Canon EF 24-105 mm f/4L IS II USM review - Distortion

Have you rated your lenses yet?

Canon EF 24-105 mm f/4L IS II USM

14 March 2017

Arkadiusz Olech

6. Distortion

On the small sensor of the Canon 50D distortion is visible only at 24 mm focal length where you deal with its ‘barrel’ kind of −1.69%. Near the 35 mm focal length that aberration’s level becomes zero (officially being +0.25%), and at 50 mm it increases to +0.72%. On longer focal lengths the distortion remains the same within the margin of error, amounting to +0.75%, +0.70% and +0.73% respectively at 70, 85 and 105 mm focal lengths.

More distinct problems are visible on full frame where, at the widest angle of view, the deformations reach −3.97%. They become zero right before 35 mm and then they change the sign, at 35 mm reaching an imperceptible level of +0.35%. Then the value of pincushion distortion increases swiftly, at 50 mm getting at +1.58%, and at 70 mm to +1.70%. Practically the same value (+1.69%) we measured at 85 mm; at 105 mm the distortion decreased slightly to +1.58%.

In this category again the new Canon fares better than its rivals. The distortion level of the cheaper Canon 24-105 mm STM, even if it was helped by the moustache variety, still reached −4.31%. The Sigma 24-105 mm OS was weaker than the Canon tested here on both ends of range of focal lengths.

Please Support Us

If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - advertisement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Canon 50D, 24 mm

Canon 50D, 35 mm

Canon 50D, 50 mm

Canon 50D, 70 mm

Canon 50D, 85 mm

Canon 50D, 105 mm

Canon 5D Mk III, 24 mm

Canon 5D Mk III, 35 mm

Canon 5D Mk III, 50 mm

Canon 5D Mk III, 70 mm

Canon 5D Mk III, 85 mm

Canon 5D Mk III, 105 mm