Request a product

Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM vs Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

CanonEF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USMCanonEF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS
Overview
Released2016September 2007
Optics
Lens typeZoomZoom
Focal length24–105 mm18–55 mm
Maximum aperturef/4f/3.5–5.6
Minimum aperturef/22f/22–36
Optical constructionSeventeen elements in twelve groups11 elements in nine groups
Special elementsFour aspherical elementsPrecision aspherical element
Aperture detail–Canon Camera Museum lists minimum f/22–36; Canon Japan support lists f/22–38
CoatingsAir Sphere Coating; front and rear fluorine coating according to The Digital Picture–
DiaphragmTen blades with a circular apertureSix blades with a circular aperture
Angle of view84°–23°20′ diagonal, 74°–19°20′ horizontal and 53°–13° verticalHorizontal 64°30′–23°20′; vertical 45°30′–15°40′; diagonal 74°20′–27°50′
Mount and compatibility
MountsCanon EFCanon EF-S
Image circleFull frameAPS-C
CompatibilityCanon EF full-frame and APS-C DSLRs; EOS M cameras require an EF-EOS M mount adaptorCanon EF-S compatible APS-C cameras
Teleconverter supportCanon's manual excludes extenders–
Adaptor supportEF12 II gives 0.60–0.50× at 24 mm and 0.41–0.12× at 105 mm; EF25 II is incompatible at 24 mm and gives 0.61–0.27× at 105 mm–
Focus and stabilisation
AutofocusYesYes
Minimum focus distance0.45 m0.25 m
Maximum magnification0.24×0.34×
Optical stabilisationYesYes
Autofocus detailUSM autofocus with full-time manual focusing. Canon's manual specifies turning the ring with the shutter half-pressed after One Shot AFGeared DC motor according to Canon Japan; no full-time manual override according to The Digital Picture
Focus distance detailInternal focusing according to The Digital Picture; Canon instructs users to finish zooming before focusingFront element rotates and extends during focusing; select MF before using the narrow manual focus ring according to The Digital Picture and Photozone
Magnification detail–Maximum 0.34× at 55 mm; EF12 II gives 0.64–0.23× and EF25 II gives 1.00–0.51× according to Canon Japan
Stabilisation detailCanon claims four-stop optical stabilisation. The exact manual describes automatic adjustment for still subjects and panning, with correction perpendicular to the panning directionFour-stop launch claim based on a shutter speed of 1/(focal length × 1.6) seconds; automatic panning detection according to Canon Japan. Photozone and The Digital Picture report approximately three stops in their tests.
Design
Dust and moisture resistantYes–
Filter diameter77 mm58 mm
Maximum diameter83.5 mm68.5 mm
Length118 mm70 mm
Weight795 g200 g
ControlsAF/MF and stabilisation switches, separate focus and zoom rings, distance window, infrared index and transport lock at 24 mm–
Zoom designExtending barrel; zoom lock holds the shortest 24 mm position–
Weather resistanceCanon UK describes dust and moisture sealing; the manual identifies a rubber mount ring. The Digital Picture recommends a protective filter to complete front sealing–
Dimensions detailMaximum diameter × retracted length; size and 795 g weight are lens-only. Caps add 24.2 mm to length according to Canon's manual68.5 mm maximum diameter × 70 mm length
Lens hoodEW-83M hood with release button; reversible for storageEW-60C hood and LP814 case sold separately according to Canon Japan
In the boxLens, E-77 II front cap, Dust Lens Cap E, EW-83M hood, LP1219 case and manual according to Canon UK–
Release detailCanon Camera Museum's exact-model table records October 2016 marketing; its later RF 24–105mm page retrospectively says November 2016. The year is used because the maker gives conflicting months without explaining a regional differenceCanon Japan records September 2007 first sale after the August announcement; Canon Camera Museum also records September 2007 marketing. No separately verified UK first-sale day is published in these sources.

More comparisons