Review: Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM

[Canon Rumors]

<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SUoP6yD3XHE" width="100%" height="390" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Kai at DigitalRev has completed his video review of the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L lens. You can put this in the rather large pile of “this lens is great” reviews.</p>
<p><em>** There is a slight bit of off color language in the review.</em></p>
<p>Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM $2999: <a href="http://adorama.evyy.net/c/60085/51926/1036?u=http://www.adorama.com/CA11244.html" target="_blank">Adorama</a> | <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1119028-REG/canon_9520b002_ef_11_24mm_f_4l_usm.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">B&H Photo</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T3ERXKE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00T3ERXKE&linkCode=as2&tag=canorumo-20&linkId=SKIW33AKPAGADHBN" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p>

 

[sanj]

I learnt a bit about carving.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

I learnt a bit about carving.

Digital Rev don't do reviews....just marketing videos to show you...hey we have them, this is what they look like and they are really nice....ooo....look....

 

[ahsanford]

I learnt a bit about carving.

Digital Rev don't do reviews....just marketing videos to show you...hey we have them, this is what they look like and they are really nice....ooo....look....

Once in a blue moon, Kai gives a s--- and does a nice job with his thoughts on a particular piece of gear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NB0yxXYj1Y
(start around 8:40 --> good stuff)

But for the most part, he's a joker.

I still love his stuff. At it's best a few years back -- with the triumvirate of Lok, Kai and Alamby -- DRTV was a photography web-series take on Top Gear and it was brilliant. It has lost its luster since they left that format, but I still love some of the videos.

- A

 

[Dylan777]

When it drops to $2500, I'll add one to my kit

 

[mackguyver]

Not a very good one by his standards and I'm not sure what the extended hair cut scene was all about... Fast forward to 10:56 if you want to skip the silly/stupid stuff.

 

[Eldar]

Having been rather grumpy lately, due to my disappointment over the 5DS, I finally caved in to my weak character today ... :

Ordered a 5DSR (too curious to see what it delivers I suppose), a 100-400 II (really don´t need it, but tempting from a size and weight perspective) and the 11-24 (too many good reviews to stay away) ...

I am way back in the waiting line for the camera, (probably wont have it until Christmas), but the lenses should be here shortly. Really looking forward to the 11-24 and wondering if the Zeiss 15mm, 8-15mm f4L and/or 16-35 f4L IS will become eBay candidates.

By the way, feel free to have a good laugh ...

 

[Dylan777]

Having been rather grumpy lately, due to my disappointment over the 5DS, I finally caved in to my weak character today ... :

Ordered a 5DSR (too curious to see what it delivers I suppose), a 100-400 II (really don´t need it, but tempting from a size and weight perspective) and the 11-24 (too many good reviews to stay away) ...

I am way back in the waiting line for the camera, (probably wont have it until Christmas), but the lenses should be here shortly. Really looking forward to the 11-24 and wondering if the Zeiss 15mm, 8-15mm f4L and/or 16-35 f4L IS will become eBay candidates.

Eldar,
The new 100-400 works really good on 1Dx. I would love to have your feedbacks on 7D II + 100-400 mrk II when you get a chance

Thanks in advance

 

[ahsanford]

Having been rather grumpy lately, due to my disappointment over the 5DS, I finally caved in to my weak character today ... :

Ordered a 5DSR (too curious to see what it delivers I suppose), a 100-400 II (really don´t need it, but tempting from a size and weight perspective) and the 11-24 (too many good reviews to stay away) ...

I am way back in the waiting line for the camera, (probably wont have it until Christmas), but the lenses should be here shortly. Really looking forward to the 11-24 and wondering if the Zeiss 15mm, 8-15mm f4L and/or 16-35 f4L IS will become eBay candidates.

By the way, feel free to have a good laugh ...

Eldar, when you have a grumpy day, the GDP of Japan goes up 1%. Wow. For that same money, you could have had a bonfire with nine thousand single dollar bills.

Unless you really love ultra-ultra-wide apertures, pitching the 16-35 f/4L IS for the Eye of Sauron would be foolish, IMHO. You will miss it's light weight, IS, complete weather-sealability (the 11-24 can't be front sealed!), and it's ability to be front-filtered.

I don't remotely see those two lenses competing with each other. One is for architecture (interiors), perfectly evenly-lit scenes in landscape work (suuuuuper common, I'm told ) and wide-angle parlour tricks. The other does, well, everything.

The 11-24 is stellar, don't get me wrong -- but it's not stellar for me, for what I shoot, all things considered, etc. You, on the other hand, may absolutely love it. I hope you do!

- A

 

[Eldar]

ahsanford, none of the lenses will be sold to begin with. But I will assess which one I´ll keep after a while. You´re right about the 16-35. It fills a different need. Weather-sealed, IS, filters and weight are strong arguments, on top of phenomenal optical performance.

The 8-15mm is a lens I´m having fun with every now and then, but it seldom leaves the shelf and it´s even more seldom I have it on a camera. But it is a fisheye and it is different.

The Zeiss 15mm is an absolute gorgeous lens and I have the (huge) CPL filter for it, which makes a great combo, so it is very difficult to see how I could part with that. Who knows, maybe it will be the 11-24 that comes in and leaves again ... time will show I suppose.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

Strangely, this lens has me desiring a good copy Siggi 12-24 again.
I knew I was making a mistake when I sold that sweet heart....

12mm full frame...been doing 12mm landscapes for a long time

 

[markhbfindlay]

I always love to watch this guy (the one where he destroys a 7d is a hoot). OK I know he's actually selling these things but one day I could still be convinced to spend 3000 quid on one of these. It's great to see his shots of HK as well. I'm not sure that I will ever get there but he's doing a great job on selling the place along with the lens.

What really gets me is the way in which he carries his kit around... he never seems to need a strap; just hand hold a £2k 5d3 with this £3k beast, wander round some crowded town centre, balance it on a hydrant, (ok he obviously has assistents, but it just takes some scally to run up and grab it).

He really should buy one of those mah jong kits, the way he shoves that big camera in that guy's face, it's a wonder that he doesn't get it shoved down his throat. And then he sits there with it while he gets his hair cut? No way! This guy has serious chutzpah.

Back to the kit; yes I might get one but can I justify a 5Ds? Well I have an A2 printer and it's sharp even with my little Oly OM10. So I could not really justify lashing out on one of those as well. But the old GAS might get me in the end. Have to be next year, perhaps a retirement present to myself...

 

[ahsanford]

ahsanford, none of the lenses will be sold to begin with. But I will assess which one I´ll keep after a while. You´re right about the 16-35. It fills a different need. Weather-sealed, IS, filters and weight are strong arguments, on top of phenomenal optical performance.

The 8-15mm is a lens I´m having fun with every now and then, but it seldom leaves the shelf and it´s even more seldom I have it on a camera. But it is a fisheye and it is different.

The Zeiss 15mm is an absolute gorgeous lens and I have the (huge) CPL filter for it, which makes a great combo, so it is very difficult to see how I could part with that. Who knows, maybe it will be the 11-24 that comes in and leaves again ... time will show I suppose.

Fair. Totally fair.

Please forgive my judgery, but #team1635f/4LIS 8)

- A

 

[mackguyver]

Having been rather grumpy lately, due to my disappointment over the 5DS, I finally caved in to my weak character today ... :

Ordered a 5DSR (too curious to see what it delivers I suppose), a 100-400 II (really don´t need it, but tempting from a size and weight perspective) and the 11-24 (too many good reviews to stay away) ...

I am way back in the waiting line for the camera, (probably wont have it until Christmas), but the lenses should be here shortly. Really looking forward to the 11-24 and wondering if the Zeiss 15mm, 8-15mm f4L and/or 16-35 f4L IS will become eBay candidates.

By the way, feel free to have a good laugh ...

No laughing (well, maybe a little...) but congrats on the purchases - I can vouch for the 11-24 - it's one of Canon's best and I'll be curious to read about how it compares to the Zeiss 15mm. I sold my 16-35 f4 IS as I'm not much of a filter guy and the 24-70 f/2.8 II picks up where this lens leaves off - so I imagine my 16-35 would have just collected dust. Then again, I've shot so little this year, the same could be said for most of my gear

Strangely, this lens has me desiring a good copy Siggi 12-24 again.
I knew I was making a mistake when I sold that sweet heart....

12mm full frame...been doing 12mm landscapes for a long time

I had one, too, and missed it so much I was just about to order another - but the rumors of this were too much to ignore - and $3k later, I'm not at 11mm... It's just like the Sigma, just 1mm wider, a lot sharper, heavier, bigger, and more expensive... I don't think it's $2k better than the Sigma 12-24 II for casual users wanting to go really wide, but like most fine things, it costs A LOT more to get ever smaller improvements.

 

[ahsanford]

I always love to watch this guy (the one where he destroys a 7d is a hoot). OK I know he's actually selling these things but one day I could still be convinced to spend 3000 quid on one of these. It's great to see his shots of HK as well. I'm not sure that I will ever get there but he's doing a great job on selling the place along with the lens.

Technically, no. It's a little like the Camera Store TV gang in that they are paid by a store that sells gear (in Kai's case, DigitalRev has a storefront), but he is not compelled to say nice things. He has no hesitation to crap all over poor products, overpriced products, etc.

- A

 

[charlesa]

My resistance to temptation is waning. Sold off my 8-15 fisheye in anticipation actually, and considering selling of the 85 mm to reinvest in 11-24.

 

[JonAustin]

My resistance to temptation is waning. Sold off my 8-15 fisheye in anticipation actually, and considering selling of the 85 mm to reinvest in 11-24.

There's a certainly luxury to being able to read about quality gear that doesn't tempt you. The 11-24, while obviously outstanding, doesn't beckon me in the least. In fact, I was out shooting with my relatively new 16-35/4 the other day, and was again surprised by how wide it is. (Certainly, 11-24 users & "wanters" will beg to disagree.)

It's a lot like the 200-400 in that regard. While I can fully appreciate its high quality and versatility, I'm completely content with my 100-400 II.

It all comes down to what you want versus what you need, I suppose.

 

[msm]

Have tested this lens for a few days now and love it. Now I only need to learn the self discipline to stop using it as a 11mm prime seeking out motives that are suited for that FL ignoring everything else

 

[mackguyver]

In fact, I was out shooting with my relatively new 16-35/4 the other day, and was again surprised by how wide it is. (Certainly, 11-24 users & "wanters" will beg to disagree.)

No disagreement there. 16mm is plenty wide for just about any shot. Anything wider is really only for specialist uses, though the same could be said of most shots wider than 24mm...

 

[SwnSng]

I pre-ordered one this morning. I sold my Nikon 14-24mm for $1400 and used the proceeds to pay almost half of this baby. I will now have to get a Rokinon 14mm 2.8 for Astro work - kicking myself for not getting it for $269 a few weeks back.