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

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Specifications:
Manufacturer Canon
Model EF 70-200 mm f/4L IS USM
Lens style Telephoto zoom
Focal length 70 - 200 mm
Maximum aperture f/4
Angle of view 34 - 12 o
Closest focusing distance 1.2 m
Maximum magnification 4.8
Minimum aperture 32
Number of diaphragm blades 8
Auto focus type Ring USM
Lens Construction 20 elements / 15 groups
Filter diameter 67 mm
Macro No
Available mounts Canon EF
Dimensions 172 x 76 mm
Weight 760 g
Additional information Marketed November 2006
Contains 1 fluorite lens and 2 UD lenses
Average rating (22 owners reviews)
Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money

Overall

4.79 Good
Owners reviews (22)
  1. TomH
    TomH 12 February 2020, 12:00
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 47.32.x.x
    Owner since:
    Price:
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Auto stabilization is a bit noisy but works beautifully

    Pros: Extremely sharp focus over the entire range Excellent Bokeh 1/2 the weight of the f2.8 version Well made Excellent built in image stabilization Fast auto focus

    Summary: This lens is very very sharp and the image quality is almost the same as the f2.8. That said it is a great vacation telephoto lens to take on a vacation at 1/2 the weight of it\'s f 2.8 big brother. If you shoot weddings or concerts the 2.8 is the better choice. If you are a vacationer and shoot in daylight your back might prefer the f4 IS 70-200.

  2. JimiH
    JimiH 26 September 2015, 10:31
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 79.157.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 680€
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: None.

    Pros: Excellent image quality in every aspect.

    Summary: Until the arrival of the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II version it was the best telephoto zoom ever made for the Canon EOS mount. Now just the second best... :P Worths every penny.

  3. caMARYnon
    caMARYnon 19 November 2013, 15:45
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 109.99.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 1150 EURO
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: nothing

    Pros: Excellent IQ, very good build quality, light weight

    Summary: Excellent IQ and AF even with 1,4x III extender.

  4. motorizatu
    motorizatu 5 September 2013, 12:33
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 89.120.x.x
    Owner since: 5 years
    Price: 1200 USD
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: None, I will trade it off only if I change the system. If I had to be picky, the IS is a little loud (on 24-105, the IS is bearily audible).

    Pros: Sharp, build like a rock, fast autofocus, colours very close to reality, light when comparing with f2.8 w/o IS variant, and only 90g over the 24-105mm

    Summary: Best lens I own, and one of the best that Canon ever made. Just for that reason I didn't switch to Nikon D600 and bought a Canon 6D instead. It's better than f2.8(without IS).

  5. druida64
    druida64 1 June 2013, 15:11
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 94.21.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 900 euro
    User profile: Professional

    Cons: none for me (in some situations F2.8 would be better)

    Pros: very sharp, IS is super, awesome colors

    Summary: One of the best lenses ever from Canon.

  6. Mark
    Mark 3 February 2013, 08:39
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 58.8.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price:
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: None I can think of practically

    Pros: Great build and image quality, especially sharpness and contrast. Light enough to carry around and hand-hold

    Summary: I use this for outdoor sports and love the image quality and the ease of use. I upgraded from the non IS to the IS some time ago and IQ is just as good.

  7. Dave Perkes
    Dave Perkes 17 July 2012, 07:30
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 111.90.x.x
    Owner since: 3 months
    Price: 1200
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Expensive for the IS version Should have a tripod foot included

    Pros: Fabulous image quality Incredibly sharp Performance at F4 excellent IS works extremely well light weight performance with 1.4x converter

    Summary: I bought this lens after comparing it with the similarly priced 70-200 F2.8 (no IS) The image quality is equally good. Its light weight, so makes an ideal travel tele zoom. I am a critical user and have found it has excelled in every way with 5Dmk 2. It works well with 1.4x converter even wide open give impressive sharpness. Bokeh not quite as good as my old Nikon 70-200 F2,8 but still gives satisfying results.

  8. Bazzinga
    Bazzinga 5 July 2012, 01:47
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 168.7.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 1200
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: So sharp it can be a problem for not so perfect human subjects.

    Pros: Sharpest zoom lens ever

    Summary: must buy

  9. wmaldito
    wmaldito 10 February 2012, 19:34
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 79.147.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 750
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Does not bring tripod ring. Audible IS.

    Pros: Excellent construction. Acute to all the f. IS very effective, sensational AF. Quite lightweight.

    Summary: Best zoom I've ever had, this lens the L series shows its quality.

  10. ronald ballet
    ronald ballet 14 January 2012, 14:38
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 91.177.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 910€
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: price ?

    Pros: sharpness, weight compared to 2.8 version, opticalquality

    Summary: very good lens

  11. hi-tower
    hi-tower 8 October 2011, 19:54
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 81.217.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 1100€
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Price (well, you get what you pay for!) Slightly noisy IS. Re-calibration was required, but now focus is perfect.

    Pros: Sharpness, overall fantastic IQ. Unique color rendering of fluorite glass. Build quality.

    Summary: I bought this lens in 2009 to complement my setup. I am extremely satisfied by the picture quality, in particular the magnificent color rendering is unmatched by any other lens I had the opportunity to use. It is MUCH more portable than any of the 2.8 versions, important if your camera is hanging off your neck on a hike. For low-light applications, I would rather advise to buy any of the 85mm/100mm/135mm primes, as the one stop gain of the 70-200mm f/2.8 will probably not suffice.

  12. aquadust
    aquadust 23 September 2011, 14:48
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 15.203.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 800EUR
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: price, sometimes struggles to achieve sharp performance on 7D (however was awesome on 30D), noisy IS

    Pros: build quality, relatively low weight and dimensions for 70-200 tele, very fast USM AF, nice IS - can shoot 1/30-1/40s @200mm hand-held, nice colours and contrast, bokeh is fine as well

    Summary: awesome weather-sealed "compact" tele lens with fast AF and perfect IS, insanely sharp on low to medium pixel-density sensors (30D, 40D etc), however not so amazing on 7D (18mpix APS-C), but you can always apply some sharpness in PP

  13. clevername
    clevername 27 August 2011, 19:25
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 84.75.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 1250 USD
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: nothing

    Pros: Beautiful image quality. Built like a tank.

    Summary: Excellent value for the quality.

  14. Woos
    Woos 8 March 2011, 06:30
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 24.22.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: $1000
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: None. Loud Image Stabilization, I guess.

    Pros: Small and light. Affordable for a professional build quality 70-200 zoom. Amazing optical quality. Fast auto-focus with limiter. Weather sealed. Good IS. Comes with a hood since it's an L.

    Summary: A very well built standard telephoto zoom that is much more affordable and lighter than the f2.8 offerings, yet maintains their excellent optical quality. Highly recommended. One of the best lenses in Canon's lineup.

  15. tomK
    tomK 11 January 2011, 04:59
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 72.19.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 1100
    User profile: Professional

    Cons: none

    Pros: very sharp, great bokeh, effective IS

    Summary: perfect telephoto when you have light - I augment with 135 and 85 primes in darker situations

  16. Simon
    Simon 8 January 2011, 17:52
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 86.158.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: ?
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Sometimes I wish for f2.8; No tripod ring

    Pros: Fast; great IQ; light for a high quality zoom; sharp

    Summary: So good that I keep thinking about trading up to the f2.8... and never actually doing it.

  17. Chris
    Chris 30 September 2010, 17:13
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 222.124.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 990
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Bokeh less than "brother" f/2.8

    Pros: Sharp Accurate AF

    Summary: Good value for money

  18. studiov1
    studiov1 15 September 2010, 13:14
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 79.103.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 1300
    User profile: Professional

    Cons: none

    Pros: very sharp and very fast and sharp focus w/ ds mark III and 7D .great handling and contrast.

    Summary: one of the best with 135/f2

  19. Sprtshootr
    Sprtshootr 8 September 2010, 09:29
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 24.17.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 1100
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: None

    Pros: Sharp, great color, very good bokeh, super fast and accurate AF, excellent image stabilization, good with TC's, compact

    Summary: One of the best lenses ever! It's difficult to make this lens act up. Best contrast against backlit subjects of any 70-200 zoom.

  20. kml
    kml 31 August 2010, 23:44
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 88.73.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price:
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: F4 is not very bright and not very fast for Sports, Bokeh on Crop for Portraits not so useful, on a 50D you have to stop down to F5.6 for amazing resolution

    Pros: IS !!! 1/20s using 200mm on a 50D handheld! USM, fast and precious focussing, ability of focus override, sharpness in general, size and weight!!!

    Summary: if you take photos of NOT fast moving objects and if you don`t need a big bokeh (especially with a crop cam) then you will be happy with it!!!

  21. Plasma
    Plasma 14 March 2010, 17:52
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 95.222.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 1000
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: None (maybe a bit heavy, compared to EF-S lens).

    Pros: On 40D a perfect lens; stellar optical results at any settings; build quality very solid; IS very effective and not comsuming too much for me.

    Summary: Would always recommend it.

  22. studioelan.pl
    studioelan.pl 18 May 2009, 16:19
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 95.108.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 1100 euro
    User profile: Professional

    Cons: none, (apart maybe from IS power consumption). visible vignetting at f4 (on 5D) but not really an issue.

    Pros: lightweight, extremely sharp, accurate af

    Summary: a great telephoto lens, but for low light work you'd probably be better off with the 2.8 version. (unless iso 3200 - 6400 is ok for you)

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