Canon EF 70-200mm, IS USM

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is a professional telephoto zoom made for Canon's EF system, covering everything from portraits and events through to sport and more distant subjects.

The big difference compared with a typical consumer telephoto zoom is the constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. You can shoot at f/2.8 at 70mm, 200mm and everywhere in between, giving you more flexibility in lower light and greater control over background separation.

This original IS version was introduced in 2001 and combines Canon's ring-type USM autofocus with optical Image Stabilisation rated at approximately three stops. It also supports full-time manual focusing, allowing manual adjustment without first switching out of autofocus mode.

And importantly, this isn't a digital-only lens. The Canon EF mount was used across Canon EOS film and digital SLR systems, so this lens can be used with compatible Canon EOS 35mm film cameras as well as Canon EF-mount digital DSLRs.

This is a substantial lens at around 1.59kg, but that's part of the trade-off for combining a 70-200mm range with a constant f/2.8 aperture and stabilisation.

Best for

• Portrait photography
• Sports
• Events
• Weddings
• Live music
• Documentary photography
• Telephoto landscapes
• Canon EOS film photography
• Canon DSLR photography
• Working photographers who need a fast telephoto zoom

What to expect

At 70mm, the lens works well for portraits, events and tighter compositions. Move towards 200mm and you get considerably more reach and stronger perspective compression.

The f/2.8 aperture remains available throughout the entire zoom range, rather than getting smaller as you zoom in.

Canon's Image Stabiliser provides approximately three stops of shake compensation, while the ring-type USM system provides autofocus with full-time manual override.

It's worth knowing that this is the original IS version, not the later EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM or IS III USM. The original focuses down to 1.4m and weighs approximately 1,590g. The II version arrived in 2010 with a 1.2m minimum focusing distance, revised optics and approximately four-stop stabilisation.