Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM vs Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 USM
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonEF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM | CanonEF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 USM | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 2016 | September 2003 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Zoom |
| Focal length | 24–105 mm | 18–55 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 | f/3.5–5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22–36 |
| Optical construction | Seventeen elements in twelve groups | 11 elements in nine groups |
| Special elements | Four aspherical elements | One precision aspherical element; Canon Japan identifies a PMo aspherical surface |
| Coatings | Air Sphere Coating; front and rear fluorine coating according to The Digital Picture | – |
| Diaphragm | Ten blades with a circular aperture | Six blades with a circular aperture according to Canon Camera Museum |
| Angle of view | 84°–23°20′ diagonal, 74°–19°20′ horizontal and 53°–13° vertical | Horizontal 64°30′–23°20′, vertical 45°30′–15°40′, diagonal 74°20′–27°50′ according to Canon Japan |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon EF | Canon EF-S |
| Image circle | Full frame | APS-C |
| Compatibility | Canon EF full-frame and APS-C DSLRs; EOS M cameras require an EF-EOS M mount adaptor | Canon EF-S compatible APS-C cameras; equivalent angle of view to approximately 29–88 mm on full frame |
| Teleconverter support | Canon's manual excludes extenders | – |
| Adaptor support | EF12 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 | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.45 m | 0.28 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.24× | 0.28× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | – |
| Autofocus detail | USM autofocus with full-time manual focusing. Canon's manual specifies turning the ring with the shutter half-pressed after One Shot AF | Canon Micro USM II ultrasonic motor; lens distance information is transmitted according to Canon Japan |
| Magnification detail | – | Maximum 0.28× at 55 mm; EF12 II extension tube provides 0.23–0.81× and EF25 II provides 0.51–0.92× according to Canon Japan |
| Focus distance detail | Internal focusing according to The Digital Picture; Canon instructs users to finish zooming before focusing | – |
| Stabilisation detail | Canon claims four-stop optical stabilisation. The exact manual describes automatic adjustment for still subjects and panning, with correction perpendicular to the panning direction | – |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | – |
| Filter diameter | 77 mm | 58 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 83.5 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Length | 118 mm | 66 mm |
| Weight | 795 g | 190 g (better) |
| Controls | AF/MF and stabilisation switches, separate focus and zoom rings, distance window, infrared index and transport lock at 24 mm | – |
| Zoom design | Extending barrel; zoom lock holds the shortest 24 mm position | – |
| Weather resistance | Canon 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 detail | Maximum diameter × retracted length; size and 795 g weight are lens-only. Caps add 24.2 mm to length according to Canon's manual | 68.5 mm maximum diameter × 66 mm length; 190 g according to Canon |
| Lens hood | EW-83M hood with release button; reversible for storage | EW-60C hood and LP814 pouch are sold separately according to Canon Japan |
| In the box | Lens, E-77 II front cap, Dust Lens Cap E, EW-83M hood, LP1219 case and manual according to Canon UK | – |
| Release detail | Canon 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 difference | Canon Camera Museum explicitly records this USM model as sold only with the EOS Kiss Digital in September 2003. Its table records September 2004 marketing, later than that documented first kit sale |
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