Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II - Review

I have been a professional photographer for over a decade, and in that time, I have used numerous lenses from various manufacturers. However, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens has been my go-to lens for many years now. In this review, I will explore various aspects of this lens, including its build quality, image quality, autofocus performance, and overall user experience.

Build Quality:

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens is an extremely well-built lens. It has a solid and durable construction, which gives a sense of reliability and sturdiness. The lens is designed to be weather-sealed, which means it can withstand a range of challenging conditions, including dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures.

What I particularly like about this lens is its zoom lock lever, which locks the zoom position at the wide end. This feature makes it much easier to transport and carry around, as the lens remains in a compact size. The lens features an 82mm filter thread, which is relatively standard across Canon's professional L-series lenses.

Image Quality:

The image quality of this lens is exceptional, with sharpness and clarity being two of its strongest attributes. The lens features a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, which allows for great low-light photography capabilities. The bokeh of this lens is also very pleasing, with the f/2.8 aperture producing a beautiful and creamy background blur.

The lens features a new optical design, which utilizes 1 Super UD lens element and 2 UD lens elements to minimize chromatic aberration in the outer area at wide-angle, as well as eliminate color blurring around the edges of the subject. This results in images with high resolution and contrast across the entire frame.

Furthermore, the lens combines 2 types of aspherical lenses to reduce spherical aberration and achieve high image quality across the entire screen area and throughout the full zoom range. This combination results in sharp and detailed images even at the edges of the frame, which makes the lens an excellent choice for landscape photography.

Autofocus Performance:

The autofocus performance of this lens is simply outstanding. The ring-type ultrasonic motor (USM) is incredibly fast and responsive, providing near-instant autofocus lock on the desired subject. The autofocus is also exceptionally accurate, even in low-light conditions, allowing for perfectly focused images every time.

The lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.38m, allowing for close-up photography with great detail and precision. The autofocus system is also compatible with Canon's high-speed CPU and optimized AF algorithms, which provide fast and reliable autofocus tracking.

User Experience:

Overall, the user experience of this lens is excellent. The lens is relatively lightweight, weighing only 1.7 pounds, making it ideal for extended periods of handheld photography. The 24-70mm focal length range is perfect for a wide range of photography, ranging from landscapes to portraits and everything in between.

The lens features full-time manual focus, which means you can manually adjust the focus without having to switch out of autofocus mode. This feature is particularly useful for fine-tuning the focus in cases where autofocus may not be accurate or suitable for the desired effect.

The lens coatings on this lens are among the best I have seen, providing exceptional color balance and minimal ghosting. The front and rear lens surfaces are coated with a fluorine coating, which helps to reduce smears and fingerprints, making the lens easy to clean and maintain.

Conclusion:

Overall, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens is an excellent choice for both professional and amateur photographers. Its combination of outstanding build quality, exceptional image quality, fast and accurate autofocus, and a great user experience make it a must-have lens in any photographer's kit.

The lens is not cheap, but it is definitely worth the investment if you are serious about photography. The ability to capture sharp, detailed images in a wide range of conditions and with great versatility makes this lens one of the best on the market. If you are in the market for a new lens, I highly recommend the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

View Product Price