As the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Lens hits the streets, Canon has more 50mm prime lenses in its lineup than it has full frame general purpose zoom lenses – four vs. three. I am omitting from my count the large, heavy EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM Superzoom Lens and the very-wide angle EF 17-40mm...

Canon made a smart decision to offer a lower-priced alternative to its 24-70mm Æ’/2.8, in order to give Canon shooters of the more casual or economical nature a way to stay true to the brand name.

After conducting a full testing procedure I admit I can see the point of such a lens as the Canon EF 24-70 mm f/4L IS USM much better and understand why it was launched on the market; still I have to say not all my doubts were successfully dispelled.

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  solid casing of good quality,, excellent image quality in the frame centre,, good image quality on the edge of the APS-C sensor,, imperceptible longitudinal chromatic aberration,, negligible lateral chromatic aberration,, not very bothersome distortion on the smaller sensor,, very efficient...

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  weak performance against bright light,, bothersome moustache distortion at the wide angle,, some problems related to spherical aberration,, noticeable vignetting on full frame.

The compact size and relatively light weight of Canon's EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens make it an attractive option for wedding photographers and those who cover social events. It could also be handy for landscape photography when used with Canon's 'full frame' camera bodies.

Again Canon have launched a lens at a relatively high price point for what it offers. Still the performance in the centre of the frame, useful macro feature and lighter weight due to the f/4 maximum aperture may still have enough appeal for photographers who are put off purchasing an f/2.8 24-70mm...

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  Excellent sharpness throughout the range in the centre at maximum aperture, Good build quality, Relatively lightweight, Reasonably low distortion

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  Quite expensive for a lens with an f/4 maximum aperture, Sharpness at 24mm towards the edges of the frame falls behind performance in the centre of the frame

I purchased this lens to take to Patagonia for an excursion. I did my due diligence and looked around and finally decided to buy this full-frame lens even though I was taking a Canon D70 with me. After shooting several thousand images in a little over two weeks, I DO NOT REGRET MY DECISION.

I can only imagine that SLR Gear was unlucky enough to get THREE faulty copies of this lens. Mine (used on a full frame 1-Ds ii) is almost as sharp in the corners as in the centre, even at full aperture, and does not show the terrible corner performance of the SLR gear tests.

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  Fairly light, practical range of focal lengths, excellent IQ, Image stabilisation, Macro mode

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  None really

I have used this mainly on my 5D but it shines on my EOS Elan 7e film camera. It does not furnish the wide angle view for the 5D as I would like. On the old film camera it does very well indeed, both b&w and color slide. Generally fast focus. Sharp pics edge to edge.

theonly canon 24-70 with is

Very good and easy to use, I strongly recommand it

This is a great lens, if you don't need the extra stop of light, this is a great choice.As an added bonus, it has a macro mode. If you've ever wanted to explore the macro world, this lens would serve great as an "all purpose" lens.

Ayant eu un 28-80 f2.8-4 L, j'ai acheté ce 24-70 f4 L is pour son poids modéré et sa taille raisonnable. Les performances sont très bonnes, notamment l'autofocus très rapide. Petit bémol pour le mode macro : on est tellement près du sujet que la lumière est cachée par l'optique.