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News

The New Canon 70-200mm Lens Updates are Very Perplexing

Chris Gampat
No Comments
06/07/2018
3 Mins read
HR_EF70-200_4L_IS_II_USM_MOUNTRING_CL

Last Updated on 06/09/2018 by Mark Beckenbach

The Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L III IS USM and Canon 70-200mm f4 L IS II USM are being updated today in sort of odd ways

Oh Canon, what are you doing? Today, the company is announcing that they’re making changes to both of their 70-200mm lenses. The more common changes amongst both are that they’re getting a newer white exterior to fully match the other telephoto L lenses in their lineup. In terms of consistency, that makes sense. Then there are new coatings on their lenses. But otherwise, when it comes to the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L III IS USM, those are the big, major changes. The optics are the same as the previous lens. Why? Well, I guess Canon believes that the optics are good enough, or they’re confident enough to say that it will be able to resolve the resolution of any sensors they happen to be creating later on.

But in the case of the new Canon 70-200mm f4 L IS II USM, Canon stated in a call to the press recently that the new lens is more of a redesign than a refresh. The f4 lens now has five stops of image stabilization, closer focusing abilities, and very much improved durability and weather sealing. Canon’s specs and notes from our meeting are below.

Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L III IS USM (Refresh)

Lens

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture

70–200mm f/2.8

Lens Construction

23 elements in 19 groups

Diagonal Angle of View

34°–12°

Focus Adjustment

AF with full-time manual

Closest Focusing Distance

3.94 ft. / 1.2m

Filter Size

77mm

Max. Diameter x Length, Weight
  • AFC, air sphere coatings reduce ghosting
  • Fluorine coatings
  • Optics at the same level
  • Same shade of white as the f4 version
  • Durability stays the same
  • 23 elements
  • Price, shipping august
  • IS at 3.5 stops

Additional noteworthy features of the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM include:

  • Optical Image Stabilizer up to 3.5 shutter speed stops1 of correction
  • Fluorine coating on front and rear elements helps to reduce smears and fingerprints
  • Inner focusing system with Ring Ultrasonic Motor
  • One fluorite lens and five UD lenses helps to provide high-image quality
  • Minimum focusing distance of 1.2m (3.9ft)
  • Lens features 23 elements in 19 groups
  • Circular eight blade aperture

Canon 70-200mm f4 L IS II USM (Redesign)

Lens

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture

70–200mm f/4

Lens Construction

20 elements in 15 groups

Diagonal Angle of View

34°–12°

Focus Adjustment

AF with full-time manual

Closest Focusing Distance

3.28 ft. / 1m

Filter Size

72mm

Max. Diameter x Length, Weight
  • Advanced users that want lightweight and sometimes even APS-C bodies
  • Better IS; from 3 stops to 5 stop IS
  • Focusing closer at 1 meter
  • Reduced ghosting due to new coatings
  • Improved durability with fluorine coatings to front and rear elements.
  • Claims of being able to shoot at 200mm to 1/2 second handheld by Canon reps in their offices
  • More silent image stabilization
  • Not an STM motor
  • IS Mode 3 panning. IS 1 is all around. 2 is panning. 3 kicks in right before you press the shutter
  • 20 elements in 15 groups; different arrangements
  • 1 fluorite and 2 UD lenses
  • 72mm front filter thread
  • Slightly less white exterior
  • Optional tripod mount ring
  • 9 aperture blades
  • 176mm total length
  • 800 grams weight
  • Weather sealing is improved and matches all the other L series lenses
  • Pricing: $1,299.00
  • Availability: Ships in June 2018

Additional noteworthy features of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM include:

  • One fluorite lens and two UD lenses helps to provide high-image quality
  • Minimum focusing distance shortened from 1.2m to 1m (3.9ft to 3.3ft)
  • Super Spectra Coating technology and optimized lens element placement helps minimize ghosting and flaring
  • Circular nine blade aperture producing a beautiful bokeh quality, ideal for portrait shooting
  • Lens features 20 lens elements in 15 groups
  • Fluorine coating on front and rear elements helps to reduce smears and fingerprints
  • Inner focusing system with Ring Ultrasonic Motor

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is scheduled to begin shipping in late June 2018 with an estimated retail price of $1,299.00. The Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III is scheduled to begin shipping in August 2018 for an estimated retail price of $2,099.00^.

canon Canon 70-200mm Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L III IS USM Canon 70-200mm f4 L IS II USM coatings color image quality lenses refresh weather sealing white
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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