Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Product Description
The Zoom Lens EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM was developed as the successor to the EF28-70mm f/2.8L USM lens released in November 1993. Featuring a new optical system design, the new zoom lens delivers an expanded zoom range with a 24 mm wide-angle focal length, ideally suiting it to digital image sizes, while also maintaining or improving on the outstanding image quality of the superseded model.Moreover, the power of the focusing lens group has been increased to allow a minimum focusing distance of just 0.38 meters, the shortest in its class at the time, throughout the entire zoom range. The new EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM also features a circular diaphragm, to give better background blur, and utilizes only lead-free glass optics in consideration of the environment.

The Canon EF 24-70mm standard zoom lens does what many pros thought couldn't be done--it replaces the L-series 28-70mm f/2.8 lens with something even better. The lens offers extended coverage to an ultra-wide-angle 24mm, making it ideal for digital as well as film shooters. The new processing unit, meanwhile, makes the autofocus (AF) faster than ever. And thanks to the two aspherical elements and a totally new UD glass element, the optics are far superior to the earlier lens. Sealed and gasketed against dust and moisture, the EF 24-70mm lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 24-70mm
• Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 74 to 29 degrees
• Focus adjustment: Front-focusing method
• Closest focusing distance: 1.25 feet
• Zoom system: Rotating type
• Filter size: 77mm
• Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.9 inches long
• Weight: 2.1 pounds

The Perfect Lens
I've had this lens for almost two years now and I have to say, I have never once regretted purchasing it. It's the perfect all-purpose lens. I use it for weddings, portrait sessions, and personal use. It's the one lens I can attach and go with knowing that it will give me anything I need. The focal length is versatile, and wide enough for landscapes but the glass is awesome and gives you a great, sharp portrait for up close use as well. Plus, the macro setting is amazing. Definitely one of my top two lenses and I would buy it over and over again. I could never live without it professionally or personally.

Must Have for Any Photographer
If you can afford this, get it. It's exceptionally handy for portraiture, but is also a nice lens to bring on a hiking trip for a good wide-angle shot. The f2.8 also helps for lower-light conditions. Paris would say it's "hot"...

keep the speed/focal length ratio at handlheld shots...
the min speed/focal length on an effective handlheld shot were equals that of your "focus point focal length"(pardon my terminnologies but im pretty sure you'll figure that out) . i recently have this for a couple days and tried this "indoors" without flash versus with on board flash. IQ is great as long as you maintain the speed/focal ratio as per handheld shots but if you're into lower shutter speeds like lower than 1/15 you got to be careful cause this doesnt have an IS so a tripod is a MUST otherwise, f/2.8 is useless cause your tendency is to increase the iso rating which will increase the noise level and thus degrade picture quality (as i was only using t1i-- unless you have the 5d2 or higher which offers good image IQ even with high ISO sesttings). secondly, if you're relying on your onboard flash as your your main flash ( for the moment...in this case - i purchased this great lens first over basic "necessary gear"), you will have a disturbing "black-arc-shadow" right in the lower middle of the picture frame exactly @ 24mm-30mm. i would say these would be a very good walk-around lens as long as you dont complain about the length(approx 8-9 in) and weight, cause this will be very heavy in the long run, say about 2 hours walking around and strap hanging to your neck, you should have a good rub from your partner, trust me. overall, im still wondering if i had bought the 24-105, i wouldnt know yet how it reacts with low light @ f4 but with 50-70mm slower shutter 1/8 - 1/5 at iso 100 combines with IS....and 2 hours of "walking around" with it and strap hanged to your neck......but remember the bokeh and IQ it gives out on pictures will surpass that of 24-105mm, im sure someone might contradict with this but im open to any criticism.

The f2.8 is key
The key to this lens is f2.8 maximum aperture.
A close second is the corner-to-corner performance, especially on a full-frame sensor.

This lens competes with the image stabilized 24-105 f4 L. For a lot of us, picking between them is a very hard decision. Hopefully this review will help you decide.

The killer advantage that the 24-70 f2.8 has over the 24-105 is that extra full stop of light gathering power. Last night I took some available light night time shots of the massive snowfall we just had. The f2.8 lens is very bright and easy to see through. Using a 5D Mark II, I could hand hold my night time shots and have enough speed to freeze the image while I turned night into day. The f2.8 gave me enough room that I could use a lower ISO setting and get what I wanted. The f2.8 meant that I could increase the shutter speed to tone down how bright the images were (the first shots were too bright) to get them to look like a night time shot.

In short, f2.8 means not shooting at your limits or the camera's limits. It freed up some ISO and it freed up some shutter speed.

I still could have gotten the shots if I had stopped down to f4. It would have meant a noisier ISO setting and careful attention to technique to avoid camera shake. So I could have used the other lens, right? I shoot a full-frame camera, and the 24-105 at f4 doesn't have the image quality out at the edges that the 24-70 has at f2.8. You can read the details in other reviews, but it's not just a single f-stop advantage when you factor in image quality.

Indoors by available light, this lens lets you frame the shot and fire, knowing that f2.8 will give you enough speed to freeze the motion.

The other reviews also mention bokeh, and f2.8 lets you play. You want that back ground gone? Open up to 2.8 and get close enough that your subject isn't at infinity focus.

It is a fast-focusing lens. On the 5DII, as long as one of the focus points has something to work with, it nails the focus every time.

All that said, this is a heavy, longish lens. You need to use two hands, and you need to support everything with your left hand or your right wrist will tell you about how much torque a two-pound lens that is nearly five inches long generates. My mother has dainty hands and this lens is not for her. You will want a comfortable (perhaps padded) camera strap. And when you look through the viewfinder, it suddenly doesn't weigh a thing.

If you shoot in the dark, this lens is for you.
If you want the background to go away, this lens is for you.
If you want enough light-gathering power to set ants on fire, when it's cloudy, by moonlight, this lens is for you. [I stole that line from somewhere].

If you don't want people to notice you, this lens is not for you. It takes a 77mm filter and it's five inches long. It suggests that maybe they meant to spell it "cannon."

The other thought on this is that if f2.8 really is your thing, check out the 50mm f1.4 prime lens. Two stops more light, a ton less weight, a quarter of the price. It would be a cheap way to get the light gathering power, at the cost of the zoom range. The 50 would let you decide between, "I can live with f2.8, I can't live without some zoom range, especially on the wide angle end," compared to "It's not enough zoom range to matter, I need more light!" The first quote tells you that you want the 24-70 f2.8, the second one says that you want a prime lens that lets you shoot really wide open (and get really razor thin depth of field).

The 24-70 f2.8 does everything it does extremely well. You pay for that in glass, mass, and cash.
I'm so glad I bought it.

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