Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM vs Canon RF 85mm F1.4L VCM
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonRF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM | CanonRF 85mm F1.4L VCM | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | March 2021 | September 2025 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Prime |
| Focal length | 70–200 mm | 85 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 | f/1.4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32 | f/16 |
| Optical construction | Sixteen elements in eleven groups | 14 elements in 10 groups |
| Special elements | Four UD elements; Air Sphere and fluorine coatings | One UD and one glass-moulded aspherical element |
| Coatings | – | ASC and Super Spectra; fluorine coating on the front element |
| Aperture detail | – | f/1.4–16 with stepless iris ring; no click-stop option (Amateur Photographer) |
| Diaphragm | Nine blades | 11 circular aperture blades |
| Angle of view | – | 24° horizontal, 16° vertical and 28°30′ 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 support is body/firmware dependent |
| Teleconverter support | – | Canon RF extenders not compatible |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.6 m | 0.75 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.28× | 0.12× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | No |
| Autofocus detail | Dual Nano USM drives focus and floating lens groups independently; electronic floating focus system | Voice Coil Motor autofocus; electronic manual focus; maker notes movement/noise in unpowered internal VCM components is normal |
| Focus distance detail | Minimum focus 0.6 m throughout the zoom range | – |
| Magnification detail | Maximum 0.28× at 200 mm | – |
| Stabilisation detail | 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 | No lens optical IS; maker separately lists camera IBIS CIPA-2024 performance of eight stops at the centre and seven at the corners under its camera/test conditions |
| Video features | – | Optically suppressed focus breathing and stepless iris control; UK maker footnote excludes stills iris-ring operation on EOS R/RP/Ra/R3/R5/R6/R6 Mark II/R7/R8/R10/R50/R100/R5 C even with current firmware |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 77 mm | 67 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 83.5 mm | 76.5 mm |
| Length | 119 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Weight | 695 g | 636 g (better) |
| 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 | Customisable control ring, focus ring, iris ring with Auto-position lock, function button and AF/MF switch (Amateur Photographer) |
| Filter detail | – | 67 mm front screw-in filter thread; compatible Canon 67 mm Protect and PL-C B circular polarising filters |
| Zoom design | Extending barrel; 119 mm length at 70 mm; 176 mm extended at 200 mm (Cameralabs) | – |
| Weather resistance | Dust and water resistant construction; Canon states this cannot completely prevent dust or droplets entering | Dust and moisture resistant with mount gasket; Canon states protection requires attachment to a camera and cannot prevent all dust or water ingress; no waterproof/IP rating inferred |
| Dimensions detail | Approximately 83.5 mm maximum diameter × 119 mm length, retracted | Approximately 76.5 mm maximum diameter × 99.3 mm length |
| Weight detail | Approximately 695 g lens | Approximately 636 g lens |
| Tripod mount | No tripod collar mount (Cameralabs) | – |
| Lens hood | ET-83G (WIII) hood included | ET-73C; maker lists E-67 II cap, Lens Dust Cap RF and LP1219 pouch as accessories |
| In the box | Lens, E-77 II front cap, RF dust cap, ET-83G (WIII) hood, LP1319 case and user manual kit | – |
| Release detail | March 2021 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum and Canon's global annual lens-release list | Canon Japan specifies first sale on 27 September 2025; no UK first-sale day inferred |
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