Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Autofocus Lens

The recommendation for Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM should mirror that of its predecessor - if you liked the resolving capabilities of the previous generation lens, you would certainly like the performance capabilities of the revised one.

The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Lens is, without question, Canon's best-performing (optically and physically) and best-built 24mm autofocus lens. It is also Canon's widest angle lens with an aperture wider than f/2.8 - a full 2 stops wider than all wider angle Canon lenses.

The second incarnation of Canon's premium fast aperture wide angle lens costs around £1315 and sports a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture, fast ultrasonic focusing and professional-grade weather sealed construction.

Canon's third version of its 24mm f/1.4 full-framer (the first was the 1979 FD), this $1,700 (street) prime remains the fastest wide-angle lens for both film and digital SLRs, scaling up to the equivalent of 38.4mm on the Canon EOS 50D.

The Canon 24mm Æ’/1.4L II USM is an excellent lens, with only two reservations, both relating to the lens' usage on full-frame bodies. The first is some corner softness when used at wide apertures; the second is substantial corner shading, upwards of two stops when used wide open.

The new Canon EF 24/1.4L USM II is expected to be available in December 2008 at a price of around $1699 Canon Press Release on the Canon EF 24/1.4L USM II The new EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens is the successor to Canon's EF 24mm f/1.4L USM professional wide-angle lens released in 1997.

Sharpness is unimpressive at the centre and disappointing towards the edges and corners. We'd expect better at this price.

Gary Wolstenholme reviews the premium fast wide-angle Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens.

• +

  Excellent optical performance, Build quality, Fast focusing, Bright maximum aperture, Resistance to flare and loss of contrast

• -

  May be a little pricey for some, Quality towards the edges at maximum aperture could be better (although this is a minor concern for a wide aperture lens like this).

If a lens belongs to the Luxury series and we have to pay around 1700 $ for it is difficult to accept the fact that it might have some serious slip-ups. Unfortunately the EF 24 mm f/1.4L USM II didn’t manage to avoid them.

• +

  high build quality,, excellent resolution in the frame centre,, very good resolution at the edge of the APS-C sensor,, good control of chromatic aberration,, low distortion,, slight astigmatism,, good work against bright light,, quick, silent and accurate autofocus.

• -

  huge coma,, monstrous vignetting.

The two large-diameter, glass-moulded aspherical elements correct aberrations like curvature of field and distortion, both common in wide-angle lenses. In addition, two UD elements are used to minimise chromatic aberrations.

Chose this over a 24-70 f/2.8, for weddings and most everything else. Previously have extensively used a 24-105 f/4 (5D series kit lens) and 24-70 f/2.8, and I currently also have a 24mm tilt-shift. I shoot with a 5D Mark IV (full frame).

When I first picked up photography, I have always wondered on the viability of spending large amounts of money for a fixed focal prime lens such as this. However, having cycled through quite a few Canon lenses and 'L' series lenses ranging from zoom lenses and other primes, I have arrived in front...

• +

  Very wide aperture for taking indoor photos without a flash - Paper thin depth of field at F1.4 provides capability to produce dramatic shots while still capturing much of the background to 'tell the story' - Good quality construction - Price range defini

• -

  - Focusing speed a tad slow (but not enough to affect me on wedding photography)

My copy had inconsistent focusing. I was getting front and back focusing and sometimes a hit. Attempts to correct the problem using fine focus adjustment failed so I returned the lens to canon.

This glass is a super sharp low light wide angle beauty of a lens. IMHO 24mm in full frame is the perfect wide angle focal length, being not too wide but still manages to get the composition you'd desire, without too much distortion.

• +

  Sharp!!

Fast, blur background, can take in low light

• +

  Easily Interchangeable, Fast / accurate auto-focus, Nice Bokeh

This particular lens was "off" dramatically in terms of focus accuracy. This was particularly disappointing because it was to go on a European trip with me (it got sent back instead). I have several other L lenses and will consider this an anomaly unless the next one is the same.

• +

  Strong Construction, Durable

• -

  Blurry Focus

This a a wonderful lens to use. Very little optical distortion and the photos have a clarity and color you can only get with these new second generation of Canon optics. You are way better off with the 24mm and 50mm L lenses than you are with the 24-70mm lens.

• +

  Can't buy a better lens at the 24mm length

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  Expensive, but worth it!

Love this lens, image quality is amazing on a full frame camera. Really opens up a new dimension in your photography.

Amazing fast-wide angle 24 mm II