Last Updated on 04/01/2020 by Mark Beckenbach
If you don’t need f2.8 zoom lenses, or if your wallet can’t open that far, have no fear: these 24-70mm and 24-105mm f4 zoom lenses are sensational.
A short while ago, we assembled a round-up of the best 24-70mm f2.8 lenses currently available on each platform. Just a couple of weeks ago, we also chatted about whether or not you need an f2.8 or an f4 version of zoom lenses on our new live, interactive chat show called Pro Camera Reviews. Today, we will be continuing this theme, and we will take a look at a few of our favorite versatile 24-70mm and 24-105mm f4 zoom lenses that are stunning in their own right. Join us after the break to see which lenses made our list.
24-70mm and 24-105mm f4 lenses are incredibly versatile, so, be safe in the knowledge that these lenses are fantastic for a wide range of genres. The only difference between these zoom lenses and their f2.8 brothers is an extra stop of light, which can honestly be negated with most modern cameras these days thanks to their excellent performance at higher ISO settings. While you might miss out on the extra light-gathering capabilities, you gain more when it comes to how light and easy these lenses are to use, and your wallet will also be happier as f4 zoom lenses are quite a bit cheaper than their f2.8 counterparts.
With 24-70mm and 24-105mm f4 zoom lenses, you’re still going to get genuinely incredible image quality, super-fast autofocus speeds, and lenses that are all built to last. As mentioned above, the key strength of these f4 zoom lenses is their versatility. Want to shoot portraits? Go for it! Need a lighter lens to shoot an event for extended periods? These f4 zoom lenses are great for that. Looking for a lightweight lens perfect for landscape photography? Look no further than 24-70mm and 24-105mm f4 zoom lenses. These lenses are called workhorses for a reason; they can do just about anything, and they won’t let you down. Check out some of our favorite 24-70mm and 24-105 f4 zoom lenses below.
Sony Zeiss 24-70mm F4 FE OSS
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Very sharp
- Fairly compact lens for what it is
- Splashproof and dustproof
- Will have lots of appeal to many photographers
- Nice color rendition
Cons
- The bokeh is “meh” at best
- Should have had a faster aperture
Buy now: $898
Canon EF 24-70mm F4L IS
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Image Stabilization that works well
- Great size/weight for a professional zoom
- Very useful macro mode
Cons
- Limited zoom range
- Overall image quality was very good, but not up to its price-tag
Buy now: $899
Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- You can do a landscape image, then do a portrait five seconds later
- Ultra-sharp
- Extremely good lens for event photography
- Practical for almost any situation
Cons
- Not the lightest lens
- You have to pay attention to how you put on the lens hood or it will pop off
- Image stabilization gets weird on a tripod
- Does not shoot macro, but the Canon 24-105mm L does
Buy now Canon EF: $896.68
Buy now Nikon F: $714
Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm F4 Macro OIS
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Image stabilization is excellent in most cases
- Solid image quality: very sharp!
- Nice bokeh for portraits
- Very versatile
- Probably as compact as you’re going to get for this system
- Perhaps the best current option at this zoom range as Leica has nothing with a constant aperture and Sigma’s lenses are clones of their DSLR options
- Built incredibly well
- Fairly priced
Cons
- It’s pretty big
Buy now: $1,297.99
Pro Tip: Regular lens cleaning is something we champion quite a bit, but it’s for good reasons. Cleaning your lenses will help extend the life of your investment, and it doesn’t take very long to show lenses the love they deserve. Give your lenses a quick wipe down with a soft microfiber cloth before each use as this will help ensure you have no debris on the front element, and go over them in more detail once per week. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a basic lens cleaning kit either. Clean your lenses and make them last: in the long run, you’ll be happy that you took the time to.
Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Nice image quality
- Fast-focusing abilities
- Fantastic image stabilization
- Very good weather sealing
- Fairly portable
Cons
- We really think Canon would have hit this out of the park if they made it a 24-120mm f4 lens like Nikon has. That also would have made it more appealing
- We’d love to be able to lock the lens at various focal lengths
Buy now: $1,099
Sony 24-105mm F4 G OSS
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Nice bokeh in the right situations
- A bit of weather sealing
- Optical image stabilization
- Versatile range
Cons
- Nothing really
Buy now: $1,398
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm F4 S
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Excellent weather sealing
- Compact form factor
Cons
- F4 aperture will leave you thirsting for light
- Pricier than 24-70 f4 lenses from competing brands
Buy now: $899
Olympus 12-45mm F4 PRO
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Very small
- Well built
- Lightweight
- You pretty much never need to stop it down
Cons
- Not sure why it’s this pricey
Buy now: $649