Canon EF 24 mm F/1.4 L II USM Lens

This lens represent a milestone in large aperture wide angle lens production back in 1975 when it first appeared. It was and still is the largest aperture lens of this focal length. The aspherical element effectively eliminate spherical abberations and simplifies lens design. The technology to mass produce aspherical elements was ground breaking. It required high precision tolerance of 0.1 micron, a technology developed by Canon back in 1971.
The selling price of this lens, when new, was astronomical so make this version particularly rare. The next 'L' version (identical formula) is more readily available but has lost the iconic status of this original one. Other similar products to follow are also from Canon. It was not until May 2010 that Nikon came up with a similar product, some 35 years later.
I first got to know this lens when I bought my AE-1 camera back in 1978. It is a long time dream come true when I encounter this item at ebay. It has sentimental value for me but practicality is near zero as it can not be used on any full frame digital camera to express its full ability. It will find a permanent place in my cabinet and will see the light when I take it out to take those occasional self fulfilling pictures.

Bought this lens specifically for taking photos of the Milky Way. The first time out on a moonless clear night, resulted in some fabulous shots. Used a 2.2 aperture setting and a 15 second exposure to achieve the best images (on that particular night). It will be a great lens for fireworks and aurora (northern lights) photos too! Also does a nice job on portraits! Looking forward to put this fabulous lens through its paces. Very happy with my first "L" lens purchase!

Fast. Sharp. Essential to the prime lens collection.
If you're wanting a wide angle, fast prime lens...this is the one you want.
It's a Canon L-Series, so you can't go wrong.

This is an exceptional lens and is built like a tank! The ability to shoot in low-light at this focal length is nothing short of awesome!!

This lens is fast. The build quality is superb. I have two cameras a 5D Mark II and 7D. The lens is crisp and is extremely useful in low light situations where you want to capture the natural light. Because this lens is fairly expensive, don't cheap out and get a low quality UV filter that could lower light transmission into the lens or create unwanted flare. Go with a high quality multi-coated B+W filter or Hoya Pro Digital filter. My images are sharp and the bokeh is smooth and gentle. Prime lenses are extremely quick to focus, and this is no exception. I love this lens.