Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/4L IS II USM

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

EF 28mm f/1.8 USM compared with EF 70–200mm f/4L IS II USM

	CanonEF 28mm f/1.8 USM	CanonEF 70–200mm f/4L IS II USM
Overview
Released
Released	September 1995	June 2018
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	28 mm	70–200 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/1.8	f/4
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/32
Optical construction
Optical construction	Ten elements in nine groups	20 elements in 15 groups
Special elements
Special elements	Aspherical lens element	One fluorite and two UD elements
Coatings
Coatings	–	Super Spectra coatings; fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements according to Canon's US launch announcement
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Seven blades	Nine blades with a circular aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	75° diagonal, 65° horizontal and 46° vertical	–
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EF cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensors	Canon EF mount full-frame and APS-C cameras
Adaptor support
Adaptor support	EF12 II extension tube gives 0.61–0.43× magnification; EF25 II gives 1.13–0.96×	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.25 m	1 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.18×	0.27×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	–	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	USM autofocus with mechanical full-time manual focusing. Canon's manual specifies turning the ring with the shutter half-pressed after One Shot AF	Ring-type USM with full-time manual focus override
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Physical length remains constant and the front element does not rotate according to Photozone	Maximum 0.27× magnification at 200 mm; internal focusing according to Digital Camera World
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	–	Five-stop CIPA claim at 200 mm on an EOS-1D X Mark II; three modes including exposure-only stabilisation for tracking moving subjects
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	–	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	58 mm	72 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	73.6 mm	80 mm
Length
Length	55.6 mm	176 mm
Weight
Weight	310 g (better)	780 g
Controls
Controls	AF/MF switch, focus ring, distance window, depth-of-field scale and infrared focus index	AF/MF, IS on/off and three IS mode switches; focus limiter excludes distances below 3 m according to Digital Camera World
Zoom design
Zoom design	–	Internal zooming maintains physical length according to Digital Camera World
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	–	Dust- and moisture-resistant construction
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Maximum diameter × length in retracted state; dimensions and 310 g weight are lens-only. Front and rear caps add 21.5 mm according to Canon's manual	80 mm maximum diameter × 176 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	–	Approximate 780 g maker figure; Digital Camera World specifies this excludes the optional tripod mount
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	–	Optional A II (W II) tripod mounting ring according to Digital Camera World; the maker photograph shows this separately sold accessory
In the box
In the box	–	Lens, pouch, caps, hood and instruction manual according to Canon UK
Lens hood
Lens hood	Optional EW-63 II petal hood; reversible for storage according to Canon's manual	–
Release detail
Release detail	Canon Camera Museum records September 1995 marketing; no first-sale day is given	Canon Japan announced first sale on 28 June 2018; Canon Camera Museum gives June 2018 and the US launch announcement states late June. The day is the Japanese sale date, not a separately confirmed UK date.