The compact RF 70-200mm with f4 and image stabilizer is an expensive but razor-sharp zoom for Canon full-frame cameras.

Small and light, very sharp at all focal lengths, fast autofocus and excellent image stabilization, Weatherproof.

Expensive, can not use stand mount or teleconverter.

With built-in image stabilisation and strong image quality, but the widest aperture of f/4 isn’t the best on the market.

Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at how this compact telephoto zoom lens performs. Canon's EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM costs around £800 and has an Image Stabiliser, silent Ultrasonic focusing with full time manual override and is sealed against dust and moisture.

Excellent optical quality, Superb build quality, Very effective image stabilisation, Fast to focus, Sealed against weather and dust, Light weight

Sometime miss-focuses near minimum focus distance

This lens is absolute must have. The major downside to the f/2.8 is that it is twice the weight. This lens can be taken out for long periods without any pain. This lens in not an inside lens especially at f/4 but outside its extremely sharp and produces excellent colour. THIS LENS IS A MUST HAVE!

Overall, the f/4 lens clearly plays second fiddle on paper but it is a very easy lens to carry and to use. Though it is expensive it is only roughly half that of the f/2.8 version, based on Canons SRPs.

We take a closer look at the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM and see if it can compete with its f/2.8 sibling

Its compact size and Light weight can be deceiving when put next to its bigger brother, But at its f4 aperture the performance of this lens is truly amazing the IS system works well Testing it i went as low as 1/13 shutter speed at 200mm with IS on and it kept on taking usable images ..

Easy to use, Compact, Build quality

I was so undecided between the F4 IS and the f2.8 IS (MKI) that I bought both to compare side by side. For me the F4 IS was the clear winner. All images I tested were just as sharp if not sharper than the f2.8 IS. The lens is light and the AF is blistering fast.

IQ, BQ, Blistering fast AF

ZERO

A compact telephoto zoom lens from Canon's 'L' series sporting an image stabilisation and silent ultrasonic focusing.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM is clearly one of the best EF mount telephoto zoom lenses available on the market. The lens shows outstanding image quality with particular strength in the 70-135mm range.