Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z Review: A Constant F2.8 Zoom to 105mm, Built for Hybrid Shooters

Most f/2.8 standard zooms stop at 70mm. The Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z goes to 105mm without slowing down. Canon announced it in November 2023 at $2,999. A constant f/2.8 across that range is rare in any system.

That extra 35mm turns a standard zoom into a portrait lens. At weddings and events, it can replace a 24-70mm and an 85mm prime.

It’s also Canon’s first “Z” lens, designed with video in mind and ready for an optional power-zoom adapter.

Video review: Jared Polin

Built for stills and video

The lens doesn’t change length when you zoom, so balance stays the same on a gimbal or a shoulder rig. A click-less aperture ring, the first on an RF lens, allows smooth exposure changes in video mode. Canon’s optional PZ-E2 power-zoom adapter clips on for motorized zooms.

Dual Nano USM motors focus fast and quietly. Optical stabilization is rated at 5.5 stops, or up to 8 stops paired with in-body stabilization.

There’s a control ring and a custom button, and the lens is weather sealed to L-series standards.

Optics

Sharpness is excellent across the range at f/2.8, with smooth backgrounds from 11 aperture blades. At 105mm f/2.8, portraits separate nicely from the background. Close focus is 45 centimeters throughout, with 0.29x magnification at 105mm for detail shots.

The weight

This is the big one. At about 1,430 grams and nearly 20 centimeters long, it’s heavier than many 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses. On a long wedding day, you’ll feel it. A good strap or a harness helps.

The price, at $2,999, matches Canon’s pro telephotos.

The 82mm filter is large, and the aperture ring only works in video mode on some bodies, with others needing a firmware update.

Who should buy it

Wedding and event shooters who want one lens for most of the day. Hybrid creators and documentary filmmakers who need a constant-length zoom with a de-clicked aperture. Canon owners who want to replace a 24-70mm and an 85mm with one lens.

If weight is a dealbreaker, the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM is a third of the weight and far cheaper. If you shoot video professionally on Canon, the 24-105mm Z is the most versatile zoom in the system.