Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Z vs Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM

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RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Z compared with RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM

	CanonRF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Z	CanonRF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM
Overview
Released
Released	November 2024	March 2021
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/22	f/32
Optical construction
Optical construction	18 elements in 15 groups	Sixteen elements in eleven groups
Special elements
Special 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	Four UD elements; Air Sphere and fluorine coatings
Coatings
Coatings	ASC and Super Spectra; fluorine coating on front element	–
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Constant f/2.8 maximum and f/22 minimum; smooth electronic iris ring	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	11 circular aperture blades	Nine blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	29°–10° horizontal, 19°30′–7° vertical and 34°–12° diagonal on full frame	–
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon RF	Canon RF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle; stills iris-ring operation depends on camera support	Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R bodies; RF extenders not compatible
Teleconverter 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
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.49 m	0.6 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.3×	0.28×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Dual Nano USM motors independently drive two focusing groups for electronic floating focus control; full-time manual focus	Dual Nano USM drives focus and floating lens groups independently; electronic floating focus system
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Closest focus 0.49 m at 70 mm and 0.68 m at 200 mm; separate AF/MF distance modes not published	Minimum focus 0.6 m throughout the zoom range
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	0.2× at 70 mm and 0.3× at 200 mm (Canon Japan)	Maximum 0.28× at 200 mm
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	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	Optical IS rated five stops with EOS R at 200 mm under CIPA, yaw/pitch; coordinated IS rated 7.5 stops with EOS R5 at 200 mm under CIPA, yaw/pitch
Video features
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
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	82 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	88.5 mm	83.5 mm
Length
Length	199 mm	119 mm
Weight
Weight	1,115 g	695 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Control, focus, zoom and iris rings; iris Auto lock; lens function buttons	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
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zoom with 70° rotation; barrel length remains constant	Extending barrel; 119 mm length at 70 mm; 176 mm extended at 200 mm (Cameralabs)
Filter detail
Filter detail	82 mm front screw-in filter thread	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and moisture resistant construction with mount gasket; maker states it cannot completely prevent ingress and requires attachment to a camera	Dust and water resistant construction; Canon states this cannot completely prevent dust or droplets entering
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 88.5 mm maximum diameter × 199 mm length; same barrel size for white and black versions	Approximately 83.5 mm maximum diameter × 119 mm length, retracted
Weight detail
Weight detail	White 1115 g and black 1110 g, excluding tripod mount; headline uses photographed white model	Approximately 695 g lens
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Tripod foot removable; PetaPixel notes no Arca-Swiss profile or 90° collar click stops	No tripod collar mount (Cameralabs)
Lens hood
Lens hood	White ET-88C (WIII) or black ET-88C (B); LZ1328 case and E-82 II/Lens Dust Cap RF listed as accessories	ET-83G (WIII) hood included
In the box
In the box	ET-88C lens hood (Web Cameraman)	Lens, E-77 II front cap, RF dust cap, ET-83G (WIII) hood, LP1319 case and user manual kit
Release detail
Release detail	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	March 2021 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum and Canon's global annual lens-release list