Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens

How can you rate an L lens as anything less than excellent? Well, call me picky but I'm disappointed that this lens isn't a huge improvement on the optical performance of the Canon EF 28-135mm IS, but more than this, I'm amazed at the barrel distortion at 24mm. It is correctable using PSPro or (with a little more effort) Photoshop, and perhaps I'm expecting too much, even of an L lens! That said, the build quality and "Rolls-Royce" feel is what you're paying for, and in this respect it doesn't disappoint at all. The zoom ring is silky smooth, and AF is as silent and fast as you could want. It just feels like quality, and is - in this area - a quantum leap from the 28-135 IS.

Optically it is noticeably more contrasty than the 28-135, so that's a good thing, and as you'd expect having spent out around double the money. It is, actually, sharper than the 28-135 particularly at the extremes of the zoom range, and at full aperture. At around f8 I think you'd be hard-pressed to see any difference at all. So don't expect a huge difference in the sharpness of your shots if you trade up from the 28-135 IS.

What you get for your money is pleasure! This is just a nice lens to hold and use, and one which will continue to please for a long long time. It does have its shortcomings, unlike for example the 100-400 L which, used carefully, produces absolutely stunningly sharp images that just glow, somehow. Despite the shortcomings though, it's still a lens I would recommend over the 28-135 IS. The difference between 24mm and 28mm is a very useful one, and well worth the trade-off at the other end of the zoom range.

If you are struggling with the dilemma of swapping your 28-135 IS for the 24-105 L (as I did), I'd say that if you can afford to make the swap, then do it - you may not see a vast improvement in IQ, but you will thoroughly enjoy taking pictures with the 24-105. And it will hold its value very well too, always nice to know when times get hard!

I purchased the 28-135mm lens less than a year age, albeit in first class used condition. I found the images sharp, crisp, smooth and lightweight. As I am fairly new to DSLR photography this was a dream come true. However,the barrel seemed a little loose and had a slight rattle tendency at times when carried attached to the camera. Like the others the lens creeps outwards & extends when pointed downwards. I use a Canon 5D Camera, full frame and found that some slight vignetting was apparent when the camera was set to 5.6 or less.On setting it to f8 or more, this disappeared. This was not present all the time and did little to disturb the quality of the images.
The 24-105 came along recently, another used item but in first class order. The difference was considerable, the build quality had vastly improved, No vignetting, images were even more crisp and lifelike. A real pleasure to use. Its like everything in life, you pay for what you get. L glass Lenses come at a price. I must say that I was in general more than happy with the 28-135 lens.
This review is honestly prepared from my own experiences with the two Canon products I own and thoroughly enjoy using.
Dave Foster

this is a reliable lens, both in studio sessions as in outdoor photography, the fact that it is stabilized, it allows greater freedom of handling, and despite not having a fixed zoom, the robustness of construction and reliability of focus are compelling, no doubt a positive note for this lens Canon L Series, to be perfect enough to be 2.8 instead of 4

I bought this a birthday present for my brother who is a professional photographer. He uses Canon kit, so it was particularly appropriate.

The mug looks like a real lens and could easily be mistaken from a few feet away. I'd like to see the look on peoples faces when he pours hot coffee into it!

I brought this lens to replace the Canon 18-55mm IS lens, which came as a kit with my Canon EOS 550D. It's a great lens averall, with the bokeh produced being the highlight. It does have a bit of a problem with flare though.

Overall, it has been a brilliant upgrade and worth the money!