Dissecting The Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS

Dissecting The Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS
Dissected EF 24-70mm f/4L – image credit: lensrentals.com

After having measured the resolution of the Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS (price & specs), R. Cicala and the lensrentals team decided to open and dissect the EF 24-70. And since they are really ironic guys, they started the post with an Albert Einstein quote: If we knew what we were doing it wouldn’t be called research, would it? :-)

The lens is dissembled and every step is shown with pics and explained in text. This is for sure nothing you should do as a DYI weekend project. In the conclusion they write:

[…] the Canon 24-70 f/4 IS is a truly interesting design, with some things that we’ve never seen before.

Some worry me a tiny bit. I’m certain the zoom-lock/macro switch is going to break some, although it doesn’t appear that will have any major effect.

The large number of adjustable elements is a bit concerning, too. In theory, at least, that’s more adjustments that could contribute to sample variation. On the other hand, Canon’s been a long time developing this lens and they engineer lenses more logically than anyone else. I suspect there’s a nice thick document I’ll never see that tells techs exactly which of those adjustments controls which aspects of the lens’ optics.

In some other lenses, where one element is used to adjust several variables the adjustments can be ridiculously finicky to make. It might well be that having more adjustable spots will make the adjustments more straightforward and logical, reducing sample variation. Only time will tell on that one.

A limited stock of the 24-70mm is available at Adorama for $1499

Canon EF 24-70mmf/4L IS price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[via lensrentals]

 

Sigma Will Showcase New 17-70mm f/2.8-4 And 120-300mm f/2.8 Lenses At CES

120-300mm f/2.8

 

Sigma will showcase their new 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM and 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM lenses at CES 2013. Sigma Japan published the press releases, 17-70mm here, and 120-300mm here.

The 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM lens is part of the Sports line-up, has Optical Stabilization, a Hyper Sonic Motor, and a new weather sealing. The lens does not extend when focusing or for zoom. No information about the price so far, the lens with Canon mount should be available next month.

The 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM is part of the Contemporary line-up. It is said to be smaller by 30% than comparable lenses. It features low dispersion glass elements and a special low dispersion element. No pricing so far, the lens for Canon mount should be available this month.

 

17-70mm f/2.8-4
[via digicame-info]

 

Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published (better than T4i/650D)

Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published

Canon EOS M DxOMark scores published. Not surprising: the Canon EOS M (prce & specs) scores lower than the Sony NEX 6 (price & specs) and the Olympus OM-D (price & specs). Surprising: the EOS M scores higher (slightly) than the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D (price & specs), both for color depth and low light ISO.

Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published

Canon EOS M price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Rebel T4i/EOS 650D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Resolution Test (R. Cicala)

ca24704u_1

There is one thing I really like in Roger Cicala’s reviews (beside the quality of the content): they are concise and won’t make you waste time until you get the information you are looking for. Cicala did the usual resolution test on the Canon EF 24-70mmf/4L IS (available here in limited stock for $1499).

The lens doesn’t come out of the test with much glory, unfortunately.In the conclusion Cicala writes:

On the basis of this information [the resolution test data], though, I’m . . .  well, I don’t know what I am. This is a good lens, but I at the price point I’d probably prefer the f/2.8 of the Tamron VC to the new Canon’s f/4. The macro feature is nice and will certainly pull some people towards the Canon.

This is only a sample of 22 copies, but the sample variation at 70mm is a bit bothersome. I don’t feel comfortable making any statements about it, though, until we’ve seen another 40 or 50 copies. This might just be a couple of bad lenses in a small sample.

My bottom line is I sit here thinking the prices need to settle down a bit. If I was considering upgrading to one of these lenses I’d probably hold off a few months and see how the prices change.

Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Resolution Test
Credit: lensrentals.com

The lens was compared to the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC (price & specs) and the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Mark II (price & specs) since they all share the same focal range, and to the Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS (price & specs). Cicala writes:

  • If you want the best 24-70 f/2.8 zoom at any price, the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Mk II outresolves anything else, period.

  • If you want image stabilization with your 24-70 zoom, the Tamron is really very good, and while it doesn’t quite resolve up to Mk II standards, it does outresolve the Mk I version (which is itself a pretty good lens, at least when you get a good copy).

  • The Canon 24-105 f/4 IS gives good quality and greater range at a lower price.

[via lensrentals]

Canon EF 24-70mmf/4L IS price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Mark II pice check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA