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

Whilst easily overlooked, compared to the white image stabilised lenses, the 200/2.8 gives excellent image quality and is very solidly built. If this lens fits your photographic needs, look out for some used bargains.

Available from: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | B&H | Adorama

Lens specifications

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture 200mm 1:2.8
Lens Construction 9 elements in 7 groups
Diagonal Angle of View 12°
Focus Adjustment Rear focusing system with USM
Closest Focusing Distance 1.5m / 4.9 ft.
Filter Size 72mm
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight 3.3" x 5.4", 1.7 lbs. / 83.2 x 136.2mm, 765g

EF 200mm f/2.8L II 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 f/2.8L II USM telephoto lens block diagram

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

EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM reviews and articles

Written a review? Contact us and we'll add it to the list.

Sample images

None available at present.

Product launch

No information available on the 1996 launch of this lens.

Used Canon Lenses
• UK: MPB | Park
• USA: B&H | Adorama
Every Canon EF Lens: Read the Reviews, See the Specification & Check the Price
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