Compare lenses

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM vs Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM and the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM if you want a brighter f/2.8 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds. On these specs the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM and the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecCanon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USMCanon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
MakerCanonCanon
Focal length70-200mm (zoom)70-200mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent70-200mm70-200mm
Maximum aperturef/2.8brighterf/4
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsCanon EFCanon EF
Stabilisedyesyes
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range2.9×2.9×
Weight1490 gnot listed
Cameras it fits22 in this guide22 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080070-200mm equiv.EF 70-200mm f/2.8L
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM: 70-200mm.
142435508513520040080070-200mm equiv.EF 70-200mm f/4L
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM: 70-200mm.

Aperture

f/2.8
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM: f/2.8 wide open.
f/4
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM: f/4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

EF 70-200mm f/2.8L at 70mm · 29°EF 70-200mm f/4L at 70mm · 29°EF 70-200mm f/2.8L at 200mm · 10°EF 70-200mm f/4L at 200mm · 10°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

22 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

and 12 more

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

and 12 more

On their own pages