Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8L USM vs Canon EF 70–200mm f/4L USM

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EF 70–200mm f/2.8L USM compared with EF 70–200mm f/4L USM

	CanonEF 70–200mm f/2.8L USM	CanonEF 70–200mm f/4L USM
Overview
Released
Released	March 1995	September 1999
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	18 elements in 15 groups	16 elements in 13 groups
Special elements
Special elements	Four UD elements	One fluorite and two UD elements
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra coatings	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Eight blades	Eight blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	Horizontal 29°–10°; vertical 19°30′–7°; diagonal 34°–12°	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	Canon Extender EF1.4X gives 98–280 mm f/4; EF2X gives 140–400 mm f/5.6, with autofocus supported according to Canon	Compatible with Canon EF1.4X and EF2X extenders; The Digital Picture notes EF1.4X II gives 98–280 mm f/5.6 and EF2X II gives 140–400 mm f/8, with camera-dependent autofocus at f/8
Adaptor support
Adaptor support	Canon Extension Tube EF12 II gives 0.22–0.06× magnification; EF25 II gives 0.41–0.14×	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	1.5 m	1.2 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.16×	0.21×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Ring-type USM with mechanical full-time manual focusing	Ring-type USM with mechanical full-time manual focus override
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Internal focusing; non-rotating front filter thread; minimum 1.5 m focus and maximum 0.16× magnification at 200 mm	Internal focusing; front does not rotate (The Digital Picture); maximum 0.21× magnification at 200 mm
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No optical image stabilisation (ePHOTOzine and The Digital Picture)	–
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	No
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	84.6 mm	76 mm
Length
Length	193.6 mm	172 mm
Weight
Weight	1,310 g	705 g (better)
Controls
Controls	AF/MF switch, focus-range limiter, focus and zoom rings (The Digital Picture)	AF/MF switch and focus limiter, with full 1.2 m–infinity range or 3 m–infinity (ePHOTOzine)
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zooming maintains the physical length throughout the zoom range (ePHOTOzine and The Digital Picture)	Internal zooming maintains physical length (ePHOTOzine and The Digital Picture)
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Canon states water and dust resistance; The Digital Picture describes partial sealing around switches and rings, with no lens-mount gasket and a front filter needed for sealing	Not weather sealed according to The Digital Picture
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	84.6 mm maximum diameter × 193.6 mm length	76 mm maximum diameter × 172 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	–	705 g according to Canon's UK specifications and Camera Museum
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Included tripod collar (ePHOTOzine and The Digital Picture)	Optional Ring Tripod Mount A (W) at launch; The Digital Picture also identifies compatible A II (W)
Lens hood
Lens hood	–	ET-74
In the box
In the box	Lens hood and case (Canon); lens caps and tripod collar (ePHOTOzine)	Lens hood and case according to Canon Camera Museum; tripod collar sold separately
Release detail
Release detail	Marketed in March 1995 according to Canon Camera Museum	Marketed in September 1999 according to Canon Camera Museum