Field-test of the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM lens. Canon used to have a 24mm focal length wide-angle lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.4 in its manual focus FD System. That lens was part of the high-performance L-series types in the FD System. It was then the only 24mm lens in the world that offered this type of speed. When the EOS System made its debut in 1987, it also had among its line-up the EF version of the high-performance L-series lenses. However, many of the L-series lenses offered in the FD line-up were not available in EF versions at the beginning of the EOS System, except for the EF 100-300mm f/5.6L AFD and the EF 300m f/2.8L USM. That was then, now the EOS System has match or exceed the line-up of the manual focus FD lenses plus new offerings that can't be found in the old L-series versions like the EF 17-35mm f/2.8L USM, EF 28-70mm f/2.8L USM and EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM zoom lenses. Professionals that have used the FD System previously loved the L-series lenses such as the FD 24mm f/1.4L and FD 85mm f/1.2L and have subsequently requested Canon to offer such optics for the EOS System. While the EF 85mm f/1.2L USM was offered in 1989 with the introduction of the original EOS-1 pro camera, the EF 24mm f/1.4L USM wide-angle did not become available until the mid-90s. There is however, a big difference between the discontinued FD 24mm f/1.4L and its successor, the EF 24mm f/1.4L USM wide-angle lenses. Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM The large f/1.4 opening seen from the rear element     A bit too bulky for the EOS 33 SLR camera Looks more balancing on the EOS-1V camera I am not talking about the older one being a manual focus type and the EF version an autofocus lens. Rather, it is the optical construction and the types of elements used in the EF version that set it apart from its FD counterpart. The EF 24mm f/1.4L USM is the first L lens (whether EF or FD types) to feature both UD and aspherical elements in its constructions. The UD element, which is located in the fifth position, suppresses the occurrence of lateral chromatic aberration, a common problem with any lens but much more evident in telephotos than standard or wide-angle lenses. It also reduces blurring of colors on the edge of the subject to achieve good resolution and contrast. A replicated aspherical lens, in position nine, compensates for distortion and spherical aberrations. The adoption of a floating mechanism achieves consistently high image quality, from the minimum distance of 0.25m to infinity. << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 .