Canon RF 24-105mm F/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens

The Canon RF 24‑105mm F/2.8 L IS USM Z is a professional‑grade standard zoom lens designed for Canon’s full‑frame EOS R‑series mirrorless cameras. With a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture across the entire zoom range, this lens offers excellent performance in low light, strong subject separation, and consistent exposure — making it a versatile choice for a wide range of photography and videography applications such as weddings, events, travel, portraits, documentary work, and hybrid video production.

Advanced Optical Design

The lens incorporates a sophisticated optical formula with 23 elements in 18 groups, including four Ultra‑Low Dispersion (UD) glass elements and three aspherical elements to control chromatic aberration, spherical distortion, and field curvature. Canon also applies Super Spectra Coating (SSC), Air Sphere Coating (ASC), and a fluorine coating on the front element to minimize flare and ghosting, enhance contrast, and resist water and oil for easier cleaning. This optical arrangement delivers sharp, high‑contrast imagery with rich color reproduction throughout the zoom range.

Constant f/2.8 Aperture

Maintaining a constant f/2.8 aperture from 24mm to 105mm enables great control over depth of field and consistent performance in varying lighting conditions. This is particularly beneficial for portraits, environmental shots, and low‑light scenarios where a fast aperture helps maintain faster shutter speeds without pushing ISO too high. The lens’s 11‑blade circular diaphragm further contributes to smooth, pleasing out‑of‑focus highlights (bokeh), especially when shooting wide open.

Fast and Quiet Autofocus

Autofocus is powered by dual Nano USM (Ultrasonic Motor) units that provide fast, smooth, and near‑silent focusing — ideal for both still photography and video recording. The Nano USM system also allows focus to be maintained while zooming, which helps ensure consistent sharpness and minimal aberration shifts during zoom adjustments. Full‑time manual focus override gives photographers precise control without switching out of autofocus mode.

Image Stabilization

The RF 24‑105mm F/2.8 L IS USM Z includes a built‑in Optical Image Stabilizer that delivers up to 5.5 stops of shake correction by itself. When paired with a camera body that includes In‑Body Image Stabilization (IBIS), the coordinated IS system can provide up to 8 stops of stabilization, making handheld shooting more reliable in low‑light conditions and at longer focal lengths where camera shake is more pronounced. The lens also introduces an IS mode switch, a first for Canon’s RF standard zoom lenses, allowing users to tailor stabilization behavior to different shooting situations.

Handling, Controls, and Build Quality

This lens is built to the professional L‑series standard, with dust‑ and moisture‑resistant sealing and durable construction that performs well in demanding environments. A key innovation is the inclusion of an iris (aperture) ring with smooth, cinema‑style operation — allowing filmmakers and hybrid shooters to adjust exposure and depth‑of‑field characteristics intuitively. Additional features include a customizable lens function (L‑Fnc) button and a fixed barrel length design that keeps balance consistent — particularly useful when using gimbals, rigs, or the optional Canon Power Zoom Adapter PZ‑E2/PZ‑E2B for motorized zoom control.

Versatile Focal Length and Performance

The 24–105mm zoom range covers from wide to short telephoto, making the lens highly versatile. At the wide end (24mm), it captures expansive scenes like landscapes and architecture, while the longer end (105mm) is well suited for portraits and tighter framing. A minimum focus distance of approximately 0.45 m (1.48 ft) and a maximum magnification of around 0.29x at 105mm allow for detailed close‑up shots, giving photographers creative flexibility across shooting styles without needing to switch lenses.

Ideal Use Cases

Photographers and videographers choose this lens for its blend of performance and practicality. It excels in scenarios where a single, all‑purpose zoom is preferred — such as weddings, events, news/documentary assignments, travel stories, and cinematic productions — delivering professional‑level optics, smooth video performance, and reliable stabilization. Compared to f/4 standard zooms, the constant f/2.8 aperture offers a one‑stop advantage for better low‑light capability and creative depth‑of‑field control.