Photo: Dirk-Jan Kraan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Quick answer
The EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM is a compact 200mm telephoto prime with an f/2.8 aperture, popular for sports and portraits. Light for its speed and focal length.
Pros
- f/2.8 aperture
- Light for a 200mm (765 g)
- Sharp
- Fast focus
Cons
- No stabilization
- Long minimum focus distance (1.5 m)
- Single focal length
Verdict
A compact telephoto prime if you can live without IS.
About this lens
This 200mm f/2.8 telephoto prime lens from Canon fits Canon EF mount cameras, from the Canon L series with ultrasonic-motor autofocus. It brings distant subjects closer for sports, wildlife and events.
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 200mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/200.0
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 1996
- Optical construction
- 9 elements in 7 groups
- Aperture blades
- 8
- Autofocus motor
- USM
- Minimum focus distance
- 1.5 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.16x
- Filter thread
- 72 mm
- Weight
- 765 g
- Length
- 136.2 mm
- Diameter
- 83.2 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM?
- Sports
- Portraits
- Stage events
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 200mm | 10.3° | 12.3° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 320mm | 6.4° | 7.7° |
Frequently asked questions
Does the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II have image stabilization?
No. It is a compact non-stabilized prime, so handheld work in dim light relies on its f/2.8 aperture.
What filter size does the EF 200mm f/2.8L II use?
It uses 72mm screw-in filters. Check the thread size before buying polarizers or ND filters so they fit without step-up rings.
EF 200mm f/2.8L II vs EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II?
The prime is lighter and often sharper wide open. The zoom is more flexible and has IS.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
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AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro 1:2
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SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro (A001)
70-200mm · f/70.0 · Canon EF
