Head-to-head · Best Telephoto Lenses for Canon RF

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM vs Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.8 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Portrait, wedding, event and sports shooters who need a fast constant-aperture telephoto for low light and subject separation in a lighter-than-ever body. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Telephoto Lenses for Canon RF

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM

4.8

$2,699as of Jun 7

The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM reinvents the classic pro zoom for mirrorless, delivering the performance of a full-size 70-200mm f/2.8 in a package nearly 30% lighter and shorter. It is sharp wide open across the range, has class-leading stabilization, and pairs a constant f/2.8 with gorgeous bokeh. The trade-offs for that compactness are an extending barrel and no teleconverter support.

Strengths

— Beautifully sharp across the entire range, even wide open at f/2.8
— Nearly 30% lighter and shorter than the EF Mark III at around 1070g
— Exceptional image stabilization rated up to 7.5 stops with in-body IS

Watch-outs

— Externally zooming design extends the barrel and is less weather-resistant in concept
— Cannot accept teleconverters, so it is locked to its 70-200mm range
— Longer minimum focus distance than some rivals

$2,699 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Telephoto Lenses for Canon RF

Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM

4.5

$1,099as of Jun 7

The Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM is a quirky but brilliant solution to a real problem: getting to 800mm without spending a fortune or breaking your back. For around $900 it delivers genuinely good sharpness and surprisingly capable autofocus in a light, retractable body. The catch is the fixed f/11 aperture, which restricts it firmly to bright conditions, and modest stabilization for the focal length.

Strengths

— Massive 800mm reach for around $900, a bargain in super-telephoto terms
— Very good center sharpness that holds up well across the frame
— Remarkably light for its reach at about 1260g, easily handholdable

Watch-outs

— Fixed f/11 aperture cannot be changed, limiting use to bright conditions
— Image stabilization is a modest 4 stops, low for an 800mm lens
— No weather sealing

$1,099 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM

It is the low-light and portrait specialist of this group, the only lens here with a constant f/2.8 aperture, far brighter than the variable-aperture Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM or Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM. The trade-off is reach: it stops at 200mm and cannot take teleconverters, so it lacks the wildlife range of the others.

Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM

It is the cheapest path to 800mm in this group, undercutting the zoom Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM in price but giving up that lens's flexibility and slightly faster aperture for a fixed focal length and a fixed f/11. It cannot match the versatility of the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM or the low-light ability of the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM, and it is far slower than the budget Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM, but nothing else reaches 800mm this cheaply.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM	Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM
Focal Length	70-200mm	800mm
Max Aperture	f/2.8 (constant)	f/11 (fixed)
Mount	Canon RF (full-frame)	Canon RF (full-frame)
Weight	1070g	1260g
Filter Thread	77mm	95mm
Stabilization	Up to 7.5 stops (with in-body IS)	4 stops (lens IS)
Minimum Focus	0.7m	—
Teleconverter	Not compatible	—
Design	—	Retractable
Autofocus	—	STM

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