Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM: Review, price and specification – Zooms

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The lens is made from 17 elements divided into 13 groups. This is much less than the EF 70-200mm f / 2.8L IS III USM SLR version, which is based on 23 optical elements in 19 groups, including one fluorite lens and five low dispersion glass elements. Here, the RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM incorporates two aspherical lenses, four UD glass lenses and a super UD glass lens that have reduced the number of lenses needed for its design. This results in a much higher compactness than the EF version since it is 27% shorter and 28% lighter with 1,070 g. This reduction is also allowed by the introduction of an electronic control of the floating optical blocks responsible for the development. A first at Canon. The minimum focusing distance drops to 70 cm with a magnification of 0.23x maximum and the diaphragm is composed of nine lamellae. The autofocus is provided by a dual Nano USM engine while a stabilization system compensates for the lack of stabilization by the sensor of the EOS R and EOS RP, but will still be useful on the future stabilized high-end model which Canon has indicated that "will benefit from the stabilization of objectives for optimal compensation of movements".

But it must be added that the RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is not equipped with an internal zooming system. If its length is only 146 mm long at the 70 cm position, it takes about 6 cm at the 200 mm position. Its size is then the same as that of the EF 70-200mm f / 2.8L IS III USM in length and slightly greater in diameter. Above all, this less pleasant design in the field makes the objectives more exposed to the problems of insertions of dust.

But Canon seems to have the solution since it indicates that in addition to the seals which benefits the objective – but of which it does not indicate the number or the location -, a ventilation system that generates a flow of air preventing the insertion of dust is present. The material used would promote the passage of air, but would make difficult the passage of moisture which would protect the objective. We could not measure this degree of protection. We can nevertheless note the impeccable manufacture of the lens that comes with a carrying case, protective caps and a cylindrical sun visor with a window to rotate a filter and a collar of foot.The latter will be useful for long shooting sessions and because the center of gravity of the camera + lens assembly leans forward, but the weight of the lens and its good grip make it easy to use. hand held without collar very comfortable.

Canon has placed a lock button to prevent unintentional elongation during transport. Unfortunately, it can only be used for other focal lengths up to 70 mm, in order to maintain a fixed focal position in the field as on the Sigma 60-600 mm, for example.

On the front of the lens, unlike other zoom lenses in the range except the RF24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM, is the zoom ring, wide and comfortable. Its high friction provides good accuracy and allows enough freedom to move quickly from one end to the other of the zoom range. Its rubberized coating with wide streaks offers a good grip even with fine gloves (it's season!).

Closer to the lens mount, the manual focus ring is thinner and has narrower streaks for identification of the rings to the touch. Its friction is also softer than that of the zoom ring, but it remains pleasant, including to perform a manual retouch of the point if the function was allowed in the settings of the case. On the other hand, it does not have a stop at its ends nor a scale of distances and even less a depth of field chart. However, it is possible in the camera's options to request the display of a scale of distances in the viewfinder, in manual focus as in a manual retouch of the autofocus point.

Finally, as close as possible to the mount, you will find the adjustable adjustment ring common to all RF lenses as well as the premium adapter for EF / EF-S lenses. Again, the coating of the ring has a specific finish for tactile identification. It is notched without excessive resistance and can be used for adjusting aperture, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, white balance, etc.

Between the two main rings, Canon has placed different selectors, to limit the focus range to a distance of at least 2.5 m, for fast manual focusing or to disable stabilization when using the camera. a tripod in long exposure for example. These selectors are sufficiently firm to prevent an involuntary switching from one position to another. The fourth has three positions for setting the stabilization: in mode 1, the compensation is continuous in all directions; in mode 2, it is only vertical so as not to harm the rendering of the yarns; and in mode 3, it only activates when triggering, avoiding excessive power consumption. We sometimes found that this fourth selector lacked firmness and that the central position was difficult to reach. But it is rare to have to switch from one mode to another very quickly. This point was not embarrassing on the ground.

The telephoto zoom lenses of 70-200 mm are among the indispensable ultrapolyvalente references in 24×36 allowing to indulge as well in the portrait as in the architecture, the sports disciplines and the animal-keeper provided not to photograph too difficult species to approach. This RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is no exception to the rule and even pays the luxury of offering a minimum focus distance of 70 cm when all other models on the market are limited to one meter reflex. But it should be noted that this minimum distance is accessible at the 70 mm position and allows to reach a magnification of 0.23x, while the minimum 96 cm of the Sony FE 70-200mm f / 2.8 GM OSS give the lens a maximum magnification of 0.25x also achieved by the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f / 4 OIS.

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The large maximum aperture constant at f / 2.8 is obviously an asset of this lens, for the brightness gain of 1 EV compared to a f / 4 version not necessarily much more compact and because it allows to consider its association with a teleconverter – when Canon will propose -, while maintaining a reasonable brightness since it will be f / 4 with a TC1,4 or f / 5,6 with a TC2 for example. The great opening of this lens is also favorable to obtaining a more pronounced bokeh.

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Our tests showed a very circular rendering in the center, but a cat eye effect quite visible on the edges of the image at full aperture. The machining quality of the lenses is very good and shows virtually no effect ofonion ring in circles produced. By closing the diaphragm, a star effect with eighteen branches, twice the number of diaphragm slats, is visible.

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If the large maximum aperture of the lens can limit the rise in sensitivity or the use of long exposure times, we can also count on the presence of a highly effective integrated stabilization system. Canon announces a gain of 5 EV that we could verify during our tests. At 200 mm, it was impossible for us to obtain a perfectly clear image at 1/125 s without stabilization whereas by activating the stabilization in mode 1, we were able to achieve perfectly sharp images up to 1/8 s .

In the field, we also appreciated the presence of a vertical stabilization mode 2 only to make yarns.

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The vignetting of the lens is very contained. Visible on a uniform 200mm full aperture range, it is very discreet at 70mm and disappears at f / 4 at all focal lengths without ever being annoying on the ground.

The distortion is not fully optically corrected, with barrel deformation at 70 mm and padding at 200 mm. But it is perfectly corrected by the case as shown by these images before and after correction by the EOS R that we used for our tests.

Finally, note the excellent behavior of autofocus which was both fast and perfectly silent. The displacement of the optical unit responsible for the focus does not cause any displacement of the center of gravity. The lens is responsive and comfortable. Only the stabilization system sometimes emits a very slight noise, perceptible only in complete silence.

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The measurements in our laboratory are done in partnership with Imatest. Software, tools or charters, Imatest offers complete and customized solutions to analyze and Review the quality of cameras and photographic lenses.The concept of dive is quite delicate to treat. This can be likened to the "sharpness" or "precision" that is observed in an image. It can be very different from one lens to another, from one focal point to another and from one openness to another. It can also vary between the center and the edges of the image.We tested the lens with an EOS R. Its 24 x 36 mm sensor records 30.1 MP, providing 6,720 x 4,480 px files. Each pixel therefore measures 5.36 μm.

The results of the measurements used by the Imatest software show a sharp dive at all focal lengths. This is simply the best measured on the RF range since neither the RF 24-105mm f / 4L IS USM, nor the RF 35mm f / 1.8 IS STM or the RF 28-70mm f / 2L USM that we already have tested did not achieve such high values.

The Canon RF70-200mm is excellent in the center when fully open, and so we can see the effect of its aspheric lenses limiting spherical aberration. The best results are obtained at extreme focal lengths, but remain very good over the entire zoom range.Neither does it suffer from a curvature of the field, and we therefore observe a homogeneity of its results, very good at extreme focal lengths and almost perfect at intermediate focal lengths.Our only criticism is the minimum aperture that is only blocked at f / 32. The diffraction is then such that it is obviously disadvised to push the opening up to this value. A limit of f / 22 would have been preferable, but it is safe to say that photographers who go beyond this opening will do so knowing the deplorable consequences on image quality.

These measurements made on our sight are confirmed by the observation of the images of our Review scene. The homogeneity is very good, the high pique at full aperture allows an excellent rendering of the details to all the focal lengths and all the openings, and no chromatic aberration is visible on the image.

Strong points

• Compactness in position 70 mm.

• Stabilization of 5 IL.

• Fast and silent autofocus.

• Focus at 70 cm.

• Pique high at all focal lengths when fully open.

• Excellent homogeneity.

• Seals.

• Tripod collar provided.

• Customizable adjustment ring.

Weak points

• No internal zooming.

• Blocking at 70 mm only.

• Vignetting at 200 mm full aperture.

• Distortion visible, but perfectly corrected.

Conclusion

Canon had promised excellent performance for its 70-200mm RF f / 2.8L IS USM and did not fail. While the lack of internal zooming may seem prejudicial, the brand claims to have compensated for this flaw by a suitable design, as well as the slight vignetting or distortion defects that are entrusted successfully to the correction algorithms of the boxes. For the rest, nothing wrong, this RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is excellent, better than those available in EF reflex mount at Canon or its competitors, and more consistent than what Sony offers with the FE 70-200mm f / 2.8 GM OSS. Congratulations! 

• Getting started

• In the field

• Optical quality

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