see also:

• Canon EF lenses
• Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lenses

• similar image quality although much more distortion to the 24-70 f/2.8L but lighter, more range and IS thus better for stationery subjects whereas the f/2.8 on the 24-70mm means its better for moving subjects.

• improved OIS
• less vignetting
• 10 bladed aperture instead of 8
• 4 ASPH elements
• flourine and Air-Sphere coatings
• sharper and nicer bokeh?
• bigger and heavier and even stiffer zoom requiring two fingers so less fun

• introduced in late 2016
• 24-105mm f/4.0
• not weather resistant
• 17 elements in 12 groups incl. 4 ASPH
• “4 stops” OIS
• 10 circular blades
• Fluorine front and rear coatings for dirt and oil resistance
• Air Sphere coatings to reduce flare and ghosting
• close focus 0.45m (1:4.2)
• 83.5x118mm long
• 795g
• 77mm filter
• $US1099

• http://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/24-105mm-ii.htm
  • some focus breathing - image from this lens gets smaller as focused more closely esp. at 105mm
  • nicer bokeh than version 1
  • strong barrel distortion at 24mm and moderate to strong pincushion distortion from 35~105mm
  • sunstars at f/22 not great

• introduced in 2005 - 2016
• 24-105mm f/4.0
• not weather resistant just one rubber gasket on the lens mount
• 18 elements in 13 groups incl. 1x UD, 1 ASPH
• “3 stops” OIS
• 8 circular blades
• close focus 0.45m (1:4.3)
• 84x107mm long
• 670g
• 77mm filter

• http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/28-105.shtml
• http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_24105_4_is/index.htm
• CA at wide angle f/4; some vignetting on 5D at < 50mm focal length; much more distortion than the 24-70mm.
• http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/24-105mm.htm
  • some focus breathing changes magnification slightly as one pulls focus and focus shifts while zooming
  • bokeh mediocre
  • CA is best at 50mm
  • zooming too cramped between 24mm and 35mm
• http://lenstests.com/reviews/canon-ef-24-105mm-f4l-is-usm
  • sharpest at 35mm, least sharp at 105mm
  • least distortion is at 35mm
  • CA is least at 70mm
  • very pronounced curvature of its focal plane when used at 24 mm focal length with a full frame sensor but this resolves at longer focal lengths
• http://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/canon/ef-24-105mm-f4l-is-usm/review/

• introduced in 2014 as a consumer lens to optimise Live View CDAF autofocus at half the price of the L lens
• MF is electronic so needs camera power on
• silent STM focus mechanism for allows silent autofocus tracking while shooting movies with newer cameras
• 17 elements in 13 groups incl 2 ASPH
• 77mm filter
• 7 rounded blades
• 0.4m close focus giving 1:3.33 (0.3x)
• 4 EV OIS
• not weathersealed, no moisture seal at lens mount
• 81 x 121mm
• 523g
• $US599

• http://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/24-105mm-stm.htm
  • “no coma”
  • good bokeh
  • moderate pincushion distortion over most of its range, and moderately strong barrel distortion at 24mm
  • lots of vignetting
  • good flare control