Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/4L IS 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 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II USM compared with EF 70–200mm f/4L IS USM

	CanonEF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II USM	CanonEF 70–200mm f/4L IS USM
Overview
Released
Released	March 2010	November 2006
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	70–200 mm	70–200 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/4
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/32
Optical construction
Optical construction	23 elements in 19 groups	20 elements in 15 groups
Special elements
Special elements	One fluorite and five UD elements	One fluorite and two UD elements
Coatings
Coatings	–	Super Spectra coatings
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Eight blades with a circular aperture	Eight blades with a circular aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	Diagonal 34°–12°; vertical 19°30′–7°; horizontal 29°–10°	Diagonal 34°–12°; vertical 19°30′–7°; horizontal 29°–10°
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EF mount full-frame and APS-C cameras	Canon EF mount full-frame and APS-C cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	EF1.4X II gives 98–280 mm f/4 and 0.30× maximum magnification; EF2X II gives 140–400 mm f/5.6 and 0.44×; autofocus remains available but is slower	EF1.4X II gives 98–280 mm f/5.6 and 0.31× maximum magnification with autofocus; EF2X II gives 140–400 mm f/8 and 0.45×, with autofocus limited to compatible bodies and slower operation
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	1.2 m	1.2 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.21×	0.21×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Ring-type USM; full-time manual override after One-Shot autofocus while holding the shutter button halfway	Ring-type USM; full-time manual override after One-Shot autofocus while holding the shutter button halfway
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Internal focusing with a non-rotating front (Bob Atkins); maximum 0.21× magnification at 200 mm	Internal focusing with a non-rotating front; maximum 0.21× magnification at 200 mm
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Four-stop optical IS claim; Mode 1 corrects shake in all directions and Mode 2 supports panning; Canon notes tripod results depend on the tripod and shooting conditions	Four-stop launch claim based on a shutter speed of 1/focal length; Mode 1 for still subjects and Mode 2 for panning; manual recommends switching off on a tripod to save battery power
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	88.8 mm	76 mm
Length
Length	199 mm	172 mm
Weight
Weight	1,490 g	760 g (better)
Controls
Controls	AF/MF, IS on/off and IS mode switches; focus limiter selects 1.2 m–infinity or 2.5 m–infinity	AF/MF, IS on/off and IS mode switches; focus limiter selects 1.2 m–infinity or 3 m–infinity
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zooming maintains physical length (Bob Atkins)	Internal zooming maintains physical length
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust- and moisture-resistant mount, focus-mode switch and focusing ring; rubber gasket at the mount	Dust- and moisture-resistant construction with a rubber gasket at the mount
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	88.8 mm maximum diameter × 199 mm length, measured from the mount to the lens front without caps	76 mm maximum diameter × 172 mm length, measured from the mount to the lens front without caps
Weight detail
Weight detail	1,490 g; Canon's instruction manual states its listed size and weight are for the lens only	760 g lens only according to Canon's instruction manual
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Included removable rotating Ring-Type Tripod Collar B (W); detach the lens from the camera before removing the collar	Optional A II (W) tripod mount ring; collar can be removed while the lens remains attached to the camera
Lens hood
Lens hood	ET-87, with release button and reversible mounting for storage	ET-74, reversible for storage
In the box
In the box	Lens hood ET-87, tripod collar and lens case LZ1326 according to Canon's launch announcement; front and rear caps according to Bob Atkins	Lens hood and pouch according to Canon's launch announcement; ET-74 and LP1224 models identified in the instruction manual
Release detail
Release detail	Marketed in March 2010 according to Canon Camera Museum; Canon's 5 January 2010 announcement explicitly identifies the EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS USM as its predecessor	Marketed in November 2006 according to Canon Camera Museum; the stabilised model was sold alongside the non-stabilised f/4 version