Photo 1 of 15
Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM · Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF70-200mm f4L IS USM Slant.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
Canon · RF
RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM
A full-frame constant-f/4 telephoto zoom for EOS R cameras, with an extending barrel, dual Nano USM autofocus and optical stabilisation.
- Mount
- Canon RF
- Focal length
- 70–200 mm
- Max aperture
- f/4
- Stabilisation
- Yes
- Weight
- 695 g
What reviewers say
Both reviews praise its compact transport size, accurate autofocus and sharp results, while criticising extender incompatibility. Cameralabs finds strong distant corners throughout the range; Dustin Abbott sees a weaker patch at 135 mm. Their EOS R5 stabilisation tests also differ, with Cameralabs achieving around four stops and Abbott around six. Cameralabs favours keeping an existing EF equivalent for value.
From cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com and dustinabbott.net
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specOptics
- Lens type
- Zoom
- Focal length
- 70–200 mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/4
- Minimum aperture
- f/32
- Optical construction
- Sixteen elements in eleven groups
- Special elements
- Four UD elements; Air Sphere and fluorine coatings
- Diaphragm
- Nine blades
Mount and compatibility
- Mounts
- Canon RF
- Image circle
- Full frame
- Compatibility
- Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R bodies; RF extenders not compatible
Focus and stabilisation
- Autofocus
- Yes
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.6 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.28×
- Optical stabilisation
- Yes
- Autofocus detail
- Dual Nano USM drives focus and floating lens groups independently; electronic floating focus system
- 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
Design
- Dust and moisture resistant
- Yes
- Filter diameter
- 77 mm
- Maximum diameter
- 83.5 mm
- Length
- 119 mm
- Weight
- 695 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
- 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
- Dimensions detail
- Approximately 83.5 mm maximum diameter × 119 mm length, retracted
- Weight detail
- Approximately 695 g lens
- Tripod mount
- No tripod collar mount (Cameralabs)
- Lens hood
- ET-83G (WIII) hood included
- 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
Pros and cons
Pros
- Constant f/4 maximum aperture
- 119 mm length at 70 mm
- Dust and moisture resistant construction
Cons
- RF extenders not compatible
- Barrel extends when zooming
- No tripod collar mount
Closest rivals
Model | Mount | Focal length | Max aperture | Stabilisation | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon RF | 70–200 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | 1,070 g | Nov 2019 | |
| Canon RF | 70–200 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | 1,115 g | Nov 2024 | |
| Canon RF | 75–300 mm | f/4–5.6 | No | 507 g | May 2025 |
Sources
- canon.co.uk/lenses/rf-70-200mm-f4-is-usm-lens/specifications
- canon.co.uk/store/canon-rf-70-200mm-f4l-is-usm/4318C005
- global.canon/en/c-museum/product/rf501.html
- global.canon/en/news/2022/20220328.html
- cameralabs.com/canon-rf-70-200mm-f4l-is-usm-review
- cameralabs.com/canon-rf-70-200mm-f4l-is-usm-review/3
- dustinabbott.net/2021/03/canon-rf-70-200mm-f4l-is-usm-review
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, standing front view with the lens retracted: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, standing three-quarter front view: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, standing view showing the side switches: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, standing front view with the lens extended: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, three-quarter front view with the lens extended: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, three-quarter view with its lens hood attached: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, standing on a rock by the water: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, mounted on a camera held by a photographer: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, mounted on a camera resting on a rock: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, mounted on a camera resting on a map: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, mounted on a camera used by a photographer, front view: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM, mounted on a camera used by a photographer, rear view: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF70-200mm f4L IS USM Slant w Hood, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF70-200mm f4L IS USM Slant w Hood.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
- Canon RF70-200mm f4L IS USM Side Extended, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF70-200mm f4L IS USM Side Extended.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.