Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Lens is, without question, Canon’s best-performing (optically and physically) and best-built 24mm autofocus lens. It is also Canon’s widest angle lens with an aperture wider than f/2.8 – a full 2 stops wider than all wider angle Canon lenses. This lens looks great, feels great and functions superbly.

The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Lens is shown above mounted on a Canon 5D Mark II and Canon BG-E6.

Since there was already a Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM Lens, one would expect the new version to be an improvement over the original. So, the primary question on many of our minds was – what has changed? Let’s start with Canon marketing’s perspective – here are a couple of paragraphs found in Canon’s 5D Mark II White Paper:

Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) glass lens elements were also added in order to reduce chromatic aberrations, and a high speed CPU and improved algorithms make possible a faster and quieter autofocusing system. Combined with two aspherical lens elements, the lens offers significant improvements in image quality and contrast, especially at the outer edges of the image when used on full-frame digital SLRs. A circular aperture means beautiful out-of-focus highlights in backgrounds. This new lens targets the critical professional photographer, and should be especially prized by users of high-resolution full-frame digital cameras like the new EOS 5D Mark II.”

As you can see from the measurements above and from the comparison pics below, the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Lens is slightly larger than the original 24 L.

Most of the additional lens length has been translated into focusing ring on the outside – it is .26″ (6.7mm) longer (.68″ --> .94″ / 17.3mm --> 24.0mm). The 24 L hood sits nicely inside the larger 24 L II hood. Also notable is that the included 24 L II hood installs and de-installs very easily (original 24 L lens owners can appreciate this improvement). The barrel contours on the 24 L II are more smoothly tapered. The 24 L II has a lower-profile AF/MF switch and shows its weather seal gasket by hiding the shiny metal lens mount.