Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L offers a typical tele lens focal length range. The attraction here is in the price: this is an actual L (luxury) lens from Canon, but for a price that reminds one of a cheap EF-S lens. You can get the lens for approximately 700 dollars or 500 euros. That's cheap for a quality lens, and based on just about all comments EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L is a brilliant piece of glass.

Canon has done several versions in this focal length. The f/4 is the basic option for hobby photographers. Advanced amateurs have two upgrade paths: keep the f/4 aperture, but add IS 4-stop image stabilizer, or forget the IS but upgrade the aperture to f/2.8. Both of these cost about as much, approximately 1400 dollars or 1000 euros. Not a bad price, and both lenses offer significant upgrades from the basic f/4 without IS. Professional photographers will probably go for the super option that is f/2.8 IS, but this'll set you back 2500 dollars.

Hobby photographers can forget the 2.8 IS, unless money really isn't an issue. Both f/4 IS and f/2.8 non-IS are very good lenses. Also, for the budget-minded, the f/4 non-IS is still a very good lens, even though it's the smallest and cheapest option here.

Compare prices

• EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L at Adorama
• EF 70-200mm f/4 USM IS L at Adorama
• EF 70-200mm f/2.8 USM L at Adorama
• EF 70-200mm f/2.8 USM IS II L at Adorama
• EF 70-200mm f/4L USM at Amazon
• EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM at Amazon
• EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM at Amazon
• EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM at Amazon

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Feature comparison

Here are the essential features of different models of Canon EF 70-200mm lenses:

• Maximum aperture is either f/4 or f/2.8, so that's a one-stop difference.
• All have USM, so focusing is both swift and silent.
• f/4 models don't come with a tripod ring, f/2.8 models have a tripod collar. You can buy a cheap off-brand tripod mount ring for f/4.
• f/4 models weigh about 700 grams, while the f/2.8 IS is heaviest of the bunch at whopping 1.5 kilos.
• f/2.8 models are about 20 cm long, while f/4 is just 17 cm.
• f/4 models are not weather sealed. Granted, they're better in this respect than many other lenses, but for proper professional weather-sealing, get f/2.8 IS.

In the end it comes down to money, but 1.5 kilos is a lot of weight and shooting handheld with a lens like that is going to get tiresome after a while. If you plan to carry the lens around with you, the lighter f/4 models make a lot of sense.

Reviews

• Photozone.de about f/4 IS: "build quality of this lens is excellent ... The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L IS is an amazing lens. It is truly outstanding when used on APS-C DSLRs and it suffers only from a minor quality deteriorations on full format DSLRs. ... only drawback is the very high price tag although price/performance-wise this is still a very sound offer. Highly recommended!"
• Photozone.de about f/4 non-IS: "a very harmonic package combining exceptional build quality with an excellent and very even optical performance throughout the range ... even better the price tag of this lens is amazingly low for what it offers ... if you can get a good one the EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L can be highly recommended!"
• The-Digital-Picture.com about f/4 non-IS: "Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM Lens is arguably Canon's best value "L" Lens, combining professional grade build and optical qualities. ... 70-200 f/4 L is a great value and a highly recommended lens."
• The-Digital-Picture.com about f/2.8 IS: "Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens is now my favorite and most-used lens. ... t is not an inexpensive lens, but it is very worth the price in my opinion - and very worthy of its red ring. While this is a completely pro-grade lens, you definitely do not have to be a pro to appreciate it. Get the "II"!"

Specifications (f/4 non-IS)

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture 70-200mm 1:4.0
Lens Construction 16 elements in 13 groups
Diagonal Angle of View 34° - 12°
Focus Adjustment Inner focusing system with USM
Closest Focusing Distance 1.2m / 3.9 ft.
Zoom System Rotating Type
Filter Size 67mm
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight 3.0" x 6.8", 25 oz. / 76mm x 172mm, 705g