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• Front & rear caps
• EW-88C Hood
• Protective Filter
• Lens bag

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The Canon 24-70 f/2.8L II is the update to the extremely popular Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L. Key features include:

Versatile Standard Zoom. The Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II is the Cadillac of standard zooms, and the replacement to the original Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L. Many photographers will attach this lens and almost never change it.

Revised Optics and Build. Its redesigned optics produce images that are sharp throughout the zoom range, with chromatic and spherical aberrations kept at a minimum. It’s smaller in size and weight than its predecessor, has improved weather sealing, and features smudge- and fingerprint-resistant Fluorine coating on both front- and rear-exposed elements.

Fast Aperture. The Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II’s fast f/2.8 aperture allows for low-light event shooting and a shallow depth-of-field required for portraiture.

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Roger’s Take

Founder & CEO

If I say there are 4 billion stars in the Milky Way, everyone accepts that. If I say the paint is wet, everyone checks for themselves. I’m not sure which path people are going to take with this sta…

If I say there are 4 billion stars in the Milky Way, everyone accepts that. If I say the paint is wet, everyone checks for themselves. I’m not sure which path people are going to take with this statement: The Canon 24-70mm II is the best standard-range zoom ever made. By any manufacturer. Ever. It’s not close.

It’s also the most expensive 24-70 f/2. 8 zoom made, but there’s a reason for that. Resolution is as good as most prime lenses throughout the zoom range. Distortion is low. Focusing is very quick and accurate.

If you need the absolute best, then this is what you need. That being said, there are a lot of very good choices in this range: Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8, and the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC. All of them are very, very good. They just aren’t quite as good as this one.

January, 2013

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Includes

• 24-70mm f/2.8L II
• Front & rear caps
• EW-88C Hood
• Protective Filter
• Lens bag

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Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Review

(From Canon lens literature) This new lens does what many pros thought couldn’t be done – replace the previous L-series 28-70 f/2.8 lens with something even better. Extended coverage to an ultra-wide-angle 24mm makes it ideal for digital as well as film shooters, and the optics are even better than before with two Aspherical elements and a totally new UD glass element. It’s now sealed and gasketed against dust and moisture, and a new processing unit makes the AF faster than ever.

Test Notes
(Sub-frame, on an EOS-20D)

As anyone who’s shot with one will attest (see the user reviews below), the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is just an exceptional optic. This was clearly evident in our DxO tests as well. On the sub-frame EOS-20D, the lens was tack sharp across the entire frame wide open, from 24-50mm. At 70mm, it softened slightly at f/2.8, but stopping down just to f/4.0 it was again excellent, and at f/5.6 it was superb. Chromatic aberration was moderate at 24mm, but decreased to an exceptionally low level by 35mm, and stayed very low all the way out to 70mm. Geometric distortion was low as well, changing gradually and proportionately from 0.5% barrel distortion at 24mm to about 0.2% pincushion at 70mm. (The zero distortion point came at about 45mm.) Shading (frequently referred to as vignetting) was also exceptionally low, at 1/4 of a stop wide open, decreasing to less than 1/10 stop at f/4 and above.

Spending a lot of money on a lens isn’t always a guarantee of good performance, but in the case of the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8, every penny of its price is more than justified.

NOTE: We also tested this lens on full-frame Canon EOS-5D: Click the “Full-Frame Results” tab above to see those results.

Full-Frame Test Notes:

When we moved to looking at the 24-70’s behavior on a full-frame camera (we tested on an EOS-5D), we had been spoiled a bit by its stellar performance on the sub-frame EOS-20D. Still, it was surprising just how well the lens handled the significantly larger frame area. Most impressive was how well it managed to hold sharpness in the corners when wide open. There was definitely more softness there than we saw on the EOS-20D, but it really wasn’t bad, the corners only being notably soft at 24 and 70mm. We did find though, that we had to stop down all the way to f/8 to completely eradicate the corner softness. At f/8 though, images were just incredibly sharp across the entire frame area.

As you might expect, maximum chromatic aberration increased noticeably over what we’d seen on the 20D, but here again, the 24-70 still did quite well. Maximum CA was never more than what we’d rate as “moderate” (0.06% or less) at any aperture or focal length, and the average CA was quite low across the board, indicating that the worst of the CA was confined to the edges of the image.

Geometric distortion was higher than we saw on the 20D, but not by as much as we would have expected. Worst-case barrel distortion increased only from 0.5 to 0.6% at 24mm, while worst-case pincushion did a little worse, increasing from 0.2 to 0.5% at 70mm.

Shading or vignetting was where the 24-70mm struggled the most to adequately cover the larger frame size. On the 20D, shading was never more than 1/4 f-stop, but on the 5D, the light falloff at 24mm and f/2.8 was on the order of 0.85 stop, a very noticeable level. The good news though, is that shading decreases fairly rapidly as the lens is stopped down, reaching a level of about 1/3 stop at f/8 at 24mm, and proportionately lower at longer focal lengths.

The Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 is the first lens we’ve tested on a full-frame camera, so as this is written, we don’t have results from other lenses to compare it with. Even without a basis for comparison though, it’s clear that the 24-70mm easily justifies its price. Its one area of weakness was shading at maximum aperture: It was stellar in virtually every other attribute.

Canon
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

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Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM User Reviews

9.6/10
average of 32 review(s)
Build Quality
9.5/10
Image Quality
9.6/10

Write your own review!

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  30/90
  (3 reviews)

  Versatility, tack sharp images, color & contrast, build quality.

  Some say weight is an issue…I have not found it objectionable.

  The most used lens in my arsenal. This lens stays on my 40D most of the time. It is a great walk around lens and provides tons of flexibility when touring. I find that the image quality is superb and f2.8 speed allows for easy low light shooting. It’s my Go-To lens and I’ve used it more than any other lens in the bag.

  reviewed March 10th, 2012
  (purchased for $1,150)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  LF911SC
  (1 reviews)

  Speed, Feel, Bokeh, Build, IQ

  Weight?

  Bought this a week ago after a month living with the inferior 24-104 f/4 L. While the f/4 approached the look of the f/2.8 at the short end, there is no contest when looking at captures from the long side. Also seems like colors and contrast are much better through the 24-70. Another thing, even though both are designated “L” series lenses, the 24-70 is much better made, using more metal and less plastic that is used on the 24-105.

  Couldn’t be happier.

  reviewed November 29th, 2011
  (purchased for $1,000)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  MAS1
  (1 reviews)

  Excellent Image quality

  Heavy

  This lens has never let me down. It consistently produces great images.
  I do not say that lightly. I am very particular about equipment and it is not often
  that I can endorse a lens this positively.
  Focus and images are very good, even wide open.
  It is a great lens for weddings and portraits. I use it on a 5D Mark II, a 20D and 50D but it stays on the 5D most of the time.
  It has good close focusing capabilities, it isn’t a macro lens but it gets close
  enough for good wedding / hand / ring images. I hesitated on this verses the 24-105 F4 for the 5D but this was a good choice.
  Good glass!

  reviewed September 10th, 2010
  (purchased for $1,300)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  toniwahid
  (3 reviews)

  Built, IQ, it’s "L" enough said

  None …

  This lens is become my companion for my food photos apart from other prime lens. Here my food photos taken with this brick for your consideration before emptying your wallet 🙂

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_wahid/3793892103/
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_wahid/3752815534/
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_wahid/3672565630/
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_wahid/3652917579/
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_wahid/3553930592/
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/toni_wahid/3462198129/

  It’s heavy lens indeed, but I don’t mind as the image quality is superb. You won’t regret it.

  reviewed August 14th, 2009
  (purchased for $1,250)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  Sea Dragon Rex
  (5 reviews)

  Sharp lens and useable at 2. 8. Fast silent focus. Excellent construction

  Attracts attention with hood attached

  I’ve had this lens for two years and used in on my XT as well as my 40D. This lens lives on my camera. The images are very sharp and focus is fast and silent.

  People complain about the weight but I haven’t had any problem with the weight. Excellent lens and worth every penny!

  reviewed January 7th, 2008
  (purchased for $1,017)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  CYON
  (1 reviews)

  Absolutely great lens for walking around.

  If you have this lens, you should use good UV filter (I recommend B&W Haze 010 MRC). Image is much better than normal UV

  reviewed January 5th, 2008
  (purchased for $1,200)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  sivrajbm
  (12 reviews)

  Speed, handling, bokem, build, smooth operation, IQ with good copy

  Price compared to Tamron 28-75

  After several tries I finally have a good copy of this lens. I had soft copies before but this one was as sharp and at some aps sharper (2. 8) than my Tamron. I had a very good copy of the Tamron. I shoot weddings and special events and really wanted the focus speed of the Canon. The only fault to the Tamron is it can be a little slow to focus. if you can’t get this lense get the Tamron save up your money and decide later. If you go for this one and get a good copy off the bat you’ll be a happy camper indeed…Finally, I’m happy

  reviewed October 31st, 2007
  (purchased for $1,039)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  Treble57
  (2 reviews)

  Speed, Sharpness

  Weight

  This is my “everyday” lens. Scenics are superb at 24mm and portraits are excellent at 70mm. I have zero issues with this lens.

  reviewed March 17th, 2007
  (purchased for $1,200)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  random
  (10 reviews)

  We all know it’s an L lens, so I don’t need to add to what is already known about this lens optically- & build-quality-wise. If you’re fortunate enough to get a good copy of this lens you’d be amazed at it’s portrait capabilities wide-open at the short tele end. It’s definitely prime-level IQ to my eyes, it would even improve 1-2 stops down. It has better bokeh quality than the 24-105 f/4L IS at the same FL & aperture, even more at f/2.8. It’s just too bad it doesn’t have the 3-stop IS of the newer 24-105L. I actually prefer this lens over the 24-105 if only for the f/2.8 & slightly better IQ & distortion control at all comparable FLs & apertures.

  reviewed January 16th, 2007

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  fergusonjr
  (15 reviews)

  Fast (big aperture) lens. Great build-quality.

  Heavy. Limited focal-length range.

  This is really nice lens. With its f/2.8 max aperture, this is a very useful and versatile lens. It feels very well-built and quite solid. I personally tend to favor a bit more zoom than wide-angle and kept wanting to dial past 70mm. The reverse-zoom setup where the lens is shortest at 70mm and longest 24mm does take a little getting used to, but doesn’t cause any major problems. The only disadvantage I’d give this lens for everyday use is its substantial weight, which is particularly evident on a Rebel body — it weighs almost twice what the camera does! This is a monster lens.

  Image quality is fantastic and the solidness of the lens is very reassuring. This is a fun lens to use.

  reviewed January 15th, 2007
  (purchased for $1,100)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  TaoGuy
  (3 reviews)

  Sharp,fast, affordable

  None

  The weight is worth the speed. I think it balances very well, suppose it depends on the body used. Definitely the most used lens I have.

  reviewed January 10th, 2007
  (purchased for $1,150)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  kzr63g
  (6 reviews)

  build quality, splash proof,

  heavy

  I have no problem with AF on my old D60.

  This is the lens I use most.
  Very nice IQ

  Is heavy when using a whole day…

  Balances nicely when camera grip (with 2 batteries) is used on camera.

  reviewed January 9th, 2007
  (purchased for $1,500)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  ne1rom
  (6 reviews)

  Sharp from the 2.8, nice bokeh, pleasing colour

  Heavy (about 1 kg), vignetting on FF DSLR

  On an APS-C DSLR it’s excellent, except some AF problems with older models like 300D, 20D – on 30D/400D everything is perfect!
  On FF (5D) everything is perfect as well. Though some visible vignetting on 24mm at 2.8 thru 5.6 and on 70mm at 2.8.

  reviewed January 7th, 2007
  (purchased for $1,300)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  garys
  (12 reviews)

  very versatile zoom range, good resolution and speed for a zoom, very functional hood

  large and heavy

  (on a full frame camera)A good travel lens covering many needs, except for obtursiveness and weight, but worth these drawbacks for the f2.8. Of course the resolution does not equal a prime lens and it is less sharp toward the corners, but I have made some great 16×20 prints from this lens. Some complain about the reverse zoom characteristic, but I welcome it as the hood is more effective and controls the mild flaring tendancy that this lens exhibits. Not remarked about often is its close focusing capability. While not a true macro, I often take advantage of close focusing distances not afforded me by other lenses.

  reviewed January 1st, 2007
  (purchased for $1,400)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  Zinger
  (8 reviews)

  Excellent optically & typical "L" build quality

  Lens barrel extends

  What can I say that hasn’t already been said? 🙂

  It’s a great lens. Easy to use, although the 24mm end is with the lens extended, which is different from any other lens I’ve used. Usually you extend to zoom, but this one is the opposite.

  Slightly too normal/tele on a 1.6x body, but that’s not the lens’ fault.

  Definitely recommended.

  reviewed December 23rd, 2006
  (purchased for $1,200)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  jcctx
  (4 reviews)

  Like the f2. 8

  extension of front of lens on zoom.

  Great images from this lens. A little heavy but it works for a wide range of situations.

  reviewed December 22nd, 2006
  (purchased for $1)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  mebailey
  (21 reviews)

  Great sharpness (comparable to primes). Highly usable focal length. Super fast for a zoom. Fast accuarate focusing. Awesome construction.

  None

  Simply the best zoom I have ever had the pleasure to use or own. Its fast, has a pleasant bokeh, and is built to last. I have used for portraits, weddings, and walf around. The range is great for a FF or crop camera. It gets more time on the camera than any other lens!

  reviewed December 14th, 2006
  (purchased for $1,134)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  gadgetguy
  (62 reviews)

  best build quality; f2.8; "L" contrast, color, and resolution, weather sealing

  HEAVY, reverse zoom takes getting used to

  I got both this and the 24-105/f4L since I couldn’t decide which one to get. In the end, the 2.8 won out (I preferred the 2.8 over the 4 plus IS).

  Optically, both are practically the same, with a bokeh advantage to the 2.8L (especially, of course, at 2.8!) and somehow it just feels a tad bit better in your hands.

  Warning: this is one HEAVY lens. WHen you first pick it up, you appreciate the heft, but after a few minutes, your arms and shoulders will complain. It’s really the big trade-off for the quality and finish of this monster.

  reviewed December 13th, 2006
  (purchased for $1,200)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  kwk36
  (5 reviews)

  Sharp, fast AF, well built

  heavy

  This lens is simply amazing. Sharp, fast and quite a useful range even on my 30D. It’s heavy but hey, being a constant 2.8 and a pro lens to boot, that’s to be expected. I was a little hesitant in buying this lens because of reports elsewhere on the web of inconsitant quality but I have been nothing but pleased.

  reviewed December 10th, 2006
  (purchased for $1,100)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  terryf
  (10 reviews)

  Combination of zoom flexibility with sharpness.

  Size and weight

  This is my standard “walk around” lens and I keep it on my 20D until the photo situation calls for something different. My copy of the 24-70L shows clear softness at f2.8 at both 24mm and 70mm when compared with a prime like the 50mm f1.4 or the 135L f2.0. Stopping down to f4 helps a lot and sharpness is excellent by f5.6. I will avoid using when f2.8 is required whenever possible. Nonetheless, for a zoom lens the image quality is exceptionally good. When I was shooting in some dusty, windy environments I did get some grit underneath the manual focusing ring that made it difficult to operate and that disappointing weather sealing is why I lowered my rating for construction quality.

  reviewed December 4th, 2006
  (purchased for $1,300)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  bbrat
  (3 reviews)

  weather sealed, construction, usm, 2.8 throughout, size,sharpness,contrast,color

  noe really, maybe for some the weight, but i love the weight!

  i love this lens. i have mine on a 30D and its fantastic! i would guess when i jump to FF then it would be even better for me. its built like a tank! cant go wrong with this lens…gets my top grade!

  reviewed November 29th, 2006
  (purchased for $1,150)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  cjbowlsby
  (17 reviews)

  Impecable optical quality, wider than other standard zooms, fast focus, black body

  price, size

  Boy, what a monster!
  But you can’t beat the best now can you? Sure Tamron and Sigma have their competition, but they don’t have USM or weather sealing.

  Fantastic build quality. It can certainly take its knocks. It really does need the lens hood. Especially on a film or FF digital.

  reviewed November 21st, 2006
  (purchased for $1,200)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  pz
  (8 reviews)

  very very good picture quality

  heavy, IS might be useful

  I bought it because after years I really am convinced that a good objective is much more important than the body. I used several different objectives in this range on my 300D, 10D, 20D and at last I did have to buy this one to achieve the desired quality of my photos. On 20D it is (almost) as good as a prime, on 5D it is the best canon zoom in this range. Using a full frame body its picture quality is excellent, much better than I hoped. The 2.8 aperture on a full frame body gives beautiful background blur. It is heavy, but well balanced on 5D.

  reviewed November 17th, 2006

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  Jarrad_Kevin
  (11 reviews)

  Very Sharp, Fast AF, FTM, Great Zoom Range on a Full Frame

  not the best zoom range on a 1.6 crop

  I was skeptical of the mythological reputation of this lens. It really is everything people make it out to be. The AF is very fast and absolutely silent. Very good Sharpness all throughout the zoom range. Very usable wide open. Clever hood design.

  It is a bit heavy, but it’s a 2.8 zoom. It’s to be expected.

  If you need this zoom range and 2. 8 this is your best option.

  reviewed November 15th, 2006
  (purchased for $1,600)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  r0nald
  (2 reviews)

  Excellent image quality, great build.

  It is a heavy lens.

  This lens is on my 30D most of the time. It compliments my other Canon lenses very well, the 10-22 and 70-200 f2.8 non-IS. The image quality is quite superb. The AF is fast and with an aperture of 2.8 this lens is quite capable in low light situations. Regarding the price for this lens and other “L” lenses, you definitely get what you pay for – a solidly built lens that produces excellent images.

  reviewed November 15th, 2006
  (purchased for $1,050)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  Ross T
  (4 reviews)

  Super SHARP…FAST!!

  None

  Just a Fantastic Lens….Super SHARP…FAST…Very Fast Autofocus…Great Zoom Range….Weather Proof….Very Solid Build….This is a GREAT LENS!!

  reviewed October 13th, 2006

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  myedor
  (2 reviews)

  Great range, Very Sharp, Quick focus

  The weight (but it is f2. 8), I would prefer if it were a fully internal zoom

  This is one of my most used lenses, it is almost always on one of my bodies. Great range for walking around. It does have nacro focusing, but is not to be mistaken with a true macro lens. The construction quality gets an 8 because it is not fully internal, and the hood will fall off if bumped hard, not a huge deal but anoying for sure. I would love image stabilization on this lens but you can’t win evry time. I would highly recomend this lens, especialy for PJ, and studio work.

  reviewed January 24th, 2006
  (purchased for $1,150)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  thoughtcriminal
  (1 reviews)

  incredibly sharp for a zoom, fast AF, f2.8, optical quality

  heavy

  I normally shoot with prime lenses so I was incredibly surprised when I saw how sharp this lens is. It is a bit heavy and 24mm isn’t very wide on a 20D or other similar 1.6 crop cameras, but nevertheless the pros far outweigh the cons with this lens. The optical quality of this lens is excellent, the AF is fast, and a maximum aperture of 2.8 is great for anything low light (or if you just want limited depth of field and lots of nice bokeh.)

  One of the things you need to get used to is that this lens extends and zooms out to 24mm (rather than zooming out to 70mm.) While I don’t list this as a con, it does take a little getting used to.

  reviewed December 17th, 2005

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  jyli19
  (7 reviews)

  Superb image quality, fast focus, quality construction

  Heavy

  Image quality on par with prime lenses. This is my primary walkaround lens. Along with the 70-200L IS, it makes a perfect package.

  reviewed November 3rd, 2005
  (purchased for $1,125)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  AHAB
  (8 reviews)

  2.8, sharp images, very useful range and it is a workhorse

  Wish it had IS

  This lens is a workhorse in wedding photography and portraits. Of course it is not sharp as prime lenses, but it is a very versitile and useful lens. 2.8 is great for wedding ceremonies and receptions, a 2.8 with IS would be only better. Great color and contrast.
  Highly recommended along with the 70-200 2.8 IS for wedding, portraits and sports.
  This lens would be a dream with the IS feature, Canon are you listening?
  AHAB

  reviewed October 28th, 2005
  (purchased for $1,200)

• 9 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  photopilot377
  (5 reviews)

  Great quality, reasonable speed

  Big & not light

  I like this lens! It stays on my 10D for anything that resembles normal focal length. If they could just add the IS to this . . .

  reviewed October 20th, 2005
  (purchased for $1,400)

• 10 out of 10 points
  and recommended
  by
  Anakin
  (5 reviews)

  AF, very fast , contrast, color, 2,8 and very sharp, construction quality,

  heavy (but it depends on yours arms).

  it’s an excellent lens for reportage and a very good walk around lens. (because the AF is very fast)

  very sharp @ every focal lengh and aperture, (on my 10D)

  this 24-70 is expensive for an amateur , but the image quality is here

  reviewed October 20th, 2005
  (purchased for $1,000)

Write your own user review for this lens!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.

8L II USM detailed review (comparison with the first version) . For this review, I rented it for a few days to test it out. I have something to compare with, because. I have been using the 24-70 first version for many years and am very pleased with it. For comparison, I will first describe the experience of using the previous model.

A little about Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L first version

This is a very versatile and high-quality lens in every sense. The first thing that pleases him is color rendering . Somewhere on the Internet I came across a characteristic 24-70 that it gives lamp colors . Apparently by analogy with tube sound amplifiers. Colors feel soft, rich and pleasing. This is something that I have not seen with Sigma lenses. I associate their color rendition with dirt and gray haze.

The first version focuses with lightning speed. I have not held a lens with faster autofocus than the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2. 8L USM. The second version is identical in this sense.

The weak point of the first 24-70mm f/2.8L shows up when shooting wide open at 50-70mm. At 24mm f2.8, its sharpness is unquestionable. When zoomed in, the image becomes soft. Not soapy, but the detail is still lost. Therefore, when shooting complex scenes at 70mm, I have already got used to covering the aperture to f4. At closed apertures, the lens is always sharp.

How does the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM look different from the first version?

It is smaller and lighter. It’s nice. The weight was reduced by only 150 grams, but it is felt. I’m used to the weight of the first version. The second is more ergonomic. This applies not only to weight, but also to the zoom ring, which has become noticeably wider and at the same time rotates more easily. This moment will be appreciated by videographers. The zoom is smooth and does not give jumps on the video, as it was with the first. Although the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2. 8L II USM does not have a stabilizer and is intended mainly for photography, I still appreciated its convenience for video shooting (these christenings were shot on the second 24-70).

Unlike the first version, zooming here is standard: the lens is assembled for 24mm, the front part extends for 70mm. It comes with an ordinary petal hood, which helps little from the sun in the tele-position. On the other hand, this lens hood is more compact, which is convenient for transportation.

The case of the second version is made of plastic, not metal, but I don’t care. Don’t hammer nails into them.

Increased from 77mm to 82mm filter thread diameter.

Image quality on the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Now we get to the most interesting part. I was very curious how perfect the second version could be, if there were generally few complaints about the first one.

The first 24-70 is a very high quality zoom lens. The second 24-70 is a zoom lens that shoots like primes in all respects. Color reproduction is rich, rich and contrasty. Photos from Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM do not want to be twisted in Lightroom. They are already ready in essence (if you hit the white balance and exposure for sure :). With the first version, I used to want to tighten up the contrast or increase the whites for brightness. In the case of this lens, everything is already very good and juicy.

Let me tell you about my experience and feelings. I shot the report with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM and the Canon EF 135mm f2L USM. These lenses differ only in focal lengths. Contrast, sharpness and color reproduction are identical. Frames can be distinguished by the degree of background blur. The sharpness and quality of the foreground is just perfect. It is worth mentioning that the Canon EF 135mm f2L USM is considered one of the best and sharpest lenses in the Canon lineup. The second version of 24-70 is by no means lagging behind. It is sharp at any aperture and focal length. It is boring to test for sharpness. You don’t see the difference between the images. They are all perfect. Vignetting at f2.8 is noticeable (if vignetting correction is disabled in the camera) and distortion at 24mm (if photographing a brick wall, and not in real conditions).

The second version 24-70 has a higher t-stop, which naturally affects the colors, brightness and saturation of pictures.

Sharpness comparison between Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM and Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM.

The purity of the experiment is somewhat violated in terms of angle and bb, do not blame me.

comparison at 24mm at f/2.8 open center

comparison at 24mm at f/2.8 wide at the edges

compared at 24mm at f/5.6 open center

compared at 24mm at f/5.6 open in the corner of the frame

compared at 70mm at f/2.8 wide at center 9 0005

comparison by 70mm wide at f/2. 8 at the edges of the frame

compared at 70mm at f/5.6 at the center

compared at 70mm at f/5.6 at the corners

About bokeh

Somewhere I read that supposedly the first version of the bokeh is more pleasant than the second. To me they seem identical. Please do not pay attention to the color, the lighting was different.

Bokeh examples on Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM:

Pins

900 02 The main question that gnaws at every photographer is to buy or not to buy? The lens is definitely cool and worth the money. At the time of release in 2012, it cost $2200, now in 2016 it can be bought in Kyiv for $1650. It is an ideal lens with focal lengths from 24mm to 70mm and a constant aperture of f2.8. The thing is different – how much are these parameters in demand for you and are you ready to pay so much for them?

70mm f2.8 only blurs the background a lot in half-length portraits (in my opinion). For a full-length photo with strong bokeh, you will either need 85mm f1.8 or 135mm f2. If you’re photographing interiors, then 24mm isn’t going to be wide enough. If you are mainly photographing a subject, then you do not need f2.8 aperture. And if, on the contrary, you often shoot in low light, then f2.8 is not enough. When shooting christenings, I prefer to work with fixes because of the greater aperture. So while this lens is perfect, it still won’t replace 14mm, 50mm f1.4 or 85mm f1.8. Whether it is worth investing such an impressive amount in it, it is up to each individual to decide, depending on popular tasks and the nature of the work. What I can say for sure is that this lens is designed for professional use. It is not reasonable to spend such an amount if you do not earn money on photography, and the difference in quality compared to simpler lenses will not be so critical for you.

• Read Canon EF 24-70mm f4L IS vs 2. 8L II

review

Canon Zoom Lens EF 24-70 1:2.8 L II USM. Review from the reader Radozhiva

A review of the Canon Zoom Lens EF 24-70 1: 2.8 L II USM lens was prepared especially for Radozhiva by Alexey Egorov. Canon Zoom Lens EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L II USM It is the successor/improved version of the legendary Canon Zoom Lens EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L USM. The lens was released in February 2012 and is made in Japan.

Canon Zoom Lens EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L II USM is a fairly large (88.5 x 113 mm) and heavy lens, however, compared to the first version, it has become noticeably lighter – 805 g. (against 950 gr. from its predecessor). This lens looks very solid and slightly outweighs the entry-level canon 6D full-frame camera that I took test shots for review. Thus, a bunch of this camera and lens weighs about 1560 grams, which, in my opinion, is neither more nor less. In any case, I did not experience the slightest discomfort during the filming. Outwardly, the new 24-70 is expected to be a classic L-lens of recent years. A tightly assembled black body, the usual rubber focus and zoom rings with different rib pitches, an autofocus switch in a standard place, a rubber skirt around the mount. As with most new lenses, plastic is used in much greater quantities here – the outer part of the body and the leading edge of the trunk with filter threads are made of plastic. Obviously, when repairing, replacing plastic parts can be cheaper due to lower cost. I think that modern plastic is strong enough to withstand a certain amount of emergency situations, which is especially important for an L-class lens. Most likely, it was due to plastic that it was possible to reduce the mass of the lens relative to the previous version.

Canon 24-70/2.8L II uses very large 82mm ‘professional’ filters. At the same time, the first version of the lens required slightly smaller diameter filters (77 mm). Of course, a filter, at least an ordinary protective one, is a necessary accessory for a lens, especially for such an expensive L-ki. Of course, an excellent addition that expands the creative possibilities of the photographer will be polarizing, neutral, gradient and other types of filters. The only drawback here is the rather high price of filters with a diameter of 82 mm. But, as you know, good, high-quality images require significant investment.

Canon 24-70/2.8L II focuses quickly and accurately, even on a canon 6d camera with its simple focusing system. I am more than sure that on cameras with more advanced autofocus systems, such as 6d mark ll, 5d mark III and IV, as well as 1dx (II, III), autofocus will work even faster and more accurately. Of course, I have never used or held the first version of the 24-70 f / 2.8 “glass”, but according to numerous reviews and tests, the current “revision” of the lens outperforms its predecessor in focusing speed. On the lens barrel there is a window with a focus distance scale in meters and feet and a mode switch – ‘AF / MF’. The MDF is 38cm and the maximum magnification ratio is 1:3. 5. When changing the focal length, the trunk of the lens does not rotate, but the rear lens moves deeper into the body with increasing focal length, which can create a ‘vacuum cleaner effect’. The focusing ring, like the zoom ring, is rubberized and rotates about 120 degrees, which is slightly worse than in the first version, where the ring travel was 135 degrees. However, manually hovering is not a big deal. When extreme values ​​are reached, the focus ring continues to slide without affecting the focusing distance. The lens cap on the “new” version is made like Nikon lenses.

I was very pleased with one more correction compared to the first version, which had one not very pleasant feature – the lens trunk lengthened with decreasing focal length. The current “revision” works logically: the trunk of the lens will lengthen with increasing focal length. Thus, at the minimum focal length, this lens has a minimum size. Another nice feature of this lens is the presence of a “LOCK” lock on the lens barrel, which can be used at minimum zoom (in the most folded state), which allows you to avoid spontaneous changes in focal length, for example, during transportation. The lens uses a small EW-88C lens hood, which is attached to the end of the trunk, unlike the first version. The lens hood can be worn backwards to transport the lens; in this case, access to the focus ring will be partially lost.

The EGF of the lens on Canon APS-H cameras is 31-91 mm, and on Canon APS-C 38-112 mm. Of course, this lens is best used on full-frame cameras, for which it was designed. When using 24-70 f/2.8 II on cropped cameras, the versatility of the lens will decrease due to the loss of wide angle. The maximum aperture of f/2.8 and the minimum aperture of f/22 are available across the entire range of focal lengths.

Optical design Canon Zoom Lens EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L II USM

The optical design has 18 elements in 13 groups. Three aspherical elements, two extra-low dispersion UD elements and one super-UD element. The lens aperture consists of nine rounded blades, while the previous version had only 8 blades, which is another improvement in the design of the lens.

And, of course, most importantly, we were very pleased with the image quality! The lens is sharp from wide open. According to numerous reviews, this “glass” has become much sharper than its predecessor. On a canon 6d camera with its relatively modest resolution, the resolution of the lens, in my opinion, is more than enough.

Obviously, the 24-70 2.8 II will perfectly unlock the potential of higher megapixel cameras such as 6d mark II, 5d mark IV and even 5ds(r). Vignetting at the open hole and distortion at the edges of the frame also decreased. Of course, there is a slight drop in quality at the corners, which is present on all focal lengths, but the processor of modern cameras that have this function easily copes with this. The lens perfectly holds the backlight. At the maximum focal length with an open aperture, the lens “draws” beautiful bokeh.

Many examples of photos from experienced photographers and amateur photographers on this lens can be viewed at 500px at this link.