The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM was announced a year ago, in February 2012, as an update to the venerable EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM of 2002. It features an all-new optical design, designed to provide improved imaging performance right across the frame and reduced distortion compared to its predecessor. The lens also features a smaller, lighter design and weather-sealed construction, and Canon promises improved robustness due to revised internal construction. It's designed primarily for Canon's high-end full frame bodies (with a price tag to match), but can of course also be used on APS-C SLRs such as the EOS 7D, on which it offers a 38-112mm equivalent angle of view.
The 24-70mm f/2.8 II is intended to be a workhorse lens for professional photographers that has to deliver the best possible results in a wide range of conditions. It uses a suitably exotic optical design for this purpose, with 18 elements in 13 groups, including two 2 ultra-low dispersion (UD) glass elements and one Super UD aspheric element to minimize aberrations. Naturally it uses Canon's ring-type ultrasonic motor for fast, silent focus with full-time manual override, along with a circular aperture diaphragm for attractive background blur.
One feature the lens doesn't offer, though, is image stabilization - Canon says this would require too great a compromise in either image quality or size. This makes for an interesting comparison with the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD that was announced at about the same time, and incorporates image stabilization into a lens that's almost exactly the same size (and of course, rather cheaper). Users who need IS and prefer to stick with Canon's own lenses will have to make to with a stop slower aperture, from either the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM or the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. In this review we'll compare how all of these lenses measure up against each other in the lab, and assess the 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM's specific strengths and weaknesses.
Headline features
- 24-70mm focal length
- Fast F2.8 constant maximum aperture; F22 minimum
- Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) focusing with full-time manual override
- 0.38m closest focus, offering 0.19x magnification
- For Canon SLRs of all formats (full frame, APS-H and APS-C)
Angle of view
The pictures below illustrate the angle of view, on both full frame and APS-C cameras, shot from our standard position:
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| 24mm, full frame | 70mm, full frame |
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| 24mm, APS-C (38mm equivalent) | 70mm, APS-C (112mm equivalent) |
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM specifications
| Price | • $2200 (US) • £1700 (UK) |
|---|---|
| Date introduced | February 2012 |
| Maximum format size | 35mm full frame |
| Focal length | 24-70mm |
| 35mm equivalent focal length (APS-C) |
38-112mm |
| Diagonal Angle of view | • 84-34º (full frame) |
| Maximum aperture | F2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | F22 |
| Lens Construction | • 18 elements / 13 groups • 2 UD glass element • 1 Super UD aspheric element |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 9, rounded |
| Minimum focus | 0.38m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.21x |
| AF motor type | • Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor • Full-time manual focus |
| Zoom method | Rotary, extending |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Image stabilization | • No |
| Filter thread | • 82mm • Does not rotate on focus |
| Supplied accessories* | • Front and rear caps • Petal-type Hood EW-88C • Soft lens case |
| Weight | 805 g (28.4 oz) |
| Dimensions | 88.5 mm diameter x 113 mm length (3.0 x 3.7 in) |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
