Every Canon EF Lens: Read the Reviews, See the Specification & Check the Price
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Overview

Canon's 200mm telephoto lens is widely reknowned for its optical quality, and its fast f/2 aperture means you will see plenty of them in the press area at sports events under artificial lighting. The large front element requires the use of rear drop-in filters.

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Lens specifications

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture 200mm f/2
Lens Construction 17 elements in 12 groups
Diagonal Angle of View 12° (on full-frame sensor camera)
Focus Adjustment Inner focusing system with USM, AF with manual focus option
Closest Focusing Distance 6.2 ft. / 1.9m
Filter Size 52mm (Drop-in Gelatin Filter Holder)
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight 5.0 in. x 8.2 in./ 128mm x 208mm (maximum lens length); 5.6 lbs./2,520g

EF200mm f/2L IS USM telephoto lens block diagram

EF200mm f/2L IS USM telephoto lens mtf chart

A quick guide to MTF charts (which only measure contrast and resolution. Canon's guide to their MTF charts)

Black lines reflect lens performance at widest aperture.
Blue lines show the performance at f/8

Thick lines indicate lens contrast
Thin lines indicate lens resolution

Dashed lines: Lens performance with meridional lines.
Solid lines: Lens performance with sagittal lines

Closer sagittal and meridional chart lines indicate more 'natural' out of focus areas.

Remember that MTF charts are good for comparing similar lenses, so comparing ones from the 14mm f2.8L and 300mm 2.8L won't tell you much at all, whilst comparing the EF14 2.8L with the EF14 2.8L II will show meaningful differences. Note that other manufacturers may have different ways of displaying such information that may or may not match up with the Canon figures.

EF 200mm lenses

Attribute f/1.8L USM f/2L IS USM f/2.8L USM f/2.8L II USM
Full-frame compatible Yes
Image stabilizer  No  Yes  No
Ultrasonic Motor  Yes
L-series  Yes
Diffractive Optics  No
Macro  No
Aperture (max-min) f/1.8-f/22 f/2.0-f/22 f/2.8-f/22
Construction 10 groups / 12 elements 12 groups / 17 elements 7 groups / 9 elements
Diaphragm blades 8
Closest focusing distance 2.5 Meters 1.9 Meters 1.5 Meters
Max. magnification 0.12 0.09 0.16 0.16
Horizontal viewing angle 10°
Diagonal viewing angle 12°
Vertical viewing angle
Weight 6.61 lb / 3000g 5.55 lb / 2520g 1.74 lb / 790g 1.68 lb / 765g
Maximum diameter 5.11" / 130mm 5.03" / 128mm 3.26" / 83mm 3.27" / 83.2mm
Length 8.18" / 208mm 5.36" / 136.2mm
Filter diameter 48mm (drop-in) 52mm (drop-in) 72mm
Lens hood ET-123 ET-120B ET-86 ET-83BII
Case - LENS CASE 200 - LP1222
Tripod Ring Integrated Integrated Tripod Ring A (B) Tripod Ring A (B)
Release date November 1988 April 2008 December 1991 March 1996
Current  No  Yes  No  Yes

EF200mm f/2L IS USM reviews and articles

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Sample images

None available at present.

Product launch

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 23, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the launch of two new telephoto lenses for use with its EOS SLR cameras: the EF200mm f/2L IS USM and the EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM, the world's longest focal length lens with an Optical Image Stabilizer system.

The Company, which exhibited prototypes of the lenses during PhotoPlus Expo in New York last October, is launching them at the PMA tradeshow (booth E101) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 31 to February 2.

"The development of these two new lenses continues to show how Canon actively responds to the imaging needs of our professional and advanced amateur customers. We are proud to provide the right equipment to help photographers capture the best and brightest images under all conditions," said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

The EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM and EF200mm f/2L IS USM are professional L-Series lenses that incorporate the latest generation of Canon's high-performance Optical Image Stabilizer system (OIS), giving them a stabilization effect equivalent to a shutter speed four settings faster. In addition, they feature optical systems utilizing fluorite and UD lens elements to provide excellent chromatic aberration correction for high-resolution, high-contrast shooting performance. Both lenses use only lead-free glass, and also incorporate lightweight yet durable magnesium alloy lens barrels with enhanced resistance to moisture and dust.

The Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM is an exceptionally sharp lens that is significantly lighter (2520g/5.5 lbs. vs. 3000g/6.6 lbs.) than its predecessor, the renowned EF200mm f/1.8L USM lens, while adding OIS and a weather-resistant design. Ideal for all kinds of low-light photography including portraiture as well as indoor sports, the EF200mm f/2L IS USM has a close-focus setting of 1.9 m/6.2 feet and a circular aperture system that enhances its background blur rendition at wide apertures.

The Canon EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM is not only the longest focal length lens available with OIS, it is also virtually the same physical size as the EF600mm f/4L IS USM (461mm vs. 456mm), while weighing nearly 2 lbs. less (4500g/9.9 lbs. vs. 5360g/11.8 lbs.). These outstanding features were made possible by the use of a lightweight magnesium alloy lens barrel construction and a state-of-the-art super-telephoto optical system featuring 2 fluorite elements as well as Super UD and UD glass elements. The EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM is well-suited for a wide variety of long-range big money photo applications such as wildlife and nature photography as well as sports and documentary photojournalism.

The new Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM is scheduled to be available in April at an estimated retail price of $5,999.00 and the new Canon EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM is scheduled to be available in May for an estimated retail price of $11,999.00.

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Every Canon EF Lens: Read the Reviews, See the Specification & Check the Price
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