, so in your opinion, is the original 24-105 just as good as the new version if the price for the original is decent?
I've had mine for years now. It has a very slight creep not as bad as yours, But it is shop throughout the whole focal length, And has never let me down. I switched it from my 5D mark 2 to my 5D mark 3I just absolutely love it. Side note. I remember in 1 of your videos You remarked about your camera strap and you wish it didn't screen canon. I use a black marker to wipe out anything I didn't want to say on my Strap. Just an idea. Love your videos keep up the good work.
@@anthonyde4314 cheers Anthony! Glad your 24-105 is still doing the business. Good idea about the strap. Get busy with the sharpie! Doesn’t it get messy if you’re wearing a white shirt shooting in the rain??
In my view, this is Canon’s best lens from a utilitarian point of view. In 10 years of shooting Canon FF digital cameras, I have probably taken 75% of my images with either the EF or RF version of the lens. With either one, I have been satisfied with the results.
I just picked up a used MK I version online last month. It was priced really low due to the loose zoom/zoom creep at a little over $300 USD. Other than the zoom creep, the lens was in near perfect condition - just a small dent near the zoom ring. I wanted a 24-105mm for my hikes along with the 6D Mk II to replace my Tamron 35-150mm which is significantly heavier and bulkier than the 24-105 ( I use the Tamron for mostly portraits/plant photography now) I have found no real issues with my pictures or the lens itself, I love that I can now shoot wider at 24mm and the fact that this is my first L lens makes it even more exciting to use.
Nice! Good luck with your new lens. RR
So I have used this lens on my 7d and found it very useful both in studio for portrait work and out and about/ weddings etc. However I I'm really looking forward to using it soon on my first full frame DSLR. It was very pleasing to see just how robust you have found it to be. Once again thank you for some great easy to watch informative content. 👍🏻.
Good luck with it! Certainly more robust than the RF version
the ef-s 17-55 was in my opinion the best trans-standard for my 7d. Gave me fantastic images. Funnily enough, It was more expensive than my 24-105... at the time of purchase (got it new, the L, I got second hand)
24-105mm F4L and 5DMkIII are my workhorses... great pair of tools for almost any job.
Great video, I've just bought one from MPB and your video came up while I was doing a bit of research. I think one of my favourite lenses is on your shelf the Canon 85mm 1.8, it's a stunning portrait lens and I use it a lot for gig/concert photography.
Good honest review and a lens I've been looking at recently.
Cheers Pete! Good luck with the lens if you get hold of one. All the best. Roy
Hey Roy, I couldn't agree more on your assessment of the Canon 24-105mm lens with the incredible usefulness and versatility but lacking in character and that elusive magic. I like your yin and yang analogy as I really like the lens and use it frequently but I don't love it. I have lenses with character and magic but are lacking in usefulness so don't get used as much. It's a weird dichotomy of sorts as I've yet to find that perfect unicorn lens. Roy, I'm so glad I found your channel and great content. You offer insight, knowledge and perspective that only an experienced real world photographer can offer. Wishing you godspeed growing your channel mate.
Thanks for this lovely comment Joseph. Appreciate your support and am really pleased you are enjoying the content. All the best. Roy
Thanks for a very useful review, it’s great to hear about how high-spec but older lenses are faring these days: so many of us can finally afford them as they’re going ‘cheap’ used, but most reviews of them are very old or the lens hadn’t been tested for long. The perspective of someone who’s used them for a while is handy. I’m planning on upgrading from my 50D to a 5DIII soon and don’t have any EF lenses that are less than 100mm, so am really strongly considering this or the 24-70mm F/2-8 to fill that gap. The cheaper price and greater focal range on this one are very tempting!
Cheers Dave. It’s a great lens if you get one that’s nice and sharp. Good luck whichever way you go. RR
@@RoyRiley thanks! The variability between lenses is one of the things that’s got me nervous: I’ll buy from MPB and get one that’s in ‘excellent’ condition but guess it’s not necessarily the case that a lens in good condition is a lens from a good batch, and I don’t think you can tell beforehand with the lens ID… ah well, it’s a smaller gamble when buying one at used prices at least!
@@davehemprich-bennett9336 MPB are generally very good. Good luck with it! RR
Roy, I have been a Canon user since the early 70's and have owned and still own virtually every Canon I have ever purchased along with several Nikons and my favorite Mamiya 645-S1000's. I want to thank you for your video's, LOVE them a great deal, very informative from the perspective of a true professional, I have learn a great deal from you and appreciate your passion for the art. Regarding the 24-105 L lens, I cant recall which 5D I purchased which came with this particular lens either 5d mk I or my 5D mk II ?? In either case, I had actually put it away for some time somewhat viewing this lens as what it was, a "Kit Lens" until one day I mistakenly grabbed it and place it in my bag, BTW its been some 10 plus years since I did that. I have not looked back since and while I certainly use other lenses, my default tends to be the 24-105 as an "All Around" lens. I can consistently count of the quality of the images with hick ups here and there but I chalk those hick ups to user error not the camera or lens..."Always Learning". Additionally your comment regarding Low light not being an issue for an F4 lens, is spot on! Thank you again for your review of this particular lens.
Great video Roy and awesome images. I found this lens to be a great all rounder, worked extremely well on my old 5d2 and provided smooth results.
Cheers man! Hope you are keeping well. I love your channel and videos. Really very cool and I wish you every success.
@@RoyRiley Right back atcha brother.
Hi,i have my 24-105 since 10 Years. First with a Canon 5DII. Then i change to Sony A7II and still use it with a Adapter (Sigma MC 11) And I love it. Greetings from West Germany.
A rubber band, stretched over part of the focus ring and partly over the part of the barrel that extends out of the lens body...thingy...did it for both of the ones I had. Fantastic lens...after correcting its shortcomings in lightroom. I also find that the zoom range is just right for most occasions and its sharp enough to be able to crop in a bit...only a bit mind you.
Thanks for this. I have tried a few rubber band fixes over the years with mixed results. Maybe I should give it another throw
I did like your review , my EF cameras & lenses are staying around but my first lens I picked up with Canon's EOS R is the 24-105mm / f4 L so I have been checking it out. Did notice a nice back round blur taking closeups of flowers around + - 85mm like I would expect from a traditional portrait lens.
Interesting John! Dont think I have ever thought about looking specifically at 85mm.. I will give it a throw!
Roy-you have the best videos --thanks so much!!!!!
Thank you David! So nice to get feedback like this. All the best. R
Hello again Roy. You kindly replied to my recent comment on the Canon 5D mk III. When I purchased the camera new it was supplied with this lens (as a kit lens) which I do use extensively. I have noticed that with age there is a tendency for zoom creep. However, I wonder if I may ask you a question please? You spoke of some sharpness issues. I too have noticed this sometimes and have always put it down to my age (69). Now, I am aware that there are "tolerances" to which cameras and lenses are manufactured. So my question is this: do you believe or recommend "calibrating" your lenses to your bodies? Is this something that one should do? (Sorry 2 questions!) I would be really interested to hear from you on this issue. Thanks in advance.
Hi David. Good to hear from you again. Happy to answer questions! I believe calibrating your lens to your camera body is a very good exercise and will ultimately help with sharpness. Some of my lenses have been bang on from day one, others have been a bit out until calibrated. The odd one or two have always been a bit soft no matter what I do! Good luck with it all. Best wishes. Roy
@@RoyRiley Thanks Roy. I'll give it a go!
@@davidmackenzie1565 Good luck with it. Would be interested to hear how you get on.. Would be great if you can get a sharper image from your set up by calibrating.
I have had two copies of this lens over the years. The first one I bought second hand and it was fantastic, loved the lens and was as sharp as can be. Unfortunately that lens was stolen with a lot of other camera gear of mine. I replaced it with a new copy of the lens and it was terrible, very soft results from it, so I sold it and replaced with 17-40 F4 L which I am very happy with. Am slowly coming round to the idea of getting another 24-105, but this time I'll look for an old model and check before I purchase to see that it is indeed sharp. Once again a great review that you have done.
Always sad to hear of stolen gear. Sounds like your experience has been similar to mine. If possible give it a good test before buying would be my advice.
This was a very useful talk. Thank you.
Another great review video!
I do really like my 24-105 since like you said it covers so many scenarios! It's so versatile.
I'll admit when I first got it I wasn't completely sold on it since on my 6d it seemed like it needed calibration. But when ever I microadjusted it it seemed like it pushed the focusing issue further down the line.
Once I got my 5diii this lens has been really good for me! It didn't need any adjustments and just bangs off nice photos ;)
Cheers Ray! Weirdly it was the 5d mark 3 that bought this lens alive for me too
@@RoyRiley Really? Got a 5D mark 3 a few months back AND am so desperate to decide whether to get the Canon 24-105mm or the Sigma Art 24mm-105mm.....HELP!!!
@@johntinker3457 I have no experience with the sigma art lens so cannot really comment. What lens are you currently using with the 5d3?
@@RoyRiley Hey Roy, have the Canon 24mm-70mm F4.....like it but....just feel the need for a bit more focal length.
I bought this lens and was really disappointed, but don't know whats happened after New Year's 2022, I've fallen in love with it and taken some of my best shots yet. Love these videos, love the passion, keep creating, its really useful
Thanks for this feedback! Really pleased you are enjoying the videos and also your new found success with this lens. All the best. RR
I like your reviewing style.
Watching you we know what to expect ( and not to expect which is more important to me ) from lenses, well done and thank you for your great content 👏👏
Thanks for the feedback and pleased you find value in this content. I try to keep it straight down the line and based on experience rather than specs or anything else. All the best. RR
Good review and about what I was expecting. I just got mine as a walk around lens for my film EOS3. I’m not expecting miracles, I just want to not have to think about whether I want the 35 / 50 / 85 when I go out. I already own the Olympus 12-100, which I have a love-hate relationship with, and I’m wondering if some time with the canon will give me a fresh perspective on how good or otherwise the Olympus is. I’m pretty sure the Olympus will win at the short end based on your comments about barrel distortion.
12-100 on micro 4/3.. great focal length.. I’m interested in that lens. Will look into to it. What body are you using it with?
@@RoyRiley such a great focal range, and the IQ is very good especially at shorter focal lengths. I alternate between my EM1 and EM1 mark2, it performs well on both. It’s much like other 24-105s, I seldom use it for moving subjects in low light because of f/4, so for static subjects either camera is fine. I’d like something with more modern autofocus to pair it with but I’ve already spent too much on Canon & Sony stuff.
@@RoyRiley just did some side-by-side sharpness shots with both at 50mm in full frame terms, using on-camera lighting from the NEO3, both at f/4 because that’s their sharpest aperture on both my copies of the lenses, and ignoring DOF differences because shooting a flat surface it doesn’t matter. Both files opened in Lightroom with default lens corrections and default sharpening applied. The Olympus left the canon (EOS R) for dead in terms of sharpness and clarity. Of course the canon has extra resolution, but the difference was clear whichever way you looked at it. The canon definitely produced perfectly acceptable results, and once you fed it through topaz it was pretty comparable to the Olympus.
The Olympus white balance was much more neutral (accurate?) even punching the exact colour temperature into both, the canon file looked much warmer by default, but that’s a system difference rather than lens.
Other differences of course are the extra range of the Olympus and the IS that allows hand held shots in the range of 1-2 seconds at 12mm, vs the Canon’s improved high ISO noise performance and shallower DOF. Second hand the canon is also half the price of the Olympus, so it really depends on what’s important to you.
Edit: tried f/4 Olympus vs f/8 canon both at ISO 200, 100mm FFE. Olympus still wins on sharpness, but the canon stayed much cleaner in out of focus areas due to the extra sensor size. The extra noise of the oly was noticeable, even at base ISO.
@@12symmo this is very interesting stuff! You should get into the world of lens reviews! Thanks for the information
Another well rounded video, thank you sir!
Thanks Jay! I have not forgotten your question about starting out in photojournalism. What sort of thing do you wish to shoot? Interesting times for China. Good long form project?
@@RoyRiley Thanks for the reply! Well I feellike being here in these times, as an expat, there are things happening as the times are changing here, but I just don't really know about starting out. Things like newspapers and magazines, websites, I don't know the process of approaching these people. So many things are not allowed to be reported here, but of course there are ways to get them out. I'm not sure I'm making any sense now haha I guess I'd like to hear about how you got started in what you do, how to move it along and make it grow for you, how to get this kind of documentary work. Thanks a lot mate, it's really very much appreciated.
@@jayse1195 I have close family who have just left because of how tricky things are are becoming. I understand how difficult
Things can be. Often we are living through the major changes in history without even knowing it. I would begin to document how life is around you with a view to building a larger body of work over time. With regard to getting g work from newspapers and magazines. It’s never been an easy task and is probably harder now than ever but it is still possible. You have to be the solution to a problem. Your being in the location you are in could well be of great value to a picture editor somewhere.
Thats my go to all around lens while traveling or shooting video cuz of the IS. The bokeh is looking good to! Solid beater lens! Owned mine for like 10years
,
Love the 24-70 2.8 more but its far heavier and that little of a focal lenght to 105 is often critical while traveling.
Sometimes i bring my 35mm 2.0 or 50mm 1.8 in my pocket if i know im gonna be in low light situations.
Yes! Agreed. Video is great with this lens.. I also wander around with a 50mm 1.8 in my pocket!
Hi Roy, another great video that I really enjoyed . . . . . .so refreshing to find somebody who is using / reviewing kit that is mostly affordable and attainable . . . . . . . .I have owned 2 Canon 24 - 105 f/4.0 L IS lenses over the years, both were soft at 24 and 105 but sharp in the mid range and both suffered the distortion that you mention and the lens creeping towards 105 too . . . . . .such a shame as that range is perfect for 95% of the fotos that I make ! I might try a Mk. 2 ? Meanwhile, my trusty 35 f/2.0 IS just goes on and on producing beautiful sharp distortion free images and my legs do the zooming . . . . .love your style and content . . . . .thank you . . . .
Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate such positive feedback! Yes. I wonder about that Mark 2 lens myself! I am currently trying not to spend any more money on EF lenses because it would seem that mirrorless is becoming the future. The R5 is great but I keep feeling myself being pulled towards the world of Fuji.. we will see. Good luck with your photography and thanks again for your comment. R
What would this be like on the 5D mk ii ? Great Video's Roy, many thanks. I have killed my Olympus MFT stuff and am going to Canon, after several Nikons!
Goes really well with the mk2 in fact I believe it was the original kit lens. Thanks for your kind words! I have always been interested in the Olympus mFT cameras. Tiny size and some amazing lenses but FF does always deliver when push comes to shove!
Thanks Rob, on the strength of your videos, I just bought a 5D mk ii for £220!
@@rydinorwin Nice! Mine cost 3 grand! Good luck with it. RR
It you take the lens in to canon there is a rubber ring inside that gets worn out and allows the creep to happen. Replace that ring and your issue is resolved. Not sure if they still service these now though.
Thank you. I did not
know this was something that Canon could fix. I wonder how much it would cost? I did try the fix of sticking a rubber band around the join and that does sort of fix it but can present its own problems!
Thanks for your opinion about this lens. There are a lot reviews about this lens, cause as you said, now you can buy it used for 400$. Sometimes i see also the v2 version for 600$ which is also a very good price. Many are currently switching to mirrorless systems and selling their old parts quite cheaply.
Very powerful lens but for some reason, even though it can do everything I need.. I struggle to really like it. Maybe I need some kind of therapy!
@@RoyRiley Hehe 🙂maybe... or maybe its because its an F4 kit lens. That's why many don't like it. Im also not sure if i should buy it but i'd rather buy a 24-70 2,8 L for the same price. I use now a 35mm 2,0 IS which is a very interesting lens. It works for everything except for tele of course. When i think about Leicas, that have only a fixed 24mm, then im confused and don't know what i need or should buy next.
@@mikebandana7345 the hunt for the perfect lens is a long and winding path!
My very old version died a few months ago and I am not sure what to replace it with. like you I had a love hate relationship with it. Don't know if I should buy a used version of the original or buy the MK11 version or go Sigma Art 24 -105. By coincidence is only photograph farming so I am often working in milking parlours.
Haha! You will know the cow urine situation well then! I am interested in the Sigma Art 24-105 you mention. Might be one to look out for. My experience of Sigma has been mixed but I have an open mind to these things. Thanks for your comment and good luck whichever lens you choose. All the best. Roy
@@RoyRiley my only non Canon lens is a sigma art 20mm that I bought used from Peter Macdiarmid, it's a great lens so I have high hopes for the 24- 105
@@scrivphoto Any lens that has been through the hands of the great Peter Macdiarmid must be worth having! I have the Art 50mm which is also very good but quite heavy which can be a pain. Let me know how you get on if get hold of the 24-105..
My biggest tips is to get yours repaired! What happend?
@@alexcornofficial cannot speak for @scrivphoto but mine got cracked wide open by an airline. Not cost effective to repair
Hi were the pictures that you showed us straight out of the camera or were they run through Photoshop
A bit of a mixture I think. Most of my pictures have a few tweaks in lightroom
Greetings Roy. I just found your channel and have enjoyed the few videos I’ve watched so far. I’m a hobbyist and owned the 24-105 for several years. The creep you speak of became such an annoyance that I finally traded for a 24-70 f4. This lens has a lock plus a macro feature and it’s a great lens for me as I don’t need an f2.8. However, I have now discovered the loss of that extra 35mm reach is a much bigger pain than lens creep ever was.
Haha! Yes zoom creep v lack of reach.. it’s a tough one!
i have the 24-70 and 70-200 both F2.8 but I'm still looking into this one. feels like that lost middle between them both and with IS is a nice addition. would be interesting how it would work on 1dx mk1 but I would suspect it would be a beast
I have the Sony G version of this lens and it is incredibly sharp and build quality is great too. Love this lens
Interesting. I don't have too much experience with Sony lenses but would like to get hold of a bunch to try out. Keep looking at second hand Sony A7r3's seem like good value!
The Sony G version is surprisingly outstanding!
I saw your video and loved it because that lens works for most things. I paid 1000 when I bought it and was disappointed it was F 4.0 because of the cost and I really would have loved a wider aperture. If I am going on a trip and weight wise only want to take one lens, I take the 24-105 lens. I have a 50mm and 85 fixed, but my favorite lens is 70-200. I seem to love the images from that lens the most. I shoot a few weddings and that one is just so heavy, but I still love it. I lied your video and agree the 24-105 has great versatility even though it’s an F4. Thanks for Your video!
Thanks Wanda! Appreciate your support. RR
Hi, what would you recommend for the Canon 90D, the 24-70 or 24-105?
I bought the 24-70 F4 2nd hand and is EVFM . I have looked at the 24-105 . At the moment there is exceptional 2nd hd prices . But is it a lense i really need now ...when i have a f2 135mm Samyang .
I guess i'd buy one if my f4 succumbed to a accident
Stick with what you have. Great set up! Merry Christmas! RR
Interesting what you say about the build quality. Mine has failed twice with the image stabilization (Repaired by a respected London firm) and it doesn't get anything like the use of a full on professional will give it. In fact this second time I lost confidence in another expensive fix, so haven't bothered. Thanks for the review.
Honestly I think there are good versions and bad versions of this lens with regard image and build quality.. and it’s the luck of the draw which one you get. Sorry to hear of your repairs
@@RoyRiley
Thanks for getting back so promptly. Real world reviews are so helpful. Thanks again.
Great video, I am subscribed after finding you channel today.
I too have a copy of this lens also and mine has the ‘pain in butt’ lens creep. I fixed mine with an inexpensive rubber lens band from Amazon. You can use the band to lock the focus securely or set it with just enough hold to tighten up the zoom slack. 👍
Cheers Colin. I had heard of this fix before but never thought it would work. Now though I will look into it for sure! In some ways I have got used to the creep and almost automatically expect it and adjust for it without really thinking! I wonder if I fix it will it take me another few years to re-adapt. We will see. Thanks for your time, subscription and the heads up for this fix. Best wishes to you. R
@@RoyRiley no probs. I went on Amazon and typed in ‘lens band’ and bought a set of bands. Just did it there and the title/description of the item is - DSLRKIT Photographer's Wristband SET/Stop Lens Zoom Creep 😊
@@colinhendry3 Thanks Colin. I just watched a video where another solution has been found with a tiny rubber band that kind of slots in alongside the zoom ring and apparently adds just enough friction to slop the creep. I might try both methods! All the best. Roy
5D MK II with this lens for $700 U.S. is for sale nearby, original box, CF cards, cords, manual. I used to be a B&W hobbyist in the 1970s - 80's, darkroom, Tri-X, D-76. Looking to return for a hobby and might buy this kit.Thanks for video!
No worries Mike! Tri X! YES! Spent many years in a black and white darkroom so can relate. Sound like a good deal with the lens. Wishing you many happy exposures in 2022. RR
I got this lens in aug for my birthday as a replacement for the old 18-55 kit lens lol and wow love it and fits perfectly between the 16-35 L and the 100-400 mk2 L
If you get a good copy then it’s a belting lens. Sounds like you got a good one!
@@RoyRiley that how you got all the lenses out in the shop and tried them one after the other I know from film cameras there wasn’t any in body micro adjustments but did you try that back then or was it before you knew about the in body lens calibration . my 1st dslr and canon was a 20D with the sigma. 70-200 2.8 loved that lens I never knew about calibration back then lol . I’ve only just traded the 70-200 in for the 100-400 a couple years ago but I want another lol 😂
with my 24-105 I was surprised how much calibration was needed it was like -2 on the wide end I think it was and +9 on the tele end and images look great
Spot on thoughts in your video. I've always thought the 24-70mm is a bit of a 'meh' focal range, 70mm is neither fish nor fowl, really just 50mm plus a stride closer, whereas the 24-105mm is proper useful. But everyone has a 24-70, so at great expense I bought the Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8, pin sharp but I've never liked it (especially when I found out about it's 'delicacy' to being knocked, even quite gently). For what it's worth, the 24-105mm is the lens Martin Parr uses on his Canons. At his exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery a couple of years ago, there was a photo enlarged literally to the size of a wall which had been shot on that lens. Even MP said he was surprised it was sharp enough to be that big. I want a 24-105 (probably a Sigma)...!
Cheers Andrew! I am interested in that’s Sigma too. Let me know how you get on if you get your hands on one.. got the 50mm art and it’s very good but heavy and prone to steaming up in a heartbeat
TBH, the point of the 24-70mm focal range is partially due to the excellent 70-200mm lenses that can switched to at that point. But, that's an extra like $2k or so depending upon the specifics and if you're just needing that extra bit, probably not owrth it.
Definitely my go to lens. Its great for nice wide landscapes and tight telephoto shots and at 105mm you can get relatively good bokeh (or at least its good enough to impress my family:). Also as a hobbyist, the cheap price (picked mine up for $375) pretty much cancels out all of my small gripes against it. Wish it was F2.8 but I can see how that would be bad from a business perspective as Canon would be making some of their other top selling lenses (24-70s and most 70-200s) obsolete with a 24-105 F2.8.
Yup a 24-105 F2.8 would be very nice! Maybe one day we will see such a thing. I guess it would be quite heavy and expensive though and that might ruin it for many. Thanks for your comment. All the best. Roy
I love mine. Great sharpness in the center and contrasts. It is the lens I still take as a one lens combo on holidays. Unortunatly mine seems to be quite a bit decentered. It looses sharpness to the right boarders and espacially to the upper right corner. And once you remarked such a flaw you just keep on looking for it. I got mine second hand and probably I got one of these bad copies. Did someone had the same problem and is there a reasonable way to fix it?
Hi. I have had a similar problem but with a different lens.. a very old 17-35mm on that occasion a repair did not fully resolve the issue and like you say.. when you know it’s there it becomes harder to live with. In the end I retired the lens and bought a new one which did not have the same issue. Not 100% sure why this happens but put it down to heavy use and worn parts. Apologies I cannot give more help. My only suggestion would be to try to calibrate the lens to the camera and see if this helps. All the best. Roy
I bought this lens used from a photography shop here in Rome for 400€ and I appreciate the construction quality but I find it to be a bit too much of a compromise. Sure it covers a good focal range but it just doesn’t get to the point of being considered the Swiss knife I was looking for. I would never go on a travel with this one lens only, I also need my primes (35 and 50), and a longer telephoto (70-300) to feel covered in most situations.
Agreed! Good luck with your photography. All the best. Roy
I lost mine , and a lot of other kit , recently in a flood . It was a very good lens , especially for travel . I will probably replace mine with a 24-70 f/2.8 just for the extra stop as it will be used on both a full frame and crop body .
Sorry to hear of that loss man.. it sucks to lose camera gear. 24-70 2.8 is a great lens. I had one for years until an airline wrecked it. Probably one of my all time favourites because it’s a lens that has good character. More like a prime than a zoom.
Hi I know this may be a silly question but still trying to understand ‘Canon/Camera language’ but can this lens fit on a Canon EOS M50 Mark II MirrorlessCamera?’
I am no expert in the M range of cameras but I know you would need an adaptor and that this lens would be rather huge on a little M camera!
About zoom creep, I bought this lens from a store and they had properly serviced it. It had cleaned from dust, replaced flex cable and lubricated it. I don't have any zoom creep in it and I've shaken it like in this video. Lens works like a new. I highly recommend owners of this lens to take it to professional and let them service it, it's worth it.
Good advice! Trouble is with heavy daily use it might not take that long for the zoom creep to “creep” back in.. time will tell I guess! Wishing you many years of creep less zooming
Service that is good is always a good idea. Everything needs service, lenses too.
I’ve had one for a good few years and the image quality is great. My only complaint is that it creeps if it’s hanging on the body
For me the zoom creep Is the biggest negative for this lens. I am slowly getting used to it though! (
I had this a while back.. clearly I had a bad copy.. it was floppy and dark at the long end. But still great as somthing you could do a whole assignment with with no lens changes. Oddly Im jut in the market for a bargain FF canon walkabout lens and I chose to get the old 24-70F4L instead - It feels a bit more solid but Im feeling the AF motor might be prehistoricly slow. It would be good to put the lenses side by side sometime as they are both affordable. On other matters I bought an RP as my walkabout camera.. first impressions are excellent.
Hi Sam. I have not tried that 24-70 but hear good things about its sharpness. Glad to hear it is going well with the RP . Nice option. R
I owned one almost 10 years ago and moved it on less than two years later because it simply wasn't working for me. It was often soft and out of focus, even after lens calibration.
I did some reading later and in a change of my work style I needed more versatility that my couple of primes could offer so I got another, a used one for dirt cheap. It was a great choice and this particular one serves me very well these days. It's pretty sharp and the image stabilisation is extremely helpful. For a fairly light lens it's very robust and has been through some intense rain and dirt and never stop working.
It's frustrating that these things aren't always Exactly the same as the next out of the box, but with glass and some many moving parts and bits of tech in something you can hold in your hand, we can't expect them to always be exact and perfect.
Great as always
Thanks Joshua. Glad the newer lens is working out for you.
Love this. Thank you. I have the mkII it does have a lock and it does creep a little if unlocked. However I find myself neglecting this lens too much for its versatility and wide to mid range. I have the 16-35mm, 70-200mm, 100-400 plus some primes and rarely use the 24-105. It's cumbersome and exhausting sometimes to carry all those other focal lengths switching around to catch action when 24-105mm would have been enough. Lol
Haha! I do the multi lens shuffle too often when really this lens is enough. It’s just that time when you really want a 200 and 105 does not feel enough or 24 is just not wide enough…. I might give the mark 2 a throw if one appears at the right moment.
I like the new version of this lens because of the new stabilizer, it´s the best i´ve tested and also the gamut colour is improved (less green, more red), less vigneting and distortion, better colour. Nice video Roy
ThanksJJR. Interesting stuff! I am keeping my eyes open for a mark 2.. if the temptation of the R5 range can be resisted!
what would you say is more important the camera body or the lens as ive heard many people saying different things
The photographer.
@@RoyRiley that goes without saying I'm just new to the scene and don't know where my money is best spent
@@celestialvonnoodleson in my opinion it’s a balancing act and there is no real right or wrong answer. A good camera is obviously required but often people have cameras that are very capable but stick rubbish glass on the front which seems a bit daft but great glass on an inadequate camera also seems a bit silly. Very much depends on what you wish to shoot and we all have to make our own choice with our own budgets in mind. What I will say is Money spent on good quality lenses is never wasted and they tend to last a good long time
And hold value well where as cameras do get out dated and lose value. With all that in mind it’s just about learning to use what you have access to to the very highest level. I would say 9 out of 10 photographers.. me included, never use the gear they have to it’s fullest potential. A good picture is a good picture regardless of what camera or lens it was taken with and my advice would be to spend time learning the basics and trying to explore what it is that you wish to achieve with your photography. With those answers will come the clarity needed to k ow what gear is truly required to achieve the outcome you desire. Hope this make sense… It’s been a long hot day! Best wishes. R
I shoot mine on a R7 and use a speedbooster adapter. This increases the brightness to the equivalent of an f2 and yields a slight apparent improvement in IQ.
I just LR processed a set of photos taken during a single day in Lucerne. I started the day on a walk about while the wife was getting ready. Two 5dm3s with the Canon 24mm USM and a Zeiss 50 1.4. I switched to a single camera later in the day with the 24-105. The morning images are much sharper with the 50 stopped down to 7.1 giving me an image on the bridge that is spectacular. In reviewing the zoom images, the lack of sharpness could be my fault. My ISO was too low along with my shutter speed being too slow. The aperture was in the range of 9. I really thought I was a better photographer. I only wish I had one of the primes with me in the evening, and a spare battery.
Ordered a week ago. E level used. Less than $400 US. Expect to receive tomorrow. Going to test on my old 5D Mark II.
Great value! Good luck with the mew lens. Hope it works out for you. All the best. Roy
How do you like the lens?
Thank you
@@EEEBA1 So far, loving it. Definitely tell the difference between my 18-55mm kit on my T3i and this on my 5D Mark II
Roy, bought this lens - “white box” from Amazon. Mine is sharp as well, and I am finding the versatility very useful. Great to pair with the 16-35 for a lightweight walk around kit. I don’t care for the zoom creep either, but the pro’s outweigh this con. Thanks for your perspective on this and the 16-35.
Great video Roy
The black market soaked right in and I never had a problem with IT IT won't wipe off. Good luck.
There are not many lenses you can shoot an event on with just one lens. But this is one of those lenses.
Agreed! Stick a 50mm F1.8 in your pocket and most things are possible.
@@RoyRiley yes. I recently upgraded my 50mm 1.8 II to the STM version. It is a significant upgrade in build quality and focusing noise and smoothness.
@@RoyRileyexactly! I use the 40/2.8 (again, character! ) but htis way of doing the evening works. Simply works.
I regret selling my 24-105L , the copy I had was sharp and color rendering was superb. 😔
Yes! There does seem to be a slight difference between some examples of this lens.. luck of the draw
They do have an issue with the stabiliser getting stuck. Great lens though.
I guess some of these lenses are getting on a bit these days! I have never had an issue with IS getting stuck on any of my lenses. I think I must have been quite lucky though because most of my lenses have been through the wringer somewhat! I guess it can be the luck of the drawer!
Aperture flex cable recently broke and had it repaired. Lens is still in use.
Expensive repair?
@@RoyRiley about $100. Mostly for the labor.
@@mirasga interesting to know this. Very cost effective repair. Hope you get many more years of use. Good luck and thanks for sharing. RR
@@RoyRiley recently checked my photo library and this lens gets the most use. This will surely get more use in the years to come.
@@mirasga Agreed! So much of my work ends up being shot with this lens. Gets the job done!
Nice review. I sent my lense into Canon and had it back within a week and no creep since then. I will never trust Sigma again. They make great glass but the speed of the auto focus is not as good. The biggest problem with Sigma and Tamron is that when Canon comes out with a new iteration of body they are not compatible and will only work wide open. This happened 3 times, 2 with Sigma and once with Tamron with EF mounts
Sigma, Tamron and the other 3rd party lens manufacturers are typically at a significant disadvantage in this regard. They don't get the secret sauce of how the camera AF works and are limited to what they can reverse engineer. I think even Sony, only provides partial specs to 3rd parties. As a result, there's always going to be potential issues, it's part of why Sigma sells that lens dock to deal with such things.
if all you're doing is basic street and landscape, and some studio/controlled environment photography, you can get a 5d Mark II and this lens for well under $1k, leaving enough money for some CF cards, batteries, strap, tripod, bag, etc etc lol..
Wise words!
I have used the EF 24-195 F4 L a LOT...it was given to me by my employer...yes I used to shoot profesinally...with a 5D2. I never liked the Canon 24-105 L. I used my own Sigma 24-105 F4 Art, it was WAY sharper. And it still is. :)
I have yet to try that sigma 24-105.. any drawbacks worth considering? ever had problems with it fogging up when going from warm to cold or vice versa? I seem to have that with the ART 50 more than other similar lenses and it can be a pain in the neck for the kind of work I do
@@RoyRiley Not really, but it's not weather seald as the EF L is. I have used it outdoors in the winter, but kan't remember having any problems with fogging. I used to work with car photo and was in and out like 100 times a day. Shot both in- and outdors.
No one talks about the macro portion of the 24-105 mk1
Great video Just ordered one for my birthday looking forward to getting shooting with it and finally replacing the old basic 18-55 kit lens the 24-105 will fill the gap nicely between the 18-35 1.8 sigma art lens and the canon 100-400L mk2 👍👍👍
Cheers! I have yet to try that 18-35F1.8 sounds like a beast!
hows 24-105 going for you?? I'm thinking about buying it.
@@kingjay8212 love it I ended up trading the sigma in for a canon 16-35 2.8 mk2L and got a 5Dmk3 for landscapes (although I hope to upgrade that to the 5dmk4 )shots and keep the 100-400 mk2 on the 7dmk2 for the telephoto shots
Thank you so much for the video
No worries! Glad you enjoyed it. R
That´s funny! I have got this lens second hand and it has got exactly the same creepy way of zooming in while hanging downwards. I thought mine was the only one because it´s so old. Definetly my preferred lens!
Yes the dreaded zoom creep! There is a fix where you use a tiny rubber band between the zoom ring and the body. It adds just enough friction to stop the movement but in my experience the rubber band breaks quite quickly… I just got used to the creep and allow for it now. It’s amazing how adaptable we are with time!
@@RoyRiley me too. I am used to the fact that I have to check the zoom before each shoot. I will leave it as it is.
Just recently got a used 24-105L Canon. F/4. I've seen many posts/reviews where they do tests F stops above 4.0?? 5.6, 8 ect....... How can this be done if the lens is fixed at f4??? Camera do it electronically??
Thanks
F4 is the maximum wide open aperture. All the other aperture options should also be available when the lens is on the camera. Yes through the electrical contacts you see at the back of the lens.
Thank you for clearing that, I'm old school film getting into digital so got myself a nice 5DClassic and the 24-105 lens. @@RoyRiley
@@crosleyfiver8686 nice set up! Look out for a cheap 50mm f1.8 and that camera will sing like a canary!
This lens was my walk around on my crop body XSI since 2008 and on (to my 60D). In 2018 I got a FF (6DII) and I assume it will be the best walk around for FF as well. It is currently my widest lens on FF which is equal to 15mm on crop.
Nice! I had a 60d for a while. really capable camera!
The 24*105 is the combination to shot the world on DSLR / 5D3.
I just replaced it with the XF 16-60 f4. It remains me a lot of the EF 24-105.
Cheers
Interesting. What Fuji cameras are you using with the 16-60?
I had 3 copies of the Fujinon XF 16-80 f4 and all were terrible at 16mm! Even a Sony RX100 III is sharper … It would have been a perfect small zoom lens but it’s flawed 😢
@@godofhope sorry to hear that.. mine is very sharp..
I accidentally solved the zoom creep on mine. Years ago I slipped while sitting down on a park bench. The lens hit the concrete upstand and I thought 'splash one lens!'. Took it to the local Canon agent who said "Everythings fine, the zoom barrel has a tiny tiny dent. It's slightly firmer to use, but definately won't creep now!"....and he was right. It goes everywhere with me, onto every shoot. Has saved more than a few bad moments. They'll probably put it in my coffin! 🤠
Lovely story! Classic
owned both versions over the years the mk1 was great but as you have highlighted they were very hit and miss sharp copies and soft ones, mine was great but my friend had a shocking copy. onto the mark ii version now and i can concur it is great, totally different slightly bigger but the af, IS and lock features are much improved image quality for me is id say pretty much the same, although some reviews do say its sharper, i haven't noticed any difference at all if I'm being honest. onto your point about going mirrorless, don't do it!!!!! as a pro tog at the time shooting 1dx, and 5diii, i sold literally all my gear and went over to Sony a7iii mirrorless, spent 5 years shooting pro with it and guess what..... im back, yes the mirrorless stuff is great for some stuff like AF and low light etc, but in no way a game changer im, imp now back on dslr with my 5dmkiv and l glass and loving it. don't make the mistake i did and sell up completely and then have to re buy it all back, dip your toe in by all means but run parallels don't be fooled by the mirrorless is better movement, pro tog her passing advice, they isn't all that, and you can never ever beat and OVF imo.
Thanks for this. Always great to hear others experiences and opinions. Especially when based on pro use. So… I did go Mirrorless with the R5. Shot hundreds of assignments with it over the last year or so and while it’s not perfect I’m learning to live with it and rely on it and overall I think it’s a very good tool. Having said that so is the 5d4.. possibly one of the best cameras ever! We each have to find the right tool for our own purposes. Good luck with your journey
hey that's great to hear dude, i am glad you are enjoying the mirrorless journey, i went r6ii as didn't particularly need the megapixels and file sizes, however i do still find myself picking up and running with the 5div, i just love it. did you keep your 5d i presume you did. @@RoyRiley
@@MarcBirks still got all the the old cameras and lenses but I do find myself relying more and more on the R5
i love my the canon stuff the R5/R6 are awesome. did you ever dip into Sony A7 range, the canon mirrorless stuff imo deffo doesn't perform as well low light, sony really did nail that do miss it for that if im honest. @@RoyRiley
@@MarcBirks I just stick with Canon. It’s been a brand I have relied upon for the last 30 years shooting for a living. No disrespect to other brands!
I’ve had this lenses for a while and my photos don’t come out nearly this great please help
So much of photography is down to the photographers eye, technical ability, lighting, the subject and the edit. The lens is just the thing that resolves the sharp image.. this lens is reasonably capable and will mostly create pretty sharp pictures. If your lens is not faulty then I would politely suggest seeking to improve some of the other factors I outlined above. Hope this helps! Wishing you big success. RR
@@RoyRiley thank you Roy! Taking a look at your videos
@@PrincessSkilla what camera are you shooting on? What do you mostly shoot? And what mode do you usually shoot in? Are you comfortable shooting in full manual mode? The reason I ask all this is purely research!! But This lens is a heavy weight professional piece of kit and needs some understanding to get the best from it
@@RoyRiley Im using canon 6d mark ii with this lense, I do maternity/new born shoots mostly indoors
@@PrincessSkilla do you use flash or available light? What shutter speeds / aperture / ISO do you tend to use?
I have 1 of these lenses and I love it I don't mind at all the lens creeping I just recomposed and that's fine by me I bought it used excellent plus condition looks brand new it did not come with a hood, so I had to buy that brand new I was glad to do it. I'm sure your friend will be happy to know that you're using that lens And by the way a lens is not that expensive. I upgraded to this lens before I was using a 24-1053.5-4.5 not an L. lens but tthe photos still came out very sharp. I still have it by the way. Is L. lyns has not let me down it's very sharp at all focal lens and it's might go 2 lines when I just wanna go out and shoot not shooting a job just go out and enjoy myself as well as a job I'll never get rid of it love it. Ok. Happy shooting.
You are an amazing youtuber. Subscribed. 👍🏻
Very kind words! Thank you. R
Got one with the original 5D and still have it. In fact, years ago it got dropped on concrete with the camera attached. It took it right in the nose. The attached filter was bent and broken, the lens was completely fine and still it. Amazing. M copy is sharp if you close it down. Based on reviews I see no reason to go to version 2 and it also seems like the R glass one does not really offer any benefit per se.
I'm going to ride that EF L glass and Canon DSLR"S for a long long time. The new R stuff is crazy expensive. You would think it's Cana-Leica. Freaking Leica stuff made in Portugal and Asia, and then breathed on by some guy in Lederhosen who can't pronounce the letter W and has letter V confusion. Somewhere the madness has to stop.
Amazing comment man! Bang on! Leica is a whole different game! However.. and in total contrast.. The AF on the R cameras is next level. That is the main reason I have an interest. Most of the time for me and for most people, honestly this is not too much of an issue because the DSLR's are plenty good enough but in the pro world if you were going up against someone who is armed to the teeth with R cameras and glass.. and there is only one picture worth having.. What would you do?
@@RoyRiley what would you say to someone with an R body, but EF glass + Canon EF adapters with or without the control ring?
Imho, I’m not sure if the R glass is worth upgrading to when I’m stacked with EF USM L lenses already. Instead of upgrading, I took the money and bought adapters for each of my lenses (not all w/ control ring) and loaded ‘em up in my camera bag. I could buy a whole ‘bother RF body with the money I saved. Shoot, I just did with a preorder for a EOS R7! :-)
@@rawhides I would say probably stick with the Ef glass until a lens needs replacing and then start moving over to the RF lenses. I think the ef lenses work fine with the adaptor. It’s a bit of a pain because it’s something else to think about though. Why not just one adaptor that stays on the body rather than an adaptor for each lens?
Sorry about your friend.
I like the realistic look at that lens... Maybe the compromise is worth it to me...I don't make money from photography, I just want a sharp standard lens for less money.
I got a nifty fifty and a 70-200 f4L lens so I guess I'm hanging on, but the 70-200 is so big I can't just walk around with it.
Thank you Gerome for picking that up about my friend. Sadly missed! RR
Had this lens for a long time. Did not like the way it rendered. Kept my Canon 24-70 L F/2.8 1st version, that I still love and use.
Yes the 24-70 2.8 is a wonderful lens. One of my favourites too before it got wrecked!
It’s funny you say you got the lens around the same time your old one broke. The same day I got my new MacBook Pro my old one died on me.
It’s all in the ENERGY!
I don't have a full frame camera i have a crop sensor camera the canon 80d i guess when the prices goes down I'll buy me a full frame camera but for right now i only have the 80d and i want a good lens that can do everything with. I want a few pointers. I want to know how good this lens is and would it fits my canon 80d
Hi Chief. Probably the closest good lens to 'do everything' on your 80D would be the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. On your camera, it'll work like a 28-216mm zoom, with a pretty handy aperture range.
@@kiwipics4003 so buy the sigma 18-35 and the canon 18-135 and I'll be good to go right
@@chiefbubba2581 Even better, consider the Canon efs 10-18mm . That will give you ultra wide (16mm on a full frame), to 217mm (top end of the bigger zoom).
Both good lenses with good resale.
Two good midrange lenses for a really solid midrange camera.👍
@@kiwipics4003 so I'm better off buying the 10-18 and the 18-35 and the 18-135 and everything cool. i was really looking at just 2 lens but 3 is good right.
Just the 10-18mm & 18-135mm. Save the money. No 18-35. 👍