Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens (full-frame tests)
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Written by Gordon Laing
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM purple fringing using Canon EOS 5D
Canon 17-40mm results continued…
Outdoor / Resolution / Corner sharpness / Fringe and macro / Geometry / Vignetting
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To measure purple fringing caused by lens chromatic aberrations and sensor blooming, we photographed a test chart, left, with areas of very high contrast. We tested each lens at its widest and longest focal lengths with the aperture wide open using a Canon EOS-5D in Aperture Priority mode. The crops are taken from the upper left corner of the chart and presented here at 100%. All three lenses exhibited small degrees of fringing at wide angle, although nothing to be concerned about. Zoomed-in to their longest focal lengths, the 17-40mm and 24-70mm delivered very clean results, leaving the 24-105mm with a small amount of fringing – again, little to be concerned about though. |
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM |
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L USM |
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM | ||
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17-40mm at 17mm f4 |
24-105mm at 24mm f4 |
24-70mm at 24mm f2.8 | ||
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17-40mm at 40mm f4 |
24-105mm at 105mm f4 |
24-70mm at 70mm f2.8 |
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM macro using Canon EOS 5D
To measure macro performance we photographed a chart from a distance and focal length which delivered the maximum possible reproduction. The dark lines are 10mm apart. Each lens was tested with the Canon EOS-5D at f8 in Aperture Priority mode. Of the three lenses tested here, the 17-40mm delivered the least impressive macro result, with a smallest area of 166x110mm. Of the three, the older 24-70mm delivered the maximum close-up reproduction, albeit with considerable pincushion distortion. That said, none of the three can really be described as impressive performers when it comes to macro work. |
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM |
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM |
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM | ||
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17-40mm at 40mm f8 Max area of 166x110mm |
24-105mm at 105mm f8 Max area of 154x104mm |
24-70mm at 70mm f8 Max area of 130x90mm |