Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM: The Ultimate Hybrid Lens?

September 20, 2025 by Paula

Table of Contents

Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM: A Comprehensive Review for Hybrid Shooters

The Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens has generated significant buzz in the photography and videography communities. It promises to be a game-changer for hybrid shooters – those who demand excellence in both stills and video. This comprehensive guide dives deep into every aspect of this lens, providing an expert perspective to help you determine if it’s the right tool for your creative needs. We’ll explore its features, performance, advantages, disadvantages, and how it stacks up against the competition.

This isn’t just another spec sheet regurgitation. We’re providing a detailed analysis based on expert consensus and industry insights. We aim to give you the information you need to make an informed decision. Whether you’re a professional photographer, a serious enthusiast, or a videographer looking for the perfect all-in-one lens, this review will provide valuable insights.

Understanding the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM: A Deep Dive

The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 is more than just a standard zoom lens; it represents a significant step forward in lens design. It bridges the gap between traditional zoom lenses and faster, more specialized prime lenses. Its constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range is a key differentiator, allowing for consistent low-light performance and shallow depth of field control, benefits typically associated with prime lenses.

This lens belongs to Canon’s prestigious ‘L’ series, signifying professional-grade build quality, advanced optics, and exceptional performance. Its optical design incorporates advanced elements to minimize aberrations, distortions, and flare, ensuring sharp, clear images across the entire frame. The image stabilization system further enhances its versatility, allowing for sharp handheld shooting even in challenging lighting conditions.

The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 is designed for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless RF mount, taking full advantage of the mount’s communication capabilities. This enables faster autofocus, improved image stabilization, and access to advanced features like focus breathing correction. Its robust construction and weather sealing make it a reliable tool for demanding professional use.

Key Concepts & Underlying Principles

The core concept behind the canon rf 24 105 f2 8 is to offer a versatile, high-performance zoom lens that rivals the image quality and low-light capabilities of prime lenses. This is achieved through a combination of advanced optical design, a constant f/2.8 aperture, and sophisticated image stabilization.

A constant aperture is crucial because it maintains the same maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range. This means you don’t lose light as you zoom in, which is essential for consistent exposure and shallow depth of field. The f/2.8 aperture allows for pleasing bokeh (background blur) and excellent low-light performance, enabling you to shoot in a wider range of conditions without compromising image quality.

The lens’s optical design incorporates elements like aspherical lenses and ultra-low dispersion (UD) glass to minimize aberrations and distortions. These elements work together to ensure sharp, clear images with accurate color reproduction. The image stabilization system compensates for camera shake, allowing for sharper handheld images and smoother video footage.

Why the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Matters Today

In today’s hybrid photography and videography landscape, the canon rf 24 105 f2 8 addresses a critical need for a versatile, high-performance lens that excels in both stills and video. The demand for high-quality content is constantly increasing, and creators need tools that can keep up with the pace. This lens offers a compelling solution for those who want the flexibility of a zoom lens with the image quality and low-light capabilities of a prime lens.

Recent trends in the photography industry highlight the growing importance of mirrorless systems and the increasing demand for high-quality zoom lenses. The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 is perfectly positioned to capitalize on these trends, offering a compelling upgrade for photographers and videographers looking to maximize the potential of their Canon RF mount cameras.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art: A Leading Alternative

While the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM is an excellent lens, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is a compelling alternative worth considering, especially in terms of value. This lens is designed for mirrorless systems and delivers exceptional image quality at a competitive price point.

The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is a standard zoom lens that offers a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. It’s known for its sharpness, clarity, and excellent build quality. It’s a popular choice for photographers and videographers who need a versatile lens for a wide range of shooting situations.

Detailed Features Analysis of the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Let’s break down the key features of the canon rf 24 105 f2 8 and understand how they contribute to its overall performance:

Constant f/2.8 Aperture: This is arguably the most significant feature of this lens. It maintains a wide f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire 24-105mm zoom range. This allows for consistent low-light performance, shallow depth of field control, and pleasing bokeh. The user benefits from being able to shoot in a wider range of conditions without sacrificing image quality.
Advanced Optical Design: The lens incorporates advanced optical elements, including aspherical lenses and UD glass, to minimize aberrations, distortions, and flare. This ensures sharp, clear images with accurate color reproduction. The technical insight here is that these elements bend light in a precise way, correcting for imperfections that can degrade image quality.
Image Stabilization (IS): The built-in image stabilization system compensates for camera shake, allowing for sharper handheld images and smoother video footage. This is particularly useful in low-light conditions or when shooting at longer focal lengths. The system allows for up to 5.5 stops of shake correction, providing a significant advantage in challenging shooting situations.
Dual Nano USM Autofocus System: The lens features a dual Nano USM autofocus system, which provides fast, accurate, and silent autofocus performance. This is essential for both stills and video, ensuring that subjects are always in sharp focus. The dual motor design allows for independent control of the focusing elements, resulting in faster and more precise autofocus.
L-Series Build Quality: As an L-series lens, the canon rf 24 105 f2 8 boasts exceptional build quality and weather sealing. This makes it a reliable tool for demanding professional use, capable of withstanding harsh conditions. The lens is constructed from high-quality materials and features a robust design that can withstand the rigors of professional use.
RF Mount Communication: The lens takes full advantage of the Canon RF mount’s communication capabilities, enabling faster autofocus, improved image stabilization, and access to advanced features like focus breathing correction. This allows for seamless integration with Canon RF mount cameras and enhances overall performance.
Customizable Control Ring: The lens features a customizable control ring that can be assigned to various functions, such as aperture control, ISO adjustment, or exposure compensation. This allows for quick and intuitive adjustments, enhancing the user’s shooting experience.

Advantages, Benefits, and Real-World Value

The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 offers a multitude of advantages and benefits that translate into real-world value for photographers and videographers:

Versatility: The 24-105mm zoom range provides excellent versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of shooting situations, from landscapes and portraits to events and travel photography. It eliminates the need to carry multiple lenses, simplifying your gear and streamlining your workflow.
Low-Light Performance: The constant f/2.8 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance, enabling you to shoot in challenging lighting conditions without sacrificing image quality. This is particularly beneficial for indoor photography, nighttime shooting, and situations where you need to maintain a fast shutter speed.
Shallow Depth of Field: The wide f/2.8 aperture also allows for shallow depth of field, creating pleasing bokeh and isolating subjects from the background. This is ideal for portrait photography, product photography, and any situation where you want to emphasize the subject and create a visually appealing image.
Exceptional Image Quality: The advanced optical design ensures sharp, clear images with accurate color reproduction. This results in high-quality photos and videos that are suitable for professional use.
Reliability: The L-series build quality and weather sealing make it a reliable tool for demanding professional use. You can confidently use this lens in a variety of conditions without worrying about damage or performance issues.
Enhanced Workflow: The fast and accurate autofocus system and customizable control ring streamline your workflow, allowing you to focus on capturing the perfect shot. This results in increased efficiency and improved overall shooting experience.
Professional Results: The combination of all these features delivers professional-quality results, making it an excellent investment for serious photographers and videographers. Whether you’re shooting stills or video, this lens will help you create stunning content that meets the highest standards.

Users consistently report that the canon rf 24 105 f2 8 has significantly improved their image quality and shooting experience. Our analysis reveals that this lens offers a compelling combination of versatility, performance, and reliability, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of users.

Comprehensive & Trustworthy Review

The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 is, without a doubt, a phenomenal lens. It’s a worthy addition to Canon’s RF lineup, designed for professionals and serious enthusiasts who demand the best possible image quality and performance. However, as with any product, it’s essential to consider its strengths and weaknesses before making a purchase.

User Experience & Usability

From our experience, the lens feels incredibly well-balanced on a Canon RF mount camera. The zoom and focus rings are smooth and precise, allowing for fine-tuned adjustments. The customizable control ring is a welcome addition, allowing you to quickly access essential settings without taking your eye off the subject. The overall ergonomics are excellent, making it comfortable to use for extended periods.

Performance & Effectiveness

The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 delivers outstanding performance across the board. The autofocus is lightning-fast and accurate, even in challenging lighting conditions. The image stabilization system is highly effective, allowing for sharp handheld images at slower shutter speeds. The lens produces incredibly sharp and detailed images with excellent color reproduction.

Pros

Exceptional Image Quality: The lens delivers incredibly sharp and detailed images with excellent color reproduction.
Constant f/2.8 Aperture: The wide f/2.8 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field control.
Fast and Accurate Autofocus: The dual Nano USM autofocus system provides fast, accurate, and silent autofocus performance.
Effective Image Stabilization: The built-in image stabilization system allows for sharper handheld images and smoother video footage.
L-Series Build Quality: The lens boasts exceptional build quality and weather sealing, making it a reliable tool for demanding professional use.

Cons/Limitations

Price: The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 is a premium lens with a premium price tag, which may be a barrier for some users.
Size and Weight: The lens is relatively large and heavy, which may not be ideal for travel or extended shooting sessions.
No Built-in Tripod Collar: Given the size and weight, the lack of a built-in tripod collar is a notable omission.
Zoom Creep: While minimal, some users have reported slight zoom creep when the lens is pointed downwards.

Ideal User Profile

This lens is best suited for professional photographers and videographers who demand the highest possible image quality and performance. It’s also an excellent choice for serious enthusiasts who are willing to invest in a premium lens. It’s particularly well-suited for hybrid shooters who need a versatile lens for both stills and video.

Key Alternatives

The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art, as previously mentioned, is a strong contender, offering excellent image quality at a more affordable price. The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is another alternative, providing a similar zoom range with a slightly smaller form factor, but potentially sacrificing some low-light performance compared to the 24-105mm.

Expert Overall Verdict & Recommendation

The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 is an exceptional lens that delivers outstanding performance across the board. Its combination of versatility, image quality, and build quality makes it an excellent choice for professional photographers and videographers. While the price may be a barrier for some, the benefits it offers justify the investment for those who demand the best. We highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for a top-of-the-line standard zoom lens for their Canon RF mount camera.

Insightful Q&A Section

Q: How does the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM compare to the RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM in terms of image quality?
A: While both lenses offer excellent image quality, the RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM generally provides slightly better sharpness and clarity, especially at the longer end of the zoom range. However, the difference is often subtle and may not be noticeable in all situations.
Q: Is the constant f/2.8 aperture worth the extra cost and weight compared to variable aperture zoom lenses?
A: For professional photographers and videographers, the constant f/2.8 aperture is definitely worth the investment. It provides consistent low-light performance, shallow depth of field control, and pleasing bokeh, which are essential for creating high-quality images and videos. The extra weight and cost are a trade-off for these benefits.
Q: Can the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM be used with Canon’s APS-C mirrorless cameras?
A: Yes, the lens can be used with Canon’s APS-C mirrorless cameras, but the effective focal length will be 38.4-168mm due to the crop factor. While it will still function, the wider end of the zoom range will be less useful for wide-angle shots.
Q: How effective is the image stabilization system in the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM for video recording?
A: The image stabilization system is highly effective for video recording, providing smooth and stable footage even when shooting handheld. It significantly reduces camera shake, resulting in more professional-looking videos.
Q: What are the best accessories to pair with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM?
A: A high-quality UV filter to protect the front element, a lens hood to reduce flare, and a sturdy tripod are all excellent accessories to pair with this lens. A dedicated lens case or bag is also recommended for safe storage and transportation.
Q: Does the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM exhibit focus breathing?
A: Yes, the lens does exhibit some focus breathing, but Canon has implemented focus breathing correction in compatible cameras to minimize this effect. Focus breathing is the change in focal length as the focus distance changes.
Q: Is the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM suitable for astrophotography?
A: While not specifically designed for astrophotography, the lens can be used for capturing wide-field images of the night sky. The f/2.8 aperture allows for capturing more light, but a dedicated wide-angle lens with a faster aperture may be more suitable for serious astrophotography.
Q: How does the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM perform with teleconverters?
A: The Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM is compatible with Canon’s RF teleconverters, which can extend the focal length. However, using a teleconverter will reduce the maximum aperture and may slightly degrade image quality.
Q: What is the minimum focus distance of the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM?
A: The minimum focus distance of the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM is 0.45 meters (1.48 feet), allowing for close-up shots with pleasing bokeh.
Q: How does the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM compare to prime lenses in terms of sharpness?
A: While prime lenses generally offer slightly better sharpness than zoom lenses, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM is exceptionally sharp for a zoom lens. In many situations, the difference in sharpness may be negligible, and the versatility of the zoom lens outweighs the slight advantage of a prime lens.

Conclusion & Strategic Call to Action

In conclusion, the canon rf 24 105 f2 8 stands as a testament to Canon’s commitment to innovation and excellence. It offers a unique blend of versatility, performance, and reliability, making it an indispensable tool for professional photographers and videographers. Its constant f/2.8 aperture, advanced optical design, and robust build quality ensure exceptional image quality and consistent performance in a wide range of shooting situations.

This lens represents a significant investment, but one that will undoubtedly pay off for those who demand the best. It’s a versatile workhorse that can handle a wide range of tasks, from capturing stunning landscapes to shooting professional-quality videos. The canon rf 24 105 f2 8 is a lens that will inspire you to push your creative boundaries and achieve your artistic vision.

Now that you’ve explored the depths of the canon rf 24 105 f2 8, share your experiences or ask any remaining questions in the comments below. We encourage you to explore other lenses in the Canon RF lineup to find the perfect tools for your creative journey. Contact our experts for a personalized consultation on how the canon rf 24 105 f2 8 can elevate your photography and videography.