Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonEF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM | CanonEF 85mm f/1.2L USM | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | September 2018 | September 1989 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Prime |
| Focal length | 70–200 mm | 85 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.2 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32 | f/16 |
| Optical construction | 23 elements in 19 groups; retains the optical layout of the EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II USM | Eight elements in seven groups; floating optical system |
| Special elements | One fluorite and five UD elements | One aspherical element and two high-refraction elements according to Canon |
| Coatings | Air Sphere Coating and revised optical coatings; fluorine coating on front and rear element surfaces | – |
| Diaphragm | Eight blades with a circular aperture | Eight blades; non-rounded according to The Digital Picture |
| Angle of view | Diagonal 34°–12°; vertical 19°30′–7°; horizontal 29°–10° | 28°30′ diagonal, 24° horizontal and 16° vertical according to Canon's manual |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon EF | Canon EF |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Compatibility | Canon EF mount full-frame and APS-C cameras | Canon EF cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensors |
| Teleconverter support | EF1.4X III gives 98–280 mm f/4 and 0.30× maximum magnification; EF2X III gives 140–400 mm f/5.6 and 0.44×; autofocus remains available but is slower | – |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 1.2 m | 0.95 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.21× | 0.11× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | No |
| Autofocus detail | Ring-type USM; full-time manual override after One-Shot autofocus while holding the shutter button halfway | USM autofocus; The Digital Picture reports no focus-distance transmission for E-TTL II flash metering |
| Focus distance detail | Internal focusing; maximum 0.21× magnification at 200 mm | Electronically driven manual focusing requires the camera to be powered on; front element moves during focusing according to The Digital Picture |
| Stabilisation detail | Up to 3.5 stops under CIPA testing at 200 mm on an EOS-1D X Mark II; Mode 1 for still subjects and Mode 2 for panning; Canon notes tripod results depend on the tripod and shooting conditions | No optical stabilisation according to The Digital Picture's exact-model specifications |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | No |
| Filter diameter | 77 mm | 72 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 88.8 mm | 91.5 mm |
| Length | 199 mm | 84 mm |
| Weight | 1,480 g | 1,025 g (better) |
| Controls | AF/MF, IS on/off and IS mode switches; focus limiter selects 1.2 m–infinity or 2.5 m–infinity | AF/MF switch, focus ring, distance window and depth-of-field markings |
| Filter detail | – | Front screw-in filter; Canon's manual permits one filter at a time |
| Zoom design | Internal zooming maintains physical length (Digital Camera World) | – |
| Weather resistance | Dust- and moisture-resistant construction with a rubber gasket at the mount | Not weather sealed according to The Digital Picture's exact-model specifications |
| Dimensions detail | 88.8 mm maximum diameter × 199 mm length, measured from the mount to the lens front; add 24.2 mm for front and rear caps | 91.5 mm maximum diameter × 84 mm length; 1,025 g lens-only. Canon's manual gives a further 21.5 mm with both caps fitted |
| Weight detail | Approximately 1,480 g lens only according to Canon's instruction manual, UK store and Camera Museum; a Canon USA one-page specification chart instead lists approximately 1,440 g | – |
| Tripod mount | Included removable rotating B (W II) tripod mount ring; detach the lens from the camera before removing the collar | – |
| Lens hood | ET-87, with release button and reversible mounting for storage | ES-79 II according to Canon's manual; button-release fitting and reversible for storage |
| In the box | ET-87 hood and LZ1326 lens case according to the UK store; tripod mount ring included according to Canon's instruction manual | – |
| Release detail | Marketed in September 2018 according to Canon Camera Museum; Canon USA's 7 June announcement had scheduled US shipping for August 2018 | Canon Camera Museum records September 1989 marketing; no first-sale day is given |
More comparisons
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Z
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon RF 70–200mm F2.8 L IS USM
- Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM vs Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
- Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
- Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/4L IS II USM
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/4L IS USM
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/4–5.6 IS STM
- Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
- Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM vs Canon EF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM
- Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
- Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM

