Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM

Canon · EF

EF 24mm f/1.4L USM

Released December 1997

An EF wide-angle L prime with an f/1.4 aperture, aspherical and UD elements, ring USM autofocus and 0.25 m closest focus.

Mount
Canon EF
Focal length
24 mm
Max aperture
f/1.4
Stabilisation
No
Weight
550 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praise construction and fast quiet autofocus, while finding soft wide-aperture edges and visible shading. The Digital Picture values its low-light capability and pleasant background blur. Photozone's APS-C test finds excellent central detail but slower improvement at the borders, and questions the expense if f/1.4 is unnecessary. Stopping down improves sharpness substantially in both tests.

From the-digital-picture.com, photozone.de, photozone.de and photozone.de

Optics

Lens type
Prime
Focal length
24 mm
Maximum aperture
f/1.4
Minimum aperture
f/22
Optical construction
Eleven elements in nine groups; floating optical system
Special elements
Ground and polished aspherical glass element and UD element according to Canon Camera Museum
Diaphragm
Seven-blade circular aperture according to Canon Camera Museum
Angle of view
84° diagonal, 74° horizontal and 53° vertical according to Canon's manual

Mount and compatibility

Mounts
Canon EF
Image circle
Full frame
Compatibility
Canon EF full-frame and APS-C cameras

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus
Yes
Minimum focus distance
0.25 m
Maximum magnification
0.16×
Optical stabilisation
No
Autofocus detail
Ring USM with full-time manual focus; Canon's manual specifies One-Shot AF with the shutter button held halfway for manual adjustment after autofocus
Focus distance detail
Rear focusing system with non-rotating filter frame according to Canon Camera Museum
Stabilisation detail
No optical stabilisation according to The Digital Picture's exact-model specification table

Design

Dust and moisture resistant
No
Filter diameter
77 mm
Maximum diameter
83.5 mm
Length
77.4 mm
Weight
550 g
Controls
AF/MF switch, focus ring, distance window and infrared focus index
Weather resistance
No weather sealing according to The Digital Picture's exact-model specification table
Dimensions detail
83.5 mm maximum diameter × 77.4 mm length; dimensions and 550 g weight are lens-only. Front and rear caps add 21.5 mm according to Canon's manual
Lens hood
Supplied reversible EW-83D II petal hood; LP1214 case according to Canon's manual and The Digital Picture
Release detail
Canon Camera Museum records December 1997 marketing; no first-sale day is given

Pros and cons

Pros

  • f/1.4 maximum aperture
  • Full-time manual focus
  • Supplied lens hood

Cons

  • No optical stabilisation
  • No weather sealing

Closest rivals

Model
MountFocal lengthMax apertureStabilisationWeightReleased
Canon EF28 mmf/1.8–310 gSept 1995
Canon EF35 mmf/1.4–580 gDec 1998
Canon EF24 mmf/1.4No650 gDec 2008

Newer model: EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM.

Sources

  1. global.canon/en/c-museum/product/ef341.html
  2. media.the-digital-picture.com/Owners-Manuals/Canon-EF-35mm-f-1.4-L-USM-Lens.pdf
  3. the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Lens-Specifications.aspx
  4. the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-24mm-f-1.4-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
  5. photozone.de/canon-eos/152-canon-ef-24mm-f14-usm-l-test-report--review
  6. photozone.de/canon-eos/152-canon-ef-24mm-f14-usm-l-test-report--review
  7. photozone.de/canon-eos/152-canon-ef-24mm-f14-usm-l-test-report--review

Photo: global.canon

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