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cauchy
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Registered: Jan 16, 2008
Location: Norway
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Dec 12, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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image quality, sharp wide open, low CA, excellent build quality, pleasing bokeh
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Cons:
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it costs a lot of money and it is not exactly light weight
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This lens is incredible! The image quality is excellent, it delivers high contrast and nice colors and it is sharp wide open. The middle of the frame at f/1.4 is very good even on the 21MP 5D Mark II (very sharp with a little sharpening applied) and even the corners are still very usable, they are a little soft at f/1.4 but nothing to worry about. The lens does show quite some vignetting wide open. Personally, I am not bothered about that at all, I even accept it as a positive aspect for my uses! CAs are very well contained even wide open. Also, the bokeh is surprisingly pleasant!
The build quality and construction are excellent, it feels very solid.
I do not want to comment on AF yet because I only used the lens for some hours now - there were absolutely no problems, however, it was always spot on so far!
Bottom line: this is an excellent lens for low light and "wide-angle bokeh" applications with an excellent image quality!
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 Dec 12, 2009
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AGeoJO
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Registered: Jul 8, 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 8065
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Review Date: Nov 25, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharpness at wide aperture settings, great colors, practically no CA, excellent build quality, etc.
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Cons:
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Price would be it but hey, you got to fork out some serious money for excellence. Well, yes, I noticed vignetting up to f/2.0 but no longer visible at f/2.8 and it can easily be corrected during post processing.
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It seems like Canon had paid close attention to the optical design of recently introduced lenses and most importantly, Canon seems to have increased the QC in the manufacturing/assembly process. I am sure they heard foot steps approaching... LOL. These factors have resulted in really top-notch performers. It doesn't come cheap though but at least you know what you are getting if you shell out big bucks for some glasses.
The classic 24L was a lens that I couldn't warm up to. Yes, it had to do with its performance, which again was actually excellent but I preferred my 35mmL over its wider sibling. Yes, the don't have the same FL but somehow the 35L got used way more back then. Now, the role seems to get reversed; the more I use this lens, the more I start liking it more and more. Whether the 24L II is worth upgrading from the classic one will vary on an individual basis. Is the new lens worth $600-$800 more? Only you will know the asnwer. For me, it is a definite "yes".
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Nov 25, 2009
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gazzajagman
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Registered: Apr 26, 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 164
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Review Date: Nov 8, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharpness, Colour rendition, Out of Focus smoothness, Weather sealing, Contrast
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Cons:
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Erm...Price is about the only thing, other than the hood.
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I have a stellar 35L, 85IIL and 135L and a not so stellar 50L. I place this lens slightly above my 35L in terms of sharpness, clairity, colour and contrast. It's out of focus rendition is superior to the previous 24L (it's bokeh looked harsh to my eyes).
But I seriously think that a comparision of my 35L and 24IIL would yield much of a difference on a printed A4 (except for the Focal difference).
I use mine on both a 5D and 5DII and it's certainly sharp wide open and it's genreal look in consistant with the other L primes.
I like it's size and weight. I have had no Focus issues with mine, but I'm not very trusting with AF anyhow.
The hood is a dissapointment (like the 35L) in that it's heavily curved and can't be placed hood down on a table for lens swapping like other L primes. This is very irratating.
It's not a cheap lens but it really does perform very well. It is probably the finest 24mm lens available...so you'd expect it to be expensive.
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Nov 8, 2009
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haringo
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Registered: Oct 7, 2009
Location: Hungary
Posts: 3
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Review Date: Oct 29, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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well....it is fast, great bokeh, sharp
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Cons:
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not meeting the quality of the 35mm l 1.4
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I used to own this lens. To be honest it wasn't much better than my 24 70mm 2.8. It is possible that I had a bad copy but none of my friends rave about this lens. Buy a 35mm 1.4 instead or a 24 70. The latter is much cheaper. You can see some samples here in the engagement section under portfolio: www.haringphotography.com
I hope this helps!
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Oct 29, 2009
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Jim Heine
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Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Apr 9, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 34
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Review Date: Oct 24, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,700.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp!, beautiful colors, contrast, bokeh, build quality is outstanding, manual focus ring is great, superb optics, very little CA considering, weather sealing, low distortion, quality at f/1.4
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Cons:
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Expensive!!!, 77mm filters (all my other L primes are 72mm), noticeable vignetting wide open, wish canon would have put this effort into making a 28L lens instead (my favorite walk-around wide-angle focal length)
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This is the first wide angle prime from canon that I really fell in love with. The 35L is pretty good, but this lens is an absolutely beauty to use. Even though it is 24mm, this lens is sharper than my 35L at all f-stops. Build quality and optics are truly outstanding (see my pros). This biggest negative I see is the noticeable vignetting at f/1.4 on a full frame body (What can we expect at 24mm?).
I didn't rate the price because I think the price is a little absurd, but the quality is definitely there for this lens. I paid more than my 85L II! However, I would say this is just about a perfect lens. The only other lens that has gone into that category for me is the 135L. Worth it!
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Oct 24, 2009
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timpdx
Offline
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Feb 1, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 773
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Review Date: Oct 23, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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I am simply in awe. Been shooting semi pro for over a decade and never seen glass this good.
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Cons:
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Its darn expensive
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Sharp, even wide open. Highly resistant to flare (except from near perpendicular light, hood protects from that)
There is no distortion. CA? I don't see it. Corners? Excellent. Build? L quality through and through. As a semi pro, this lens is going to get serious use. Lack of distortion and high resistance to flare means when I am shooting anything architectural, the 24-105 stays in the bag. For travel & stock, this gem will pay dividends in evening and night shots. There will also be narrow DOF applications which sharp 1.4 will help. Its nice and rectilinear, so I can sell my 50 Macro, because this is a great repro. lens for my purposes.
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Oct 23, 2009
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LZ7J
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Registered: Feb 22, 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 150
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Review Date: Jul 23, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,700.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp wide open, excellent colours and contrast, much improved build quality compared to the mk1, it's now as good as my 35L (minus the CA!), smoother bokeh
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Cons:
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Price!
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I've owned the mk1 version of this lens for almost a year - only shot 783 pictures with it. The week after I received my 24L mk2, I've doubled my previous shot count. I enjoy using this lens. Dare I say it, this lens is the slight better version of my 35L ~ only wider. I have zero complaints regarding this lens. My only nit-pick is the hood is a little big.
I have several A2 prints shot on a 5d2 wide-open-2.0 and it looks great! Well worth the premium over the mk1. Thanks Canon!
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Jul 23, 2009
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thedigitalbean
Online
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Jun 24, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 4153
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Review Date: Jun 5, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very sharp even wide open, little no CA even wide open, focus is fast, bokeh seems improved over the Mk1 (and the 35L)
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Cons:
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Price, vignetting from f/1.4 - f/2
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Bought this lens almost as soon as it was available and I've been shooting with it for a few months now. I also own the 35L and have owned the mk1 before.
The lens is superb. Its extremely sharp, the colors are punchy and the CA is virtually absent. The only IQ downside is the vignetting from f/1.4 to f/2, it seems to vignette a little bit more than the Mk1. I find that this makes little different to my photos since the types of pictures I take with this lens end up needing that vignetting. The combination of sharpness, shallow depth of field for a wide angle, little CA, punch colors and vignetting give a unique rendering to the images produced by this lens and its a rendering I like a lot.
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Jun 5, 2009
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Breitling65
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Registered: May 31, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 2482
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Review Date: Jun 2, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, well build as any L, weathersealed, relatively small. Great L colors & contrast, fast AF. Focus on spot on both 5D mk II & 1D mk III since first shot, no microadjustments requared.
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Cons:
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Price, heavier and slightly bigger than even 35L, hood seem big.
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I own previous version of 24L lens and that was one of the best L primes I ever own and I own lots of L ...  Regardless to some bad reviews my copy was amazing. However I sold it (don't know why ) to get latest and greatest mk II model I waited about 8 month since I sold original 24L to get this lens and no disappointments at all! It is very sharp at any aperture, build as tank, weather sealed!
However please note: Lens become heavier and bigger than mk I, it is even bigger/heavier than 35L now. Huge hood, dono why Canon can't reuse one from 35L????
I am planning to take this lens to my next Italy trip and I hope to bring some good excellent back )
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Jun 2, 2009
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John Daniel
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Registered: Jun 6, 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 1145
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Review Date: May 22, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharpness, sharpness, 3D effect, great lens for landscape as well (what I am using it for)
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Cons:
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Pricey a bit
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May 22, 2009
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rolfy
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Registered: Jul 11, 2005
Location: Portugal
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Apr 22, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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My copy is very, very sharp even wide open. Great improvement.wonderful lens!
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Cons:
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None for the moment unless vigetting wide open.
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Sharper than my canon 24/70 2.8 at 24mm.
No distortion.
No CA
Nice colors
Good contrast
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Apr 22, 2009
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djcz
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Registered: Apr 19, 2009
Location: China
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 19, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,699.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Great wide angle lens, lots improvement than version I
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Cons:
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Still not sharp enough at wide open
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Sharpness: Wide open center slight better than the 35L and 50L, 85L or 14L II is touch better. wide open corner is acceptable, better than 24L I, stop down provide excellent sharpness
Color/Contrast: Wonderful, equal to 85L
CA: Excellent, better than 35L, similar to 85L
Vignetting: has some, better than version I, gone under f2.8
Distortion: Nothing there
Bokeh: Perfect for such a wide angle lens
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Apr 19, 2009
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