The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 20-50mm F4 and the Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L is the longer of the two lenses at 199mm. The Canon RF 20-50mm F4 with a length of 98mm, is 101mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Canon RF 20-50mm F4's 80mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon RF 20-50mm F4 weighs 420g, which means it is 910g (68%) lighter than the Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L which has a weight of 1330g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Canon RF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Canon RF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 20-50mm F4 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L has a 82mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 20-50mm F4:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon RF 20-50mm F4 and the Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L has the same Canon RF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon RF lenses are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50.
Focal Range
Canon RF 20-50mm F4 has a focal range of 20-50mm and
2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
32 - 80mm.
On the other hand, the Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L has a focal range of 24-105mm and 4.4X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 38.4 - 168mm.
