Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z debuts new hybrid lens range

Canon has revealed what it says is the first in a new line of high-end RF-mount hybrid lenses designed for both stills and video use. Its new Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z is notable for providing a fixed f/2.8 maximum aperture across a 24-105mm range. As such, it aims to combine the best of both worlds of the existing RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM lenses.

The catch is that it’s rather larger than either, and it’s considerably more expensive, too.

Optical stabilisation is built in and rated for 5.5 stops of shake suppression on its own, rising to 8 stops when used on a camera with IBIS. Meanwhile, dual Nano USM motors are employed for fast, silent autofocus. Canon says that focus breathing effects are suppressed, while any focus shift during zooming is corrected electronically.

In terms of controls, the lens includes a dedicated clickless aperture ring for movie use. Oddly, this doesn’t function during stills shooting, but photographers can use the clicked lens control dial instead. Two lens function buttons are also provided.

Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM with PZ-E2 power zoom controller on the EOS R5, in-hand. Credit: Andy Westlake

Canon has employed an internal zoom design, which means that the balance shouldn’t shift significantly when the 24-105mm f/2.8 is used on a gimbal. But as a result, it’s almost 20cm long, while weighing 1330g. Like several other L-series optics, it uses 82mm filters.

Power zoom control is available, but only using an additional bolt-on motor unit. There are two versions of this, with the Canon Power Zoom Adapter PZ-E2B providing additional functionality over the standard PZ-E2 via a 20-pin controller part. Both offer zoom control using buttons on the unit, plus remote control zooming via Canon’s Camera Connect smartphone app or EOS Utility PC software.

Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM with PZ-E2 power zoom controller on the EOS R5. Credit: Andy Westlake

The Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z is due in December 2023 for £3599.99. Meanwhile the PZ-E2 will cost £1,149.99, with the PZ-E2B being £1,529.99.