Just posted! Our new lens review of Canon's top-end fast telezoom, the EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM. This is Part Two in our planned tetralogy of reviews featuring 70-200mm F2.8 lenses tested on both APS-C and 35mm full frame cameras (coming soon! 'The Tamron Menace' and 'Revenge of the Sigma'). In our last review we found the Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VR performing superbly on DX but struggling on the 35mm full-frame FX format, so how does Canon's equivalent stand up to our exacting tests?

Click here for our lens review of the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM

Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 lenses compared

 

Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM

Nikon AF-S VR 70-200mm F2.8 G

Sigma 70-200mm 1:2.8 EX DG Apo Macro HSM II

Tamron 70-200mm 1:2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro
Street price $1700 $1625 $800 $700
Date introduced August 2001 April 2003 December 2007 February 2008
Maximum format size 35mm full frame 35mm full frame 35mm full frame 35mm full frame
Focal length 70-200mm 70-200mm 70-200mm 70-200mm
35mm equivalent focal length
(APS-C)		 112-320mm 105-300mm

105-300mm (1.5x)
112-320mm (1.6x)

105-300mm (1.5x)
112-320mm (1.6x)
Diagonal Angle of view (FF) 34º - 12º 34º - 12º 34º - 12º 34º - 12º
Diagonal Angle of view (APS-C) 23º - 8º 23º - 8º 23º - 8º 23º - 8º
Maximum aperture F2.8 F2.8 F2.8 F2.8
Minimum aperture F32 F22 F22 F32
Lens Construction

• 23 elements/ 18 groups
• 4 UD elements

• 21 elements/15 groups
• 5 ED elements

• 18 elements/15 groups
• 2 ELD elements
• 2 SLD elements

• 19 elements/16 groups
• 3LD elements
Number of diaphragm blades

8, rounded

 9, rounded 9 9, rounded
Minimum focus 1.4m 1.5m 1m 0.9m
Maximum magnification

0.17x at 200mm

 0.16x at 200mm 0.28x at 200mm 0.32x at 200mm
AF motor type • Ring-type ultrasonic
• Full-time manual focus		 • Ring-type ultrasonic
• Full-time manual focus		 • Ring-type ultrasonic
• Full-time manual focus		 • Micro motor
• Manual focus clutch
Focus method Internal Internal Internal Internal
Zoom method Internal Internal Internal Internal
Image stabilization

• 3 stops
• Dual mode - Normal and panning

• 3 stops
• Auto panning detection
• Active mode

 • None • None
Filter thread • 77mm
• Does not rotate on focus		 • 77mm
• Does not rotate on focus		 • 77mm
• Does not rotate on focus		 • 77mm
• Does not rotate on focus
Supplied accessories

• Front and rear caps
• ET-86 Hood
• LZ1324 Soft Case

 • Front and rear caps
• HB-29 Hood
• CL-L2 Soft Case		 • Front and rear caps
• Lens Hood
• Soft Case		 • Front and rear caps
• Lens Hood
• Soft Case
Optional accessories        
Weight 1570 g (55.4 oz) 1470g (51.8 oz) 1390g (49.0 oz) 1330g (46.9 oz)
Dimensions 86.2 mm diameter x 197 mm length
(3.4 x 7.8 in)		 87mm diameter x 215mm length
(3.4 x 8.5 in)		 86.6mm diameter x 184mm length
(3.4 x 7.2 in)		 89.5mm diameter x 194.3mm length
(3.5 x 7.6 in)
Lens Mount Canon EF only Nikon F only Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony
Other

• Dust and moisture sealing
• Supplies distance information for E-TTL II flash metering

• Dust and moisture sealing
• Reports focus distance information to camera body
• Three AF stop buttons

    

Click here for our lens review of the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM