The following images were taken with the Canon EOS 5D using the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens; note the 5D’s full frame sensor allows the lens to deliver exactly the same field of view as it would on a 35mm body. Each image was recorded using the Large Fine JPEG mode and Standard Picture Style. The individual file size, exposure mode, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and lens details are listed for each image.

The crops are taken from the original files, reproduced at 100% and saved in Adobe Photoshop CS2 as JPEGs with the Very High quality preset, while the resized full images were made in Photoshop CS2 and saved with the High quality preset. The three crops are typically taken from far left, central and far right portions of each image.

City: 4.50MB, Program, 1/400, f8, ISO 200, 24-105mm at 105mm (equivalent to 105mm)

This shot of London’s financial district from across The River Thames was taken with the 24-105mm zoomed-in to 105mm. Viewed at 100%, there’s plenty of detail recorded, although slight softening is apparent on the extreme right side using our sample. This is also seen in the outdoor crops on the results page, where it’s also interesting to compare it directly against the 24-70mm f/2.8L.

Harbour: 4.64MB, Aperture Priority, 1/30, f5.6, ISO 400, 24-105mm at 24mm (equivalent to 24mm)

This photo was taken at Tromsø harbour in Northern Norway, using the 24-105mm set to its widest angle. Dull conditions forced us to increase the 5D’s sensitivity to 400 ISO, although the noise levels remain low. The crops are detailed and despite the high contrast sky and fairly open aperture, there’s virtually no fringing visible – see middle crop.

 Portrait: 3.40MB, Aperture Priority, 1/25, f4.0, ISO 400, 24-105mm at 105mm (equivalent to 105mm)

This portrait image was again taken around Tromsø harbour using the 24-105mm lens. Zooming-in to the maximum 105mm and opening the aperture to f4.0 has thrown the background nicely out of focus. Dull conditions again forced an ISO of 400, although Image Stabilisation allowed us to capture the shot at a relatively slow shutter speed of 1/25 of a second.

The crops show the image is sharp at 100%, and believe us when we say we were shivering at the time!

Night: 6.64MB, Manual, 30 secs, f4.0, ISO 3200, 24-105mm at 24mm (equivalent to 24mm)

This image of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) was taken from Ersfjord on Kvaløya, a short drive from Tromsø. We used the 24-105mm at 24mm with the aperture wide open. The 30 second exposure has resulted in star trails, but impressively there’s no coma nor other aberrations even in the corners.

Many thanks to our good friend Kjetil Skogli for his invaluable advice on photographing the Aurora.