Canon 24-70mm f/4: Some pictures I took when I was out and about yesterday. You can see the new Temple shot I did HDR processing on. The others were taken at Veterans Oasis Park. These...

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

Some pictures I took when I was out and about yesterday. You can see the new Temple shot I did HDR processing on. The others were taken at Veterans Oasis Park. These were all taken with my new Canon 24-70mm f/4 L lens. I'm not as impressed with the macro as I had hoped. You have to be at least 12" from your subject. Any closer and it gets too blurry, as you can see in the close up. My 60mm EF-S lens was better than this at macro.

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preachy Loc: Dover Plains, NY

George, for HDR processing, are you using Photomatix? If so, try moving the Smooth Highlights to the right to reduce the haloing effect in the sky. Otherwise, that pic is beautiful!

TheDman Loc: USA

Your 60mm EF-S lens WAS a macro lens, whereas the 24-70mm is not.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

The 24-70mm f/4 also has a macro element. It's not 1:1 though.

TheDman wrote:

Your 60mm EF-S lens WAS a macro lens, whereas the 24-70mm is not.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

thx for the tip.

preachy wrote:

George, for HDR processing, are you using Photomatix? If so, try moving the Smooth Highlights to the right to reduce the haloing effect in the sky. Otherwise, that pic is beautiful!

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

The 24-70mm f4 is a macro thoughout the zoom range, and according to Canon, minimum focusing distance for your lens in 7.87". That said, your flower picture is just not well focused. I imagine it was shot off hand. A good macro strategy is to always use a tripod, shoot in Live View mode and enlarge the image on your screen as much as possible to get critical focus where you want it. Its a great lens. Just give it a chance.

TheDman Loc: USA

If it's not listed under the Macro section of this page, then it's not really a macro lens. It's more like turning the dial of a point and shoot to "Macro".

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

Well, this is what Canon says about it:
The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is the perfect zoom to complement full-frame DSLRs like the EOS 6D. With 2 aspheric and 2 UD elements, the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM delivers high- quality images with excellent detail throughout the entire zoom range. A 9-blade circular diaphragm delivers beautiful, soft backgrounds. It offers a minimum focusing distance of 1.25 ft./0.38m across the entire zoom range and has a macro mode at the telephoto end with up to 0.7x magnification (minimum focusing distance becomes 7.87 in./0.2m) and is easily accessible with a one-touch switch.

TheDman wrote:

If it's not listed under the Macro section of this page, then it's not really a macro lens. It's more like turning the dial of a point and shoot to "Macro".

TheDman Loc: USA

Yep. Having a "macro mode" isn't the same as being an actual macro lens. It's all marketing. Heck, every lens' minimum focusing distance could be called "macro mode". Judging from that description though, it looks like it's macro mode is only at the far end of the zoom range, so that could be the problem.

wilsondl Loc: Lincoln, NE

Thanks for the Temple shot. I like it better than the offical one. If you ever go throught Omaha on I-80 take I-680 around the city and stop off at Florence and see our Temple and Vistors center at Winter Quarters. - Dave

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

Unfortunately I sold my 100mm Macro thinking this one would suffice as a macro since I don't do much macro work.I think I'm going to get the 60mm EF-S macro. I had one a long time ago and it took great macros.

TheDman wrote:

Yep. Having a "macro mode" isn't the same as being an actual macro lens. It's all marketing. Heck, every lens' minimum focusing distance could be called "macro mode". Judging from that description though, it looks like it's macro mode is only at the far end of the zoom range, so that could be the problem.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

gemlenz wrote:

Unfortunately I sold my 100mm Macro thinking this one would suffice as a macro since I don't do much macro work.I think I'm going to get the 60mm EF-S macro. I had one a long time ago and it took great macros. This was taken with a 60mm.

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BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

gemlenz wrote:

The 24-70mm f/4 also has a macro element. It's not 1:1 though.

Pick up an auto extension ring set for use with the 24-70.

TheDman Loc: USA

gemlenz wrote:

Unfortunately I sold my 100mm Macro thinking this one would suffice as a macro since I don't do much macro work.I think I'm going to get the 60mm EF-S macro. I had one a long time ago and it took great macros.

Good idea, the 60mm macro is the best bang for the buck lens in the Canon lineup. Can't say enough about that one. My biggest regret about moving to full frame was having to sell that lens.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

gemlenz wrote:

Unfortunately I sold my 100mm Macro thinking this one would suffice as a macro since I don't do much macro work.I think I'm going to get the 60mm EF-S macro. I had one a long time ago and it took great macros.

Ask and thou shalt receive! (Or something like that!):
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-209491-1.html

I also have the 24-70 and have only used the "macro" feature once. I consider it a close up feature, not macro. You will notice that Canon, in it's description, does not claim the lens to be a macro. Only says that it has a macro feature, a term that is somewhat loosely used, IMO.