Lenspreview.com

Canon EF 24-85 F3.5-4.5, 67mm filters and hood

The Canon EF 24-85 F3.5-4.5 has polycarbonate construction, but with a metal mount. It makes the lens as light as 380g and ultimate option for travel photography.Zoom is performed  by expanding and contracting the nested barrels. Thanks to the silent USM motor inside, Canon EF 24-85 has full time manual focus override (even when the AF is on). The manual focus ring is small but still usable.

Lens is a bit bigger than Canon EF 50mm F1.4 prime lens. Available in silver (Old)  and black colors. Currently most of the stores offer in black color only. Production started since 1996.

Technical specifications

The filter size of Canon EF 24-85 is 67mm. Although majority of canon lenses use 52mm or 77mm filters, there are some other lenses in the Canon line with the similar filter size. Therefore, buying some 67mm filters can be reused on the following other canon lenses with the 67mm mount:

• Canon EF 24-85mm F 3.5-4.5 USM
• Canon EF 17-85 F 3.5-4.5 IS USM
• Canon EF 70-200 F4 L

The picture quality delivered by 24-85 is similar to Canon EF 28-105mm USM and Canon EF 28-135mm IS.

Filter Size: 67mm

f/Stop Range: 3.5-22 (4.5-32)

Minimum Focus Distance: 1.75′

Magnification: 1:6.25

Zoom/Focus Control: Two-touch

Angle of View: 84 to 28 Degrees

Groups/Elements: 12/15

User Experience

I get introduced with the Canon EF 24-85 accidentally when I was in Prague and discovered that I left my lens at home. I visited the FotoSkoda photo store and rented the lens for five days to shoot the nice sightseeings of Prague. After taking some test shots, I was excited with the silent and accurate performance of the USM autofocus. The zoom range is perfect to keep the lens on camera for almost any occasions.24mm on a APS-C sensor delivers 38.4mm equivalent on full frame.

The lens is ideal replacement of the standard kit lens (18-55) and delivers instant difference in design, picture quality and AF accuracy. Pictures are sharp when stopped down to F8.0. Brilliant contrast and colors for the price.

Disadvantages

I tried to summarize my general feeling about this lens. Now lets talk about the disadvantages that have been noticed by the 24-85 lens owners:

1. Blurry images at wide angle @F 3.5-5.6

Landscape: Canon EF 24-85 @F3.5

When shooting the landscapes, try to avoid opening the lens on its maximum. Images get blurry and you might get dissapointed with the final image quality when shooting @24mm F3.5 like it is on example.Try to set aperture higher than F5.6. At F8.0 you will get the sharpest and brilliant results.

2. Noticable vigneting on wide angle

Again, If you stop down to F8.0 you will get the awesome results. The prevous photo example demonstrates the Canon EF 24-85mm vigneting too.

3. Not popular Filter size (67mm)

Advantages

1. One of the best Price/Value ratio: $350 at B&H
2. Ideal zoom range for travel and everyday photography
3. Silent and accurate autofocus
4. Excellent picture quality when stopped down for portraits and landscapes

All the photos below have been taken with Canon EF 24-85mm F3.5 by my in various conditions. I think it will help you to assess the performance of this lens.