New Canon 24-105 f/4 "L" IS USM lens (rumor)

photobug · August 16, 2005

Per the Bob Atkins Canon rumor page 8/15/05 posting, there's a strong rumor of a new Canon 24-105 f/4 "L" IS USM lens.

This isn't "too" far off from the lens I wished for in another DGrin thread .

If indeed it's real, I can't wait to hear the specs and (gulp) price....

The text of Bob's posting is:

[08/15/05] - More pretty solid rumors about what's coming from Canon. A leaked preview of the Canon Europe CPS newsletter (now withdrawn from the Canon website) appears to have articles on a a new EF 24-105/4L IS USM lens, 430 EX speedlite and an EOS 1D Mk II N. As yet there are no clues as to the specifications of the 430EX or the 1D Mk II N, though I suspect they may be relatively minor tweaks of existing products. Again, the existence of these items has NOT been confirmed by Canon, so it's just speculation at this point whether or not they are real. I suspect they are, but we'll probably know for sure early next week.

Richard S · August 16, 2005

There is a lot of overheated speculation going on in the other forums
but the truth appears to be that there are five new products that will
be announced next Monday 8/22:

- EOS 5D

- EOS 1D Mark II N

- EF 24-105 F/4 L IS USM Lens

- Speedlite 430EX Flash

- BG-E4 Grip (which goes with the 5D)

IMHO it's pretty sad that Canon can't control their information better.

photobug · August 16, 2005

IMHO it's pretty sad that Canon can't control their information better.

.......Who says that Canon is not controlling it exactly the way it wants to? "Controlled leaks" of "secret" products generate lots of buzz on the street, which Canon knows very well. It ensures that lots of people will be tuned in and listening when they do make an announcement next week.

I don't know that it's deliberate, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least. This is perfect timing for those types of "leaks", if they wanted to maximize the buzz.

Richard S · August 16, 2005

I just don't think Canon works that way. Japanese companies in
general don't work that way.

Let's agree to disagree. Let's not bring the overheated debate from
the other forums here.

Andy · August 16, 2005

Richard S wrote:

There is a lot of overheated speculation going on in the other forums
but the truth appears to be that there are five new products that will
be announced next Monday 8/22:

- EOS 5D

- EOS 1D Mark II N

- EF 24-105 F/4 L IS USM Lens

- Speedlite 430EX Flash

- BG-E4 Grip (which goes with the 5D)

IMHO it's pretty sad that Canon can't control their information better.

probably more, too

Richard S · August 16, 2005

If the 50mm f/1.2 L is a "true" USM (unlike the 1.4 and 1.8) then I'll
probably have to break down and get myself one.

Andy · August 16, 2005

Richard S wrote:

If the 50mm f/1.2 L is a "true" USM (unlike the 1.4 and 1.8) then I'll
probably have to break down and get myself one.

the fifty 1.4 isn't usm?

i use one and love it. it's uber-fast on the focusing imo.

Richard S · August 16, 2005

The 50mm f/1.4 has "Micro USM" which is not as good as "Ring USM".

I assume the new lens will have Ring USM. I've been waiting for a
fast "normal" prime with Ring USM. Right now I use the 28mm f/1.8
on my 10D and it's "pretty good". A 50mm on a 5D would give me
the same coverage.

Take a look here:

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/lens-motors

The 50mm f/1.4 is an exception among all of Canon's lenses in that it
uses Micro USM but it's been modified in such a way that FTM
(full-time manual focusing) still works.

Back when I had a D30 I really struggled with the 50mm f/1.4 since it
seemed to hunt more than it should have. With the 10D it's nowhere
near as bad. But a 50mm f/1.2L with a Ring USM might just be too
sweet for me to pass up.

gluwater · August 16, 2005

Since the rumors are flying how about a Canon 75-300 f/4 USM? Has anyone else heard about it? I have no sites to back it up, I just thought I'd throw out the rumor I've heard and see if anyone else has heard it too.

Nick

mercphoto · August 18, 2005

andy wrote:

the fifty 1.4 isn't usm? i use one and love it. it's uber-fast on the focusing imo.

Mine is not. And likes to hunt in low light. Hmmm...

ziggy53 · August 19, 2005

Is this official?
Did anyone see this link posted on DPReview?

http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras_lenses_accessories/standard_zoom_lenses/ef24-105mm_f4l_usm.html

Richard · August 19, 2005

ziggy53 wrote:

Did anyone see this link posted on DPReview?

http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras_lenses_accessories/standard_zoom_lenses/ef24-105mm_f4l_usm.html

Well, that looks real to me.

Price????

ziggy53 · August 19, 2005

This page shows retail prices in Australian dollars.

http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras_lenses_accessories/standard_zoom_lenses.html

pathfinder · August 19, 2005

ziggy53 wrote:

This page shows retail prices in Australian dollars.

http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras_lenses_accessories/standard_zoom_lenses.html

About 80% of the price of a 24-70 f2.8 L Maybe?? That would be less than USD $1k

Looks like the walk around lens many of us have been hankering for. Does anyone have an expected availablity date? Fall sometime? Very intriguing.

Richard · August 19, 2005

pathfinder wrote:

About 80% of the price of a 24-70 f2.8 L Maybe?? That would be less than USD $1k

Looks like the walk around lens many of us have been hankering for. Does anyone have an expected availablity date? Fall sometime? Very intriguing.

The link that Ziggy53 provided shows 1999 Australian dollars, recommended retail price. That's about 1500 USD.

pathfinder · August 19, 2005

rsinmadrid wrote:

The link that Ziggy53 provided shows 1999 Australian dollars, recommended retail price. That's about 1500 USD.

That would be the rec'd list price. But the street price that B&H offers the 24-70 f2.8 L for is about $1200 USD ($1139.95 USD actually) - I figured 80% of that figure as the AU site listed the 24-70 L at AU$2500 and the 24-105 at AU $1999 or about 4/5ths.

Does that seem about right?

Be a sweet lens for that price. I might have to sell something else to buy it.

mercphoto · August 19, 2005

Does that seem about right? Be a sweet lens for that price. I might have to sell something else to buy it.

I was guessing a grand as well. Puts it at 2X the 28-135/IS. One stop faster, L-quality, presumably weather-sealed. Now I need to ask myself do I really want the 2.8L, or is 4 fast enough?

photobug · August 19, 2005

ziggy53 wrote:

This page shows retail prices in Australian dollars.
http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras_lenses_accessories/standard_zoom_lenses.html

I was about to post that, too, but Ziggy53 beat me to it :-). I was going to say that it looks like a US$1000 street-price lens, based on the Aussie price of the 24-105mm "L" being about double that of the 28-135mm. I won't hold my breath for any discounted prices on this baby for at least several months!

Here's a page with the technical specs for the 24-105:
http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras_lenses_accessories/standard_zoom_lenses/ef28_135mmf3556isusm_specs.html

The 24-105 "L" is just a little bigger than the 28-135 IS USM, in all measures:

Filter diameter: 77mm vs. 72mm
Outside diameter: 83.5mm vs. 78.4mm
Max length: 107mm vs. 96.8mm
Weight: 670 g vs. 540 g

I expect that this will be my first "L" glass. Just don't know if I'll get one early, or will have patience enough to wait until the price drops slightly!

Andy · August 19, 2005

pathfinder wrote:

Does anyone have an expected availablity date? Fall sometime?

Andy · August 19, 2005

Richard S wrote:

The 50mm f/1.4 has "Micro USM" which is not as good as "Ring USM".

I assume the new lens will have Ring USM. I've been waiting for a
fast "normal" prime with Ring USM. Right now I use the 28mm f/1.8
on my 10D and it's "pretty good". A 50mm on a 5D would give me
the same coverage.

Take a look here:

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/lens-motors

The 50mm f/1.4 is an exception among all of Canon's lenses in that it
uses Micro USM but it's been modified in such a way that FTM
(full-time manual focusing) still works.

Back when I had a D30 I really struggled with the 50mm f/1.4 since it
seemed to hunt more than it should have. With the 10D it's nowhere
near as bad. But a 50mm f/1.2L with a Ring USM might just be too
sweet for me to pass up.

if this is keeping you from using a 50 f/1.4 i must say, don't let it... i own thousands of dollars of glass - and my most used lens is the 50 f/1.4 the focusing is perfect for me, and i do lots of street work with it, need fast focusing..

cheers

photobug · August 20, 2005

Availability - October, perhaps

pathfinder wrote:

Does anyone have an expected availablity date? Fall sometime?

I seem to recall reading "October" somewhere ... but at this point, that's still a "rumor".

Richard S · August 20, 2005

> If this is keeping you from using a 50 f/1.4 i must say, don't let it...

Oh I'm not... I'm just saying a 50mm f1.2L with Ring USM is a lens I
would absolutely want to take out for a spin... That's all.

Also it appears that the Australian page for the 24-105 was taken
down. I feel bad for the employee of Canon in Sydney who had to come
in on their weekend just to do that.

photobug · August 22, 2005

24-105 f/4 "L" IS USM now officially announced
It's now officially announced.

Canon USA web page: http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=11924

Article: http://www.cameratown.com/news/news.cfm?id=1602

...But oddly, there is no mention of pricing or availability

.

Red Bull · August 22, 2005

I like the look of the lens. I have a feeling that it will be pretty expensive, though.

photobug · August 22, 2005

I like the look of the lens.

That lil' red stripe shur is purty, ain't it?

I have a feeling that it will be pretty expensive, though.

See earlier posts ... in Australia, its list price was right at 2x the list price of the 28-135 IS USM lens, so the best guesses making the rounds are that we'll see a USA list price in the $1200-$1300 range and a street price of $999 ... possibly edging down slightly after a few months before settling in at its final level.

photobug · August 24, 2005

More info re 24-105 f/4 "L" IS USM
Per Rob Gailbraith's site (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-7885-7974), here are more rumored details of the 24-105mm f/4 "L" IS USM lens:

"Chuck Westfall, Canon USA's Director of Media and Customer Relationship, says that based on a brief look at the EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM by Canon USA staff, he's expecting that it will be optically as good, if not better, than the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM." That would be high praise, as the 24-70 produces some impressive test results (ref: PopPhoto's SQF test on 24-70 "L"). If true, then my 28-135 is "history" and I'll probably have to sell myself into slavery so I can get this 24-105 "L" baby.
In the USA, the 24-105 is slated to ship later this month (which would mean August).
The MAP (minimum advertised price) in the USA will be $1249. I'd infer that $1249 will end up as the initial street price ... later, after there is plenty of supply, we might see somewhat better deals (but sellers won't be able to openly advertise those prices).

mercphoto · August 24, 2005

photobug wrote:

"Chuck Westfall, Canon USA's Director of Media and Customer Relationship, says that based on a brief look at the EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM by Canon USA staff, he's expecting that it will be optically as good, if not better, than the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM." That would be high praise, as the 24-70 produces some impressive test results (ref: PopPhoto's SQF test on 24-70 "L").

So I went to Canon's site and the two MTF charts look rather similar to my untrained eye. And they appear not-so-good at the edges. It is, however, a consideration of mine. Like you I have a 28-135, would like a better, faster lens. Just trying to decide if f/4 is fast enough, or if I want the f/2.8. Fast glass is an addiction.

luckyrwe · August 24, 2005

mercphoto wrote:

...Fast glass is an addiction.

Oh I can say it is. 35/1.4, 85/1.2, and a lead on a 200/1.8....

mercphoto · August 25, 2005

luckyrwe wrote:

Oh I can say it is. 35/1.4, 85/1.2, and a lead on a 200/1.8....

50/1.4. 70-200/2.8L/IS. And my latest: 300/2.8/IS. Man, this has gotta stop...

luckyrwe · August 25, 2005

mercphoto wrote:

50/1.4. 70-200/2.8L/IS. And my latest: 300/2.8/IS. Man, this has gotta stop...

I may trade my 70-200IS when I find something faster. And now the 5D, holy cow Canon!

photobug · August 25, 2005

MTF Charts; zoom range vs. changing lenses

So I went to Canon's site and the two MTF charts look rather similar to my untrained eye. And they appear not-so-good at the edges.

So, anyone have a URL handy that can educate me on how to read MTF charts? (ahh, Google just answered that question for me: article on MTF at Luminous Landscape)

Like you I have a 28-135, would like a better, faster lens. Just trying to decide if f/4 is fast enough, or if I want the f/2.8. Fast glass is an addiction.

I'd like faster, for sure. But even 105mm on the long end is getting a bit "short" for me, as I don't want to have to change lenses while in the middle of the action. (There have been times when the 28-135 didn't have as much range as I would have liked, esp on the long end) I'm especially hesistant to change lenses on a digital SLR, since it's a big opportunity to introduce dust to get lodged on the sensor.

Anyway, I need the range first (at least out to 105mm, so for example the f/2.8 24-70mm "L" isn't an option). After that I'll look for more speed. (of course, a tradeoff of more speed is also more weight). So the 24-105 "L" is the first "L" zoom that I can reasonably consider. [yes, there's the $2500 28-300 "L", but I said reasonably consider ;-) ... also, the 28-300 is a lot heavier -- fine for tripod work but not so practical for carry-around.]

New Canon 24-105 f/4 "L" IS USM lens (rumor)

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