24-70 zoom barrel

Why is it that the barrel extends from 70 to 24 and not the conventional wide to long? Any chance the mark 2 version would have a redesigned zoom function? I think that would be the only reason I'd upgrade mine n

It's designed that way so that when you mount the hood, it's at the best length for your focal setting. At 24mm, the hood doesn't go out as far, allowing you to get the angle of view 24mm allows without the hood creeping into the corners. At 70mm, the angle of view is smaller, and the the hood is further out, blocking more light that would cause flare.

StayLucky wrote in post #12892329
Why is it that the barrel extends from 70 to 24 and not the conventional wide to long? Any chance the mark 2 version would have a redesigned zoom function? I think that would be the only reason I'd upgrade mine n

The 24-70 and its predecessor, the 28-70, are the only two lenses that work the way they do and they are absolutely the only zoom lenses I have ever seen that have optimal lens hood operation on them. There's no way I would want anything to change with their mechanical action.

My 24-70 is stuck on my 20D far more than either of my other lenses (16-35 and 70-200 f/2.8L IS).

SkipD wrote in post #12892465
The 24-70 and its predecessor, the 28-70, are the only two lenses that work the way they do and they are absolutely the only zoom lenses I have ever seen that have optimal lens hood operation on them. there's no way I would want anything to change with their mechanical action.

My 24-70 is stuck on my 20D far more than either of my other lenses (16-35 and 70-200 f/2.8L IS).

Its a brilliant design. I really wish all zooms did that, especially the wide angles that leave you with an almost uselessly shallow hood.

There's another superb feature about the Canon 24-70 and its hood that I feel should be brought up.

Most zoom lenses that change their physical length while changing the focal length wear lens hoods on the moving portion of the lens. These hoods not only fail to provide optimal blocking of stray light, but they fail to mechanically protect the lens as well as the 24-70's hood.

The 24-70's hood is mounted to the non-moving outer shell of the lens and when the hood is bumped by something, the forces from the bump are absorbed by the outer shell of the lens and not transmitted to the relatively delicate inner workings of the lens. This means a lot to me when working in places where the lens gets bumped from time to time.