Just posted! Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS lens review
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
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 Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM
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 Nikon AF-S VR 70-200mm F2.8 G
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 Sigma 70-200mm 1:2.8 EX DG Apo Macro HSM II
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 Tamron 70-200mm 1:2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro
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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)
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105-300mm (1.5x) 112-320mm (1.6x)
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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
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• 21 elements/15 groups • 5 ED elements
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• 18 elements/15 groups • 2 ELD elements • 2 SLD elements
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• 19 elements/16 groups • 3LD elements
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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
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• 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
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• 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
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• Dust and moisture sealing • Reports focus distance information to camera body • Three AF stop buttons
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Click here for our lens review of the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM
Gear in this story
Gear in this story
Highly Recommended
DPReview score:
90%
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Feb 22, 2007
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Apr 26, 2011
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Apr 14, 2011
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Apr 26, 2011
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