EF 11-24mm f/4L: Our First Impressions

[Canon Rumors]

I’ve been in Scotland for the last 10 days or so and doing a lot of shooting with Canon’s brand new EF 11-24mm f/4L. The main purpose of the trip was for landscape photography, which I figured was a good place to start for our review.</p>
<p>There are a lot of things that make the EF 11-24mm f/4L a challenging lens to use for landscape. First and foremost is not being able to use filters. A lot of the time, especially scenes with wet rocks and water, a polarizer is sorely missed. In Scotland, with the ever changing skies and varied foregrounds, the inability to use graduated neutral density filters is also difficult. A lot of people are fine to do exposure blending, which is not something I’m all that keen on. I prefer one frame for exposure. Currently there is no filter holder available for this lens, but hopefully the folks at Lee Filters are working on a solution for grads and stoppers.</p>
<p><!--more--></p>
<p>11mm is wide, and in a lot of cases too wide for landscape photography if you don’t have a bold object in the foreground. You really do get the whole world in the frame, and the difference between 11mm and 15mm is quite substantial, as that is what I’m used to shooting at with the Zeiss 15mm f/2.8.</p>
<p>The build quality and optics are top notch, everyone that has used this lens says the same thing. I have found the distortion to be very well controlled and I haven’t done any correction in post. There’s currently no profile for the lens in Lightroom, but I haven’t felt I needed one either.</p>
<p>I return home this week, so I’ll be going through all the images captured with the lens and we’ll get a review up soon after.</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>

 

[mackguyver]

Thank you for sharing your impressions and I really like that photo! The light is great and the soft colors and leading lines work very well. I look forward to seeing more of your work when you return.

 

[sanj]

Larger photo please!

 

[leGreve]

Or you could do what the people who shoot 25 fps are doing.... add a mattebox and filter holder. Problem solved.

 

[The Flasher]

Mine arrived this past Friday and timely so, as I had the opportunity to use it on a paid architectural gig right away. In short (and wide harhar) amazing piece of glass, worth every penny if you're shooting architecture. The 17tse/4 and 24tse still have their place and are crucial if you need to shoot up and shift. For straight and level, such as interiors, this thing is a beast. I'm on a job right now but I'll post a couple frames this aft if interested.

 

[keithcooper]

Big filters

I spoke to a few filter makers at the Photography Show in the UK last week - several said that they have a solution for the 11-24 on its way.

As someone who doesn't currently use filters on wide lenses I'm keen to see what they can come up with.

However, I'm still minded to wonder about the overall usefulness of a polariser at 11mm, given the change in polarisation in the sky at such wide angles?

 

[Canon Rumors]

Re: Big filters

I spoke to a few filter makers at the Photography Show in the UK last week - several said that they have a solution for the 11-24 on its way.

As someone who doesn't currently use filters on wide lenses I'm keen to see what they can come up with.

However, I'm still minded to wonder about the overall usefulness of a polariser at 11mm, given the change in polarisation in the sky at such wide angles?

I'd never polarize the sky that wide, it wouldn't work well. Water scenes, wet foliage and rocks, it would be worthwhile. It has been with the Zeiss 15 anyway.

 

[privatebydesign]

Re: Big filters

I spoke to a few filter makers at the Photography Show in the UK last week - several said that they have a solution for the 11-24 on its way.

As someone who doesn't currently use filters on wide lenses I'm keen to see what they can come up with.

However, I'm still minded to wonder about the overall usefulness of a polariser at 11mm, given the change in polarisation in the sky at such wide angles?

I use the Fotodiox Wonderpana system on the 17TS-E and emailed them a while ago to see if they were going to make an adapter for the 11-24, they are and the solution should be available soon.

As for usefulness of a PL on these very wide lenses, I use them for controlling reflections in granite counter tops, hardwood and tiled floors and swimming pools, but then I am not a landscape shooter!

 

[jeffa4444]

Lee Filters is testing a prototype adaptor ring to be used in the newer SW150II which will employ a light baffle (backward compatable with earlier SW150 holders) and be able to use the full range of Lee Filters including polarizers, Big & Little stoppers.
If testing goes to plan will be on-sale sometime in late May.

 

[ahsanford]

Re: Big filters

I spoke to a few filter makers at the Photography Show in the UK last week - several said that they have a solution for the 11-24 on its way.

As someone who doesn't currently use filters on wide lenses I'm keen to see what they can come up with.

However, I'm still minded to wonder about the overall usefulness of a polariser at 11mm, given the change in polarisation in the sky at such wide angles?

You are dead on -- at 11mm, it would be a hot mess for the sky. FOV-related vignetting from polarizing the sky on UWA is a really tough fix in post (at least in my amateur hands). I generally avoid using a polarizer *for sky* reasons on lenses shorter than 35mm or so.

I believe the bigger CPL need with those asking for it here it to tame water reflections more than sky. It comes up often for your classic 'wet rock or tide pool in the foreground' of a beach landscape, as well as pools/streams at the bottom of waterfall shots.

- A

 

[ahsanford]

Thanks for the info. I continue to groan -- feeling your pain -- at the lack of front filtering.

Consider:

• The rear gel slot option for an ND is a non-starter for me. In many conditions in the field, changing out your lens to get in there is absolutely not warranted.
  
  
• Let's say they *do* end up making an outrigger setup for the 11-24 (one has to presume it's in the works) -- 4x6/4x4 filters won't even come close to covering the frame, and I'm not convinced the SW150 system will cover it as it was designed for a 14mm wider end, right? So even if a system comes forward to hold filters, be prepared to:
  
  • Possibly not be able to filter the widest end of the 11-24
    
    
  • Possibly be in rarefied air of an altogether new/exotic/enormous/expensive filter ecosystem with limited options. Think Wonderpana or possibly even bigger!
    
    
  • Need a filter bag the size of a large briefcase. Think x-ray film bag big. :
    
    

I can't help but see the 11-24 as a specialist architecture lens and not a landscape lens for those very reasons.

The 16-35 f/4L IS, in comparison, completely dominates the 11-24 for my needs as the front-filtering gives me access to the large and varied ecosystem of 4x4 / 4x6 filters. Immediately after IQ and focal length, I peg front filterability as the third biggest consideration in a landscape lens. (That said, that's not what all people are going to use it for.)

But for those who have the 11-24, I'm sure it's a wonderful optic that is blast to shoot with. Please take some awesome shots and share!

- A

 

[jeffa4444]

Even on on EF17-40mm f4L ive had posterisation from a polarising filter. However polarising filters have their uses for foliage & water and in combination with an 81A give enhanced autumn / fall colours.

I guess there being asked for them so they are obliging.

 

[ahsanford]

Also, for those waiting for the Lee SW150 update, there is news on that front in just this past week:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/6798841724/lee-filters-introduces-updates-to-super-wide-sw-system-to-fit-more-lenses-and-to-cut-down-on-flare

Keep in mind that the expansion of lenses doesn't include the 11-24 (though more lens are promised down the road).

But also keep in mind that glaciers move more quickly than Lee Filters does. It could be a very long time before they get to the 11-24.

- A

 

[jeffa4444]

Thanks for the info. I continue to groan -- feeling your pain -- at the lack of front filtering.

Consider:

• The rear gel slot option for an ND is a non-starter for me. In many conditions in the field, changing out your lens to get in there is absolutely not warranted.
  
  
• Let's say they *do* end up making an outrigger setup for the 11-24 (one has to presume it's in the works) -- 4x6/4x4 filters won't even come close to covering the frame, and I'm not convinced the SW150 system will cover it as it was designed for a 14mm wider end, right? So even if a system comes forward to hold filters, be prepared to:
  
  • Possibly not be able to filter the widest end of the 11-24
    
    
  • Possibly be in rarefied air of an altogether new/exotic/enormous/expensive filter ecosystem with limited options. Think Wonderpana or possibly even bigger!
    
    
  • Need a filter bag the size of a large briefcase. Think x-ray film bag big. :
    
    

I can't help but see the 11-24 as a specialist architecture lens and not a landscape lens for those very reasons.

The 16-35 f/4L IS, in comparison, completely dominates the 11-24 for my needs as the front-filtering gives me access to the large and varied ecosystem of 4x4 / 4x6 filters. Immediately after IQ and focal length, I peg front filterability as the third biggest consideration in a landscape lens. (That said, that's not what all people are going to use it for.)

But for those who have the 11-24, I'm sure it's a wonderful optic that is blast to shoot with. Please take some awesome shots and share!

- A

Lee showed a Sigma 12-24 at the Photography Show with the newer SW150II

 

[ahsanford]

Lee showed a Sigma 12-24 at the Photography Show with the newer SW150II

Yep. Just linked the DP Review story about it.

'Fits on the Sigma 12-24' may be a very different animal than 'filters FOV as wide as 12mm'.

The devil's in the details, but my guess would be the SW150 was designed with a very small safety buffer and tolerance consideration to make sure Nikon 14-24 users never ding their front elements and such. That is probably the limited amount of Leeway (<--- see what I did there? 8)) the system has to get wider.

My guess is the Lee SW150 won't be able cover 11mm even after they charge us +$50-75 for a lens-specific sleeve to back into their $400 outrigger with $120 per filter. But if it covers 12-24, 13-24, etc., I think 11-24 owners would welcome it with open arms (and much lighter wallets).

- A

 

[Haydn1971]

Location ? Harris, looking out North with Taransay to the left ???

 

[privatebydesign]

Even on on EF17-40mm f4L ive had posterisation from a polarising filter. However polarising filters have their uses for foliage & water and in combination with an 81A give enhanced autumn / fall colours.

I guess there being asked for them so they are obliging.

Posterisation is nothing to do with polarising filters.

 

[privatebydesign]

The 16-35 f/4L IS, in comparison, completely dominates the 11-24 for my needs as the front-filtering gives me access to the large and varied ecosystem of 4x4 / 4x6 filters. Immediately after IQ and focal length, I peg front filterability as the third biggest consideration in a landscape lens. (That said, that's not what all people are going to use it for.)

An awful lot of landscape shooters have been using the equally bulbous Nikon 14-24 for years, so whilst I feel your reasoning it obviously isn't that widespread. Horses for courses and all that, but it seems, certainly with the proliferation of bulbous lenses and the varied filter solutions for those that need them (me included) that the lens function and saleability just isn't impacted much.

 

[ahsanford]

The 16-35 f/4L IS, in comparison, completely dominates the 11-24 for my needs as the front-filtering gives me access to the large and varied ecosystem of 4x4 / 4x6 filters. Immediately after IQ and focal length, I peg front filterability as the third biggest consideration in a landscape lens. (That said, that's not what all people are going to use it for.)

An awful lot of landscape shooters have been using the equally bulbous Nikon 14-24 for years, so whilst I feel your reasoning it obviously isn't that widespread. Horses for courses and all that, but it seems, certainly with the proliferation of bulbous lenses and the varied filter solutions that need them (me included) that the lens function just isn't impacted much.

+1. Well said.

If that lens is the one that'll do it for you, use it of course. I just think that front-filterability via a setup that doesn't require huge filters or taking the lens off the body to setup is a strong selling point to a landscape lens.

That said, other folks are happy to hand-hold grads and have the skill to do it, while others yet have made makerbot-built SLA one-offs for specific lenses. People have options, and more will always come.

I'm a little surprised that Wonderpana and Lee haven't come out with a formal statement that they will support the 11-24. They should want people to buy that lens as those are future filter customers in a fairly exclusive segment of the market where they make a solid profit. The question of future front-filterability very may be holding some people back from buying it, so a simple statement of "Yes. We're working on it!" may be enough to get more people into buying the lens.

- A

 

[mackguyver]

I'm a little surprised that Wonderpana and Lee haven't come out with a formal statement that they will support the 11-24.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are having a tough time getting a copy and/or are still testing prototypes to be sure it will work. I'm also curious as to whether or not there will be a disclaimer similar to Lee's TS-E 17 adapter regarding max shift. Works with 11-24...up to 14mm or something like that.

In the meantime, I'll keep shooting with my 11-24 and make due without filters