Canon RF 70–200mm F2.8 L IS USM vs Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Z
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonRF 70–200mm F2.8 L IS USM | CanonRF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Z | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | November 2019 | November 2024 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Zoom |
| Focal length | 70–200 mm | 70–200 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32 | f/22 |
| Optical construction | Seventeen elements in thirteen groups | 18 elements in 15 groups |
| Special elements | Three UD, one Super UD, one aspherical UD and one glass-moulded aspherical element; fluorine coatings on front and rear elements | Three aspherical elements including two glass-moulded and one replica; two Super UD elements and one UD element, with the UD glass-moulded aspherical element also counted among the asphericals |
| Coatings | – | ASC and Super Spectra; fluorine coating on front element |
| Aperture detail | – | Constant f/2.8 maximum and f/22 minimum; smooth electronic iris ring |
| Diaphragm | Nine circular-aperture blades | 11 circular aperture blades |
| Angle of view | – | 29°–10° horizontal, 19°30′–7° vertical and 34°–12° diagonal on full frame |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon RF | Canon RF |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Compatibility | Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R bodies; RF extenders not compatible | Canon EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle; stills iris-ring operation depends on camera support |
| Teleconverter support | – | RF 1.4x gives 98–280 mm f/4 with 0.42× maximum magnification; RF 2x gives 140–400 mm f/5.6 with 0.6×; autofocus and stabilisation retained |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.7 m | 0.49 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.23× | 0.3× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus detail | Dual Nano USM drives focus and floating lens groups independently; electronic floating focus system | Dual Nano USM motors independently drive two focusing groups for electronic floating focus control; full-time manual focus |
| Focus distance detail | Minimum focus 0.7 m | Closest focus 0.49 m at 70 mm and 0.68 m at 200 mm; separate AF/MF distance modes not published |
| Magnification detail | Maximum 0.23× at 200 mm | 0.2× at 70 mm and 0.3× at 200 mm (Canon Japan) |
| Stabilisation detail | Optical IS rated five stops under CIPA; three modes for general use, panning and exposure-only stabilisation | Lens OIS 5.5 stops at centre with EOS R8 at 200 mm; combined OIS/IBIS 7.5 centre and seven corner stops with EOS R1 at 200 mm under Canon's CIPA-2024 conditions |
| Video features | – | Optically suppressed focus breathing and electronic floating focus control; optional PZ-E2/PZ-E2B adapters provide motorised zoom; iris operation in stills depends on camera and firmware |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 77 mm | 82 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 89.9 mm | 88.5 mm |
| Length | 146 mm | 199 mm |
| Weight | 1,070 g (better) | 1,115 g |
| Controls | Zoom, electronic manual-focus and customisable control rings; focus limiter with full or 2.5 m–infinity range; AF/MF, IS on/off and three IS mode switches; zoom lock at 70 mm | Control, focus, zoom and iris rings; iris Auto lock; lens function buttons |
| Zoom design | Extending barrel with 146 mm retracted length at 70 mm | Internal zoom with 70° rotation; barrel length remains constant |
| Filter detail | – | 82 mm front screw-in filter thread |
| Weather resistance | Dust and water resistant construction; Canon states this cannot completely prevent dust or droplets entering | Dust and moisture resistant construction with mount gasket; maker states it cannot completely prevent ingress and requires attachment to a camera |
| Dimensions detail | Approximately 89.9 mm maximum diameter × 146 mm length, retracted | Approximately 88.5 mm maximum diameter × 199 mm length; same barrel size for white and black versions |
| Weight detail | Approximately 1,070 g lens | White 1115 g and black 1110 g, excluding tripod mount; headline uses photographed white model |
| Tripod mount | Removable Tripod Mount Ring E (WIII), included | Tripod foot removable; PetaPixel notes no Arca-Swiss profile or 90° collar click stops |
| Lens hood | ET-83F (WIII) hood included, with filter-adjustment window | White ET-88C (WIII) or black ET-88C (B); LZ1328 case and E-82 II/Lens Dust Cap RF listed as accessories |
| In the box | Lens, E-77 II front cap, RF dust cap, ET-83F hood, LP1424 drawstring case, Tripod Mount Ring E (WIII) and user manual | ET-88C lens hood (Web Cameraman) |
| Release detail | November 2019 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum | Canon Camera Museum confirms marketed November 2024; Photography Blog preview reports 14 November UK/Europe/US, while Web Cameraman reports 29 November Japan; precise regional retail days are secondary and headline retains maker-confirmed month |
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