Here is the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM Macro

[Aaron D]

Wouldn't ya know I buy ONE RF lens--the 24-105 f/4 and it's already been superseded by TWO (three, if you can manage the monster f/2). For my assignment work I'm going to need the 24-70 f/2.8, and then THIS thing comes along as a perfect compact/lightweight travel lens...

 

[richperson]

Look at the pics - there is a switch changing from focus to control function.

So yes, it is possible.

I was thinking that the switch was for the zoom ring, but you are probably right, that it switches the control ring. That seems like an very acceptable solution.

 

[mccasi]

And no one has commented on the insane macro capablity? 0.5 macro (filling the FF sensor with the lens cap).
Looks to be a nifty lens. need weather resistance so i won't "downgrade", but still curious how it will look like without the digital lens corrections, think should be less compromised than the 24-240 (which is still perfectly good with DLC).

 

[Chaitanya]

Dont like design choice of eliminating Af/Mf switch on non L RF lenses.

 

[Stuart]

I do like the Focus point being displayed in the EVF - the bar showing min focus to infinity

 

[Architect1776]

I'm not an RF guy (yet) but can someone explain how to manually focus this lens? Not sure if the other RF zooms work the same way but it just looks like it has a zoom ring and the control ring. AF/MF switch reads "focus/control." Do you flip the switch and focus with the control ring? Doesn't that suck if your control ring is controlling something important like ISO?

I am not too sure how big a problem this is.
I seldom use the manual focus now but would leave it that way.
ISO I would change even less frequently or leave it on auto ISO and be done with it.
So flipping the switch back and forth does not seem like a big deal and if others would be honest they will admit with this lens manual focus would not be used much etc.
Also if it keeps the price down even better. Want it all? Get an L lens.

 

[ahsanford]

And no one has commented on the insane macro capablity? 0.5 macro (filling the FF sensor with the lens cap).

Good eye! Macro mag not listed, but 0.2m MFD would be a dramatic upgrade over other 24-105s. The RF and EF L 24-105s have a MFD of 0.45m.

Very good news for 24-105 fans. Possibly bad news if you love your EF 24-70 f/4L IS and its 0.7x max mag (like I do), as putting this feature into the non-L 24-105 might mean an RF 24-70 f/4L may not be coming.

- A

 

[Architect1776]

not sure how I feel about that. On a lens like this I almost always would use autofocus. But,can the control ring be assigned AF? Probably not.

if the price is good enough then it might be a good choice.

Yes the switch toggles between manual focus and other control ring functions so you can leave it on manual focus all the time or control ring all the time, your choice.

 

[Architect1776]

Dont like design choice of eliminating Af/Mf switch on non L RF lenses.

It is there.
Just called out differently.
Put on MF and you have MF.
Put on Control you have AF.
Just the same thing except on Control you get more features that the old AF/MF switch did not have.

 

[PureClassA]

As amazing as these newer Canon lenses have been I’m anxious to see how well it performs against the new RF L version. I have the original 24-105 L f4 EF and my understanding is That the new RF version is markedly better.

 

[BillB]

The lens looks short but pretty stocky - how big is that hand?

Would they be able to get away withould a retrofocal design on a 24-105 with the RF mount?

 

[PureClassA]

I have had a love/hate relationship with the 24-105 f4 for years. Great all-round focal range just wish it was faster!

Canon seems like they want to show what they can build now in RF. Look at that 28-70 f2 beast. Dear Lord. I wonder if a 24-105 f2.8 IS is possible now? Probably similar size and price to the 28-70 if they can/would do it

 

[Famateur]

At first, I was a little grumbly when I saw that the control ring doubled as the manual focus ring, but then I thought more about it...

The target market for variable aperture, inexpensive, non-L lenses is beginners/novices who almost universally:

• Shoot in one of the auto-exposure modes.
• Rarely (if ever) use manual focus.

There's a chance that a beginner/novice might only fit one of the above, but I'll bet it's unlikely many novice photographers will regularly use both functions. This makes it a smart compromise in functions (either/or) if it keeps production costs -- and thus price -- down as much as possible.

There will undoubtedly be some enthusiasts who enjoy quality, inexpensive lenses that will miss the dedicated, separate functions, but I'd wager they're in the minority.

As an aside, I think the release of this lens in fairly close proximity to the announcement/release of the R6 points to the R6 filling the RF lineup slot that the 6D filled in the EF lineup. Will be interesting to see...

 

[BillB]

"Made in Taiwan". Low production costs, what about the quality ?

You might want to wait for the reviews on this one, or spend the money for the f4 IS if IQ is a big concern (or even the 24-70 f2.8 IS).

 

[amorse]

As amazing as these newer Canon lenses have been I’m anxious to see how well it performs against the new RF L version. I have the original 24-105 L f4 EF and my understanding is That the new RF version is markedly better.

I've been hanging on to my mk1 EF 24-105 for some time, but I don't think I've put it on my camera since picking up a 24-70 f/2.8Lii ~2 years ago. That 24-105 zoom range is so attractive to me, but I when I was comparing images between lenses I was always drawn to the 24-70 far beyond the 24-105. I had thought the RF version was pretty similar to the EF, but if it comes closer to bridging that gap I may need to make some changes... off to the digital picture!

 

[PureClassA]

I've been hanging on to my mk1 EF 24-105 for some time, but I don't think I've put it on my camera since picking up a 24-70 f/2.8Lii ~2 years ago. That 24-105 zoom range is so attractive to me, but I when I was comparing images between lenses I was always drawn to the 24-70 far beyond the 24-105. I had thought the RF version was pretty similar to the EF, but if it comes closer to bridging that gap I may need to make some changes... off to the digital picture!

The RF version supposedly surpasses the MkII EF by a notable margin.

 

[Deleted member 381342]

• Rarely (if ever) use manual focus.

I have been shooting for a bit over a decade properly, never once have I reached for MF on anything other than video. Though my main subjects are animals and Servo AF is life. I know a few novices and just getting them to try out AV and TV was scary for them, they wouldn't trust themselves over the AF of a camera.

 

[Kit Lens Jockey]

Doesn't that suck if your control ring is controlling something important like ISO?

Yes it does. That's why you buy an L lens.

 

[bellorusso]

LOL This is R5 and R6 combined. As always with Canon.

 

[Del Paso]

"Made in Taiwan". Low production costs, what about the quality ?

Almost all high quality "US" mountain bike frames are made in Taiwan. If the production machinery is well installed, maintained and operated (and I'm absolutely sure it will), quality will be a non-issue.
And Taiwan is no longer a low salary country like the PRC...