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Archive 2012 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?

  
 
zalle
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


Hi,

I'm used to a 7D + 17-55 2.8 kit as main setup. I now have the 5D MKii and just got a 24-105 to replace the 7D + 17-55 (which I'm keeping as well).

Problem is that the 24-105 is SOOOOOO soft wide open, especially from 50mm onwards, it's truly disappointing. I use the 17-55 at 2.8 no problem.

Is this usual or do I need to send the lens for calibration? The lens seems ok at F8.



Jun 08, 2012 at 08:51 AM
mineymole
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


the 24-105 should be sharp from 24mm to 105mm. Mine is.


Jun 08, 2012 at 08:59 AM
tgawczynski
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


I haven't noticed anything. What f/stop are you shooting? That may be a contributing factor.


Jun 08, 2012 at 09:29 AM
Robin Usagani
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


xxtd0gxx wrote:
I haven't noticed anything. What f/stop are you shooting? That may be a contributing factor.


Read the subject people! Even on the thread he said "wide open".



Jun 08, 2012 at 09:34 AM
formula4speed
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


It's not as sharp as a really good prime wide open, but it should be more than useable throughout the entire range wide open as far as sharpness goes. The amount of vignetting at 24mm is kind of ridiculous. That was my experience with the lens anyway.


Jun 08, 2012 at 09:40 AM
lisy78
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


I dunno if it's sharp wide open... what I did learn here a few days ago is that wide open at F4 it has less DOF @85mm than the 85L has at F1.2

... don't believe me? Ask Amonline



Jun 08, 2012 at 10:27 AM
zalle
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


Here's a sample:

These 3 pictures were taken from the same place, focused on the same spot. With the 24-105 (@105mm) I took 2 pics, one at F8 and one at F4. Then I took a shot with the 100-400 wide open (F4.5) at 100mm. I took another at F8 but it's pretty similar so I didn't bother to put it here.

What's your opinion? I constantly get similar results.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6538/24105t.jpg



Jun 08, 2012 at 10:38 AM
amonline
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


Not enough info. To confirm, put it on a tripod, turn off IS and do a 2-second release. If it's still soft; then yes, there's a problem.


Jun 08, 2012 at 01:16 PM
Tom Dix
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


how many shots do you take on a tri w IS off and a 2 second release?

however, I do agree it is not conclusive. Most of what I have seen at f4 is sharp to ok.



Jun 08, 2012 at 01:49 PM
amonline
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


Tom Dix wrote:
how many shots do you take on a tri w IS off and a 2 second release?

however, I do agree it is not conclusive. Most of what I have seen at f4 is sharp to ok.


I thought it was common sense, but it's a test for softness. The IS off and 2-second release is to rule out user error. We have no idea if the image shown above is simply from slow shutter/movement.

My guess is the lens needs calibration.



Jun 08, 2012 at 02:02 PM
zalle
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


amonline wrote:
Not enough info. To confirm, put it on a tripod, turn off IS and do a 2-second release. If it's still soft; then yes, there's a problem.


I've done 1000 shots like this, they're all the same, I'm not going to do test labs because when I take pictures and I need the lens to perform it's wide open hand held, and I'm used to doing that, so this is NOT movement. It's the actual IQ of the lens at F4.

By the way, it was taken at 1/2000.



Jun 08, 2012 at 03:22 PM
Robin Usagani
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


shoot a better subject. Shoot a ruler
http://www.pbase.com/snaggs/image/44791589/original.jpg

But it sounds like you know what you are doing. Maybe it is a bad lens.



Jun 08, 2012 at 05:02 PM
RichardLavigne
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


I'd say mine is fine wide open... but we only use it as a travel lens, so I can't say that I've looked at the files all that closely...

Finally... are you pixel peeping? IMO, no lens looks good if you're doing that... so why bother?



Jun 08, 2012 at 05:26 PM
qwyjibo
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


zalle wrote:
I've done 1000 shots like this, they're all the same, I'm not going to do test labs because when I take pictures and I need the lens to perform it's wide open hand held, and I'm used to doing that, so this is NOT movement. It's the actual IQ of the lens at F4.

By the way, it was taken at 1/2000.


If this is as sharp as it gets then yes it looks quite poor and the lens should be better. I may want to take a slightly more scientific approach taking into account different distances, manually focused, and on a tripod, but that's me.



Jun 08, 2012 at 05:28 PM
zalle
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


Wide open the lens is ok at 24mm, so so at 35mm, below average at 50mm bad at 70mm and horrible at 105mm.

When I buy a lens, I do a lot of pixel peeping, and when I'm satisfied I never worry about it again.

I've got a few lenses to compare and none performs so bad, not even a 18-55IS kit lens.



Jun 08, 2012 at 07:18 PM
amonline
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


Based on what you posted above, it is not "okay". Get it calibrated.


Jun 08, 2012 at 07:48 PM
brockwhittaker
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


The sample you provided looks substandard compared to my copy of the 25-105L. Mine is tack sharp at ever aperture, focal length.


Jun 11, 2012 at 12:57 AM
zalle
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


Thanks for all your answers. I finally got rid of it. Sold it to someone who tested it and was happy with the results.

I bought a brand new one and WOW! What a difference. It's as sharp as the 17-55 IS @ F4, so it's good enough for me. I now take pictures wide open from 24 to 105 without a thought (even though at the long end of the zoom it is not as sharp, but it is still pretty good).

I think that at F4 it is sharper than my friend's 24-70.



Aug 06, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Jon-Mark
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


It's either a bad copy or you need to calibrate. For the cost, it's worth buying your own lensalign for about $80, allows you to make sure every lens is spot on.


Aug 06, 2012 at 01:34 PM
marti.g3
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Is the 24-105 any good wide open?


Robin Usagani wrote:
Read the subject people! Even on the thread he said "wide open".



..yeah, I saw that too.........duhhhh......



Aug 06, 2012 at 01:41 PM
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