Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

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Archive 2009 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

wimg
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p.3 #1 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

Mark_EL wrote:
trumpet_guy wrote:

Consider finding a good used copy of the 16-35 mk1 and the 24L mk1.
together this will cost you no more than the 24L mk2 and will still give good
performance.

I have considered this option more or less.... I found a dealer who sells brand new 24L (mk I) copy (s) for € 940,- while the 24L mk II costs € 1440,- (which is a good price too in the Netherlands) Now, a € 500,- difference is quite alot of money, I could actually buy a secondhand 17-40 with that, for those times I need a wider FOV. However... I'm not sure I would be happy with a 24L mk I, because if I buy a fast prime, I buy it because I want to able use it (close to) wide open. And after reading all the reviews on this lens, I'm not so sure it will be satisfying in terms of sharpness and bokeh... The good news is that this dealer has both the old and new 24L in stock so I think (read: hope) I will be able to test both copies to see if the the older, cheaper one will be good enough for me. I think I will leave work early tomorrow to visit that dealer... (unless my 38 week pregnant wife decides to give birth between now and tomorrow afternoon, that is

)

Anyway, what do you people think about this price difference between the mk I and mk II? And what would you do in my situation, go for the 24L mk II or the 24L (assuming it's a decent copy) and buy a secondhand 17-40? (considering this will most probably be the last money I can spend on gear for the next year or so)
For FF: 24L Mk II, for APS-C only 24L Mk I will do nicely.

I had a good copy of the 24L, which I used extensively on the 40D when I still had it. It was one of my favourite lenses.

However, on FF the 24L II really comes into its own, because the corners are so incredibly good.

Generally it also autofocuses much better than the Mk I (essentially it is accurate, and strictly repeatable, where the Mk I would decide then here, then there, especially in low light, or rather, low contrast). I don't know if the outer AF points work any better; I rarely use those.

Bokeh is also a little better, as is flare resistance and CAs.

I was worried to let the old one go, but I am glad I did. The Mk II is all the Mk I was already, just a whole lot better, especially on FF.

Kind regards, Wim

Nov 24, 2009 at 12:23 AM

PetKal
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p.3 #2 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

Good job, Joshua. The lens looks as good as any of the two 24L MkIs I've had.
However, I'll stick to my old and faithful MkI. She is as good as home baked whole wheat bread and beef stew made from scratch.

(Yup, we were busy in the kitchen today).
Shot as JPG with the 40D/24L MkI wide open. Grey card for WB and NR applied. No other pp.

Edited on Nov 25, 2009 at 03:05 AM · View previous versions

Nov 24, 2009 at 01:46 AM

stanj
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p.3 #3 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

What, no PIF / DIF?

Nov 24, 2009 at 04:16 AM

PetKal
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p.3 #4 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

stanj wrote:
What, no PIF / DIF?

What do you think went into that stew in addition to beef ?

Nov 24, 2009 at 04:24 AM

Daniel Heineck
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p.3 #5 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

24mm or not... I'd not be one to trust olive oil made in "Florence"

Nov 24, 2009 at 04:41 AM

PetKal
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p.3 #6 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

Daniel Heineck wrote:
24mm or not... I'd not be one to trust olive oil made in "Florence"

Neither would I. However, that one is made in Firenze, Italy.

Nov 24, 2009 at 04:45 AM

timpdx
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p.3 #7 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

Best lens I have ever owned, period. Simply an amazing lens, and I have owned a lot of them over the years. The 135L matches it, but that is all I can think of, astonishing, and while merely "outstanding" on my 40D, this lens is simply "mind blowing" on the 5D.

I think this was F1.8 or 2.0

lower left corner, 100% crop: I have never seen this kind of performance across the frame so close to wide open ever before.

oh, yeah, that shot was hand held

A darn expensive lens, but worth it. Owned it 6 weeks and it still on my 5D, even thought I swore up an down that the 24-105L would almost never leave my 5D. Color, sharpness, AF speed, resistance to flare, all 10/10. A true home run

Nov 24, 2009 at 04:57 AM

AGeoJO
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p.3 #8 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

Peter,
How did you like the mix meat stew? That sounds close to the Peking Duck Pizza from CPK, huh

? BTW, where was the AF point on that shot? On the loaf or on the "C" of the "Crap-pelli", extra virgin olive oil

?

Tim, I share your feeling about that lens!

Joshua

Nov 24, 2009 at 05:13 AM

stanj
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p.3 #9 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

I can't quite say that it was the _best_ lens I've ever owned, but definitely the most loved one. I would go on a 4-day trip to NYC with just that one lens and have no regrets.

Nov 24, 2009 at 06:10 AM

astrolucida
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p.3 #10 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

David Baldwin wrote:
Spookily enough I have also come to a figure of f2.2 for acceptable star sharpness and shape across the entire frame, but on a 5D2 and using the Mk1 lens! A compromise of course, but when the next generation of cameras with even better sensors comes out I will be able to stop down even more with sharper corners. Thats another reason I am hesitant to splash on the Mk2

I probably have a lot tighter criteria for round stars: at 100% (40D) and even with drastic contrast stretching indistinguishable from a sphere and no visible CA (well, with bright stars actually no lens can achieve both in the corners).

Here you can see good stars with the 200f2.8L II at f3.2 (center+corner crops): http://www.pbase.com/lumodomo/image/69721993
(the elongation of all the stars is due to slight tracking issues, not lens aberrations).

Unfortunately I don't have the 24f1.4L II samples in the net, but this is the level of stars at f2.2. f1.8 is already very good, with little deformation of stars.

And I've seen astrophotography even with the 24f1.4L Mk I (wide open) published in a magazine as a whole page. I was able to notice the coma only because I knew to look for it.

I know, I am very strict for lens quality in astrophotography, but then again you can print much larger if the stars are round even at 100%.

Nov 24, 2009 at 10:07 AM

Mark_EL
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p.3 #11 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

Due to some personal circumstances I was not able to go the shop to test both the 24L mk I and mk II, so I decided it was time to make up my mind... I bit the bullet and ordered me the 24L mk II.

It should be delivered tomorrow. Ooh I can't wait

Nov 25, 2009 at 07:32 PM

AGeoJO
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p.3 #12 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

Congrats! Seriously, if it doesn't put any strain on the financial end, I would absolutely recommend to swallow for the difference in price, go for the Mark II. Be satisfied and not comprimising. But that's me and YMMW.

Nov 25, 2009 at 07:55 PM

joekraft
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p.3 #13 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

That needs to be on a coffee mug, Yakim. I feel that way all the time.

Yakim Peled wrote:
Sometimes I why I bother to learn and get updated. I just keep forgetting.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 25, 2009 at 08:09 PM

Paul Gardner
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p.3 #14 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

The pain of the price is soon forgotton in the joy of the item
Paul

Nov 26, 2009 at 01:13 AM

Thats Fresh
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p.3 #15 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

one of these days im going to upgrade my mki for an mkii...

Nov 26, 2009 at 01:58 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.3 #16 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

I think I need a really big one....

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

joekraft wrote:
That needs to be on a coffee mug, Yakim. I feel that way all the time.

Yakim Peled wrote:
Sometimes I why I bother to learn and get updated. I just keep forgetting.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 26, 2009 at 09:49 AM

lovinglife
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p.3 #17 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

Yakim Peled wrote:
I think I need a really big one....

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

I'm purely joking here, but that didn't quite come out right IMO

Nov 26, 2009 at 03:05 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.3 #18 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

It's O.K. I got it.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 26, 2009 at 03:16 PM

David Baldwin
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p.3 #19 · Canon 24mm f/1.4 Mark II

astrolucida

Yes, absolutely. For me the Mk2 is an itch I think I'm going to have to scratch next year! For me a fast 24/28mm is my most crucial lens, and in my heart of hearts I know I'll have to get the Mk 2 eventually because its the best! Just how much better than the old lens I won't know till I buy the damn thing.

In the meantime the Mk1 does provide images I couldn't really get from any other lens in my bag, and for now it will have to do:

http://www.nightfolio.co.uk/subpages/la18.html
http://www.nightfolio.co.uk/subpages/la20.html

Nov 28, 2009 at 06:09 PM

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