Digital Camera World - UK (2020-03)

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com MARCH 2020 DIGITAL CAMERA^123

Canon

EF 24-105mm

f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

£579/$599

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Canon

Canon EF 24-70mm

f/2.8L II USM

£1,740/$1,599

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Digital Camera verdict Digital Camera verdict

4.0 Excellent 4.5 Outstanding

Features Build & Performance Value Features Performance Value

handling

Build &

handling

For image quality,
this lens pretty much
matches Canon’s
constant-aperture EF
24-105mm f/4L IS II
USM, which is almost
twice the price. It’s
standout value.

This is Canon’s best

standard zoom for

SLRs, but the lack of

stabilisation can be

frustrating and it’s

pricey compared with

high-performance

alternatives.

4.0 4.0 4.5 5.0 4.0 5.0 4.5

³ɎƏȇƳƏȸƳɿȒȒȅɀGroup Test

ompared with Nikon’s
24-120mm VR kit lens, this
model (often bundled with
the EOS 6D Mark II) is little
more than half the price. It lacks some
of the Nikkor’s finery, though: it’s not
a constant-aperture lens, it has neither
weather-seals nor a focus distance
scale, and you have to buy a hood.
On the plus side, the Canon lens has
a refreshingly lightweight build, a fast
and near-silent stepping motor-based
autofocus system and a more effective
four-stop stabiliser. Build quality feels
rather better than in Canon’s 18-55mm
kit lens, with a sturdy barrel and a
metal mounting plate.

Performance
This full-frame kit lens punches above
its weight in terms of image quality.
There’s plenty of sharpness on tap,
even when shooting wide-open.
Distortions, colour fringing and
vignetting are well-controlled.

asily manageable for

an f/2.8 standard zoom,

this lens is little more

than two thirds the physical

length of the competing Nikon, and

shaves nearly 25 per cent off the

weight. The Mark II represents a

major revamp over the original lens,

with an upgraded optical design

that aims for greater sharpness.

The Mark II is sturdier, better

weather-sealed and has a more

well-rounded nine-blade diaphragm,

which helps to maintain the lens’s

attractive bokeh. However, given that

Sigma, Tamron and Nikon have built

optical image stabilisers into their

latest 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses for SLRs,

it’s a disappointing omission here.

Performance

Sharpness is excellent, although it’s

eclipsed by the competing Nikon lens,

as well as Canon’s new RF 24-70mm

f/2.8 lens for its mirrorless bodies.

CE

Sharpness

Short-range lab-test scores

aren’t great, but real-world

sharpness is impressive.

Sharpness

Sharpness is very good

and impressively consistent

through the zoom range.

Fringing

Short 2.38 Long 2.1

Colour fringing is

reasonably well-controlled.

Fringing

Short 2.47 Long 1.61

Fringing is well-controlled

throughout the zoom range.

Distortion

Short -2.8 Long 1.52

Barrel and pincushion

distortions are pretty average.

Distortion

Short -2.34 Long 0.13

Barrel and pincushion

are impressively low.

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

f/3.5 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22

24mm 50mm

70mm 105mm

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22

24mm 35mm

50mm 70mm

3.5

BEST FOR

CANON