Canon’s Most Popular 70-200mm Lenses Get an Overhaul

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

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Canon junkies will want to start saving their pennies, as the company has just released revamped models of their popular 70-200 zoom lenses. The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM serve professional and advanced amateur photographers respectively and are always both in high demand. They're currently available for preorder on Adorama, so let's take a look at what makes each lens so special.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III

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

Due to its flexibility, the 70-200 mm f/2.8 is on most photographer's wish list. And while the new revamp doesn't make any revolutionary changes, there are several noteworthy improvements. The biggest improvement is Air Sphere Coating added to the lens, which cuts down on flare and ghosting. An additional fluorine coating also keeps dirt and oils off the lens.

Known for its bright zoom, the lens stays open at f/2.8 throughout the zoom and special weather-resistant construction means it's quite durable. The lens retails for $2,099.00 and is available for pre-order on Adorama.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III Sample Images

Canon - EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Sample Image

Manual Exposure. Shutter speed 1/100. f/2.8. ISO 400

Canon - EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Sample Image

Aperture-Priority AE. Shutter Speed 5 sec. f/5.6. ISO 100

Canon - EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Sample Image

Manual Exposure. Shutter speed 1/2500. f/2.8. ISO 6400

 

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II

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

Designed for advanced amateurs, the EF 70-200 mm f/4 has gotten a big overhaul. While the f/2.8 has some slight tweaks, the new f/4 has major adjustments that will help bring it out of the shadows of its professional cousin.

The biggest improvements are in image stabilization. The Optical Image Stabilization now delivers up to 5 stops of correction, a big bump up from the 3 stops of the earlier version. The new IS Mode 3 also helps with photographing quick, unpredictable movement. The new system is also much quieter, leaving photographers inconspicuous in settings where noise is disruptive. Lastly, its minimum focusing distance of 3.3 feet greatly improves the range of the lens, allowing for even better close-ups than the previous version.

Like the f/2.8, the lens has an Air Sphere Coating which cuts down on ghosting and sun flare. On the plus side, it weighs half as much as the f/2.8 and, at $1,299, is more affordable. So while the f/2.8 may stay in high demand, with this new overhaul, the 70-200mm f/4 is closing the gap. Set to be released in June 2018, you can pre-order it on Adorama.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II Sample Images

EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM Sample Image

Aperture-Priority AE. Shutter speed 6 sec. f/11. ISO 100.

EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM Sample Image

Aperture-Priority AE. Shutter speed 1/3200. f/4. ISO 800.

EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM Sample Image

Shutter-Priority AE. Shutter speed 1/640. f/4.5. ISO 1600

Watch this video by Canon to learn more about the new 70-200mm lenses.

All images via Canon USA.

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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