Canon Unveils the World’s First 24-105mm f/2.8 Lens
Alongside the Ultra-Wide RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM APS-C lens, Canon has announced the RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z, the world’s first 24-105mm zoom lens with a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture.
The 24-105mm f/2.8 is anticipated to be popular with portrait, event, documentary, and photojournalist photographers and videographers who desire a single lens that can handle a wide range of duties, particularly in low-light circumstances.
The 24-105mm f/2.8 lens has 23 elements in 18 groups, including four ultra-low dispersion elements and three aspheric elements. It has Canon’s Super Spectra Coating (SSC), Air Sphere Coating (ASC), and Fluorine coating.
The RF 24-105mm f/2.8 lens is quite heavy at 1.3kg. It has a maximum outside diameter of 88.5mm and a constant length of 199mm.
The RF 24-105mm f/2.8 lens is nearly twice as heavy as the RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens, which weighs 700g. The f/4 zoom is likewise substantially shorter, at 107.3mm in length.
The extra 35mm at the long end adds roughly 430g to the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens. In addition, the RF 24-105mm f/2.8 lens is over 73.3mm longer. The front filter thread on both f/2.8 zoom lenses is 82mm.
The three RF zoom lenses are likewise significantly different in price. The RF 24-105mm f/4 lens is, of course, the most affordable option. It is reasonably priced at $1,300. The RF 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is presently on sale for $2,100 (down from $2,400). Finally, the new RF 24-105mm f/2.8 lens is priced for professional photographers at $3,000 USD.
It has two Canon Nano USM focus motors, which promise exceptionally fast and precise autofocus performance. The lens features a floating optical system to help assure consistent performance while maintaining a constant lens length, which is critical when used as a video lens in a rig.
The lens can focus as near as 0.45m across the whole focal length, indicating that the greatest magnification is 0.29x at 105mm.
The RF 24-105mm f/2.8 also incorporates optical image stabilization. It is rated for 5.5 stops of optical shake correction, yet when combined with a Canon camera with in-body image stabilization, coordinated IS gives eight stops of stabilization.
The RF 24-105mm f/2.8 is the first Canon RF standard zoom lens to incorporate a built-in IS Mode selector. It is also the first Canon RF lens with a manual aperture control ring. However, Canon explains that this will not work with still photography functions on current camera bodies but will work with future devices in 2024 and after. Photographers with many current Canon cameras must lock the iris ring into the “A” position and control the aperture via the camera body. That said, the iris ring does work as intended during video operations on compatible cameras.
The Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z is also the first Canon RF lens to include Power Zoom capabilities. However, this will necessitate using Canon’s new Power Zoom Adapter (PZA), which attaches straight to the side of the 24-105mm f/2.8 lens.
The PZA will come in two versions, one with merely a USB port and the other with a USB port plus a 20-pin connector. The 20-pin connector allows other equipment to be utilized alongside the Power Zoom Adapter. When powering the PZA via the USB-C connector, quicker maximum zoom rates are achievable, at least when using the lens on particular camera types.
In terms of zooming, both variants of the PZA contain a rocker switch for adjusting the focal length of the lens.
Canon emphasizes that the PZA is only intended for usage with the RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z lens.
Here are some sample pictures:
The Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z lens is currently available for $3,000 and will begin delivering next month.
The new Power Zoom Adapter will be available in both variants starting next spring. The USB model will cost $1,000, while the USB plus 20-pin connector model will cost $1,300.
