Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

[leo-Jan]

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a real walk-around general purpose zoom. Not to big, not to heavy, IS, very nice reach and good IQ. I like it more than the 24-70 F2.8L, witch is big and no IS. I bought this zoom when it came out ans still you it with lots of pleasure. Second hand you can buy it real cheap.

I do think the lens has an construction failure. My lens creaps like crazy and I have heard that of many owners. A transport lock is missing. That spoils a lot, because the zoom shines like an walk-around. I put a strong elastic string around the zoom ring.

If I chose to go with one lens I take a nice prime or the 24-105mm f/4L.

 

[c.hammett]

leo-Jan wrote:

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a real walk-around general purpose zoom. Not to big, not to heavy, IS, very nice reach and good IQ. I like it more than the 24-70 F2.8L, witch is big and no IS. I bought this zoom when it came out ans still you it with lots of pleasure. Second hand you can buy it real cheap.

I do think the lens has an construction failure. My lens creaps like crazy and I have heard that of many owners. A transport lock is missing. That spoils a lot, because the zoom shines like an walk-around. I put a strong elastic string around the zoom ring.

If I chose to go with one lens I take a nice prime or the 24-105mm f/4L.

I've had my 24-105 for several years, and a number of trips abroad, and until recent joint replacement in both wrists, it has been my all time favorite travel lens. Mine has no lens creep at all, and it has been my only travel lens, as I only go with ONE lens, and since acquiring it, this has been the "one".

I will say that because my xxD or 7D with the 24-105 are heavy (for ME), I quite often keep my right hand under the lens to lighten the load when the camera hangs from my shoulder, and that may have kept mine from the "dreaded creep".

carolyn

 

[HarryLally]

I wonder how old the OP's lens is. I am new to the 24-105L and I took it as my only lens on my recent long trip to OZ and NZ in place of the 17-40 f4L + 70-200 f4L which had been my previous travel combination. Got the new lens in March. It has rock solid build with no sign of creep. Sorry not to have got it sooner - such a versatile lens.

Nice to have you back on these forums (fora?...I know you're a latin scholar). Sorry to hear about your problem wrists. Hope we see more of your shots soon.

Michael

 

[carnac]

Mine almost new and it has zoom creep since new. Not a big deal. I did get some rubber bands from B&H that are made to go around the zoom ring that you can move half over the body when not using that stops the zoom creep. I bit of a bother. I will try them for a while and see if I continue using them or just live with the creep.

Called "LENSBand" ---

Lensband

Otherwise a great lens.

 

[GordonAtWork]

Lensband, $4.99. I think I'll get a thick rubber band from work = $0.00

Yet another product for the opening branch of

"I Saw You Coming"

--
Moderator wannabe !

 

[Graham Meale]

Mine creeps, but I haven't lost any sleep over it.

 

[wazu]

No creep on my 4 year old 24-105 but I know that lens creep is a pain from my 70-300 DO. It thankfully has a lens lock so I've gotten used to locking and releasing pretty smoothly.

Just bought the 24-70 II and notice it has a lens lock on it. I really hope it doesn't develop lens creep since it would appear Canon will not replace or fix it for that reason.

Anybody have the 24-70 II with lens creep?

 

[carnac]

Well it works for me. Right size, colors available, and don't have to steal.

 

[Gearóid Ó Laoi Garry Lee]

--maybe I should change it
Níor bhris focal maith fiacail riamh (Irish Gaelic)
A good word never broke a tooth.

 

[dgovoni]

I just had mine in for repair after nearly 8 years of use. The zoom creeped on mine and the diagnosis was that the mechanism was worn out (which I believe). never heard of a missing part issue.

I had to have a couple of other things done to it and even though I'm a gold CPS member, it cost a bit over $300.00 US.

--dennis

 

[qianp2k]

My copy never creeps. However it did generate 'err01' little after 5-year's usage which is a common issue due to design flaw (the connection cable inside is too tight so eventually it wore out and broken). It costs me about $200 to get fixed after CPS membership fee.

Otherwise 24-105L still generates very nice IQ, sharp with nice colors and contrast.

 

[keihal]

I've had one of these lenses since April 2011 and use it all the time (for moderate amateur use). I bought it s/h but it was in mint condition and apparently not had much use. The results are superb and I'm delighted with its performance (and of the 7D that I use it with) but I was rather disappointed when the aperture mechanism failed earlier this year. It was necessary to replace the whole aperture unit, which, with service and recalibration cost me £178. The comment by the repairer was that these parts wear out and do eventually need replacing. Whilst I appreciate that modern DSLR lenses are complex, I feel that in this case, 'eventually' came a little too soon - in 30 years using a variety of Olympus OM lenses I only had to have one repair.

One reason for buying this lens was a distrust of my Canon 17 - 85 lens, as these are said to be prone to ribbon cable failures. I am pretty sure that this was what actually failed in the 24 - 105. Given that there are presumably three ribbon cables, for focus, aperture and IS, I now wonder how soon I will have another problem with this lens. Others have commented on lens creep - my lens always creeps when the camera is pointing down so this in itself probably doubles the wear and tear on the ribbon cables.

At least I was able to revert to the 17 - 85 while the 24-105 was repaired!

Has anyone else got an opinion on the reliabilty of the 24-105mm lens?

 

[arty H]

I have the 24-105L lens and it works fine on my crop bodies. I suspect that with heavy use, any of these AF lenses will have problems. My most used lens was the 35F2 (older version) and I had to replace the aperture blades as well. The cost was lower, but I suspect that fragility is there with many of the new lenses. They are complicated blends of electronics and mechanical devices, with too much plastic.

I like the optics of the 24-105L, but wish that it were smaller and lighter. It gets less use than it might for this reason.

 

[HarryLally]

arty H wrote:

I like the optics of the 24-105L, but wish that it were smaller and lighter. It gets less use than it might for this reason.

Completely agree. Don't understand why Canon build these lenses in magnesium alloy, We don't all use our lenses in war zones. That said, I find the combined weight of the 6D and 24-105 just about acceptable... but I wish it were lighter. Lovely versatile lens.

Michael

 

[jk4]

I have had this lens since 2006 and in the 2nd year, the lens barel began to creep whenheld lens down. I read all the threads on this lens and mostly the opinion was that 'lens creep' is normal.

Recently I decided to have all my L lens factory serviced and calibrated.

When I sent my 24-105 in for service, this is what I gaot for a 'service detail' - it was found that the lens assembly had 'deteriorated' and was replaced (at a cost to me) Further, it was found that the zoom assembly 'was not properly connected and the lens will not retract' (what does this mean?) The zoom assembly was reworked and now functions as it should.

The 'repair' cost me around $190, but now the lens works as it should have the day I bought it and now is measurably sharper all through 24-105mm. The lens creep is GONE.

In other words, the lens was not assembled correctly from the factory on day 1.

jk4