One of the most versatile lenses available, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM from Canon is an L-series telephoto zoom distinguished by its bright design and advanced optics. Ideal for a variety of subjects ranging from portraiture to sports, the fast constant f/2.8 maximum aperture excels in difficult lighting conditions and also offers increased control over depth of field for isolating subjects. The optical layout makes use of one fluorite element and five UD elements to suppress chromatic aberrations and color fringing in order to realize a high degree of clarity throughout the zoom range. An Air Sphere Coating is also featured, and works to reduce flare and ghosting for greater color fidelity and contrast in all conditions.

Complementing the speed and optics is an Optical Image Stabilizer, which compensates for 3.5 stops of camera shake to better enable working handheld and in low-light situations. A ring-type USM and internal focusing mechanism also afford quick, quiet, and accurate autofocus performance, as well as full-time manual focus override. Additionally, this lens is weather-sealed for use in trying environmental conditions.

EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format    Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32    One Fluorite Element & Five UD Elements    Air Sphere Coating    Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System    Optical Image Stabilizer    Internal Focus, Focus Range Limiter    Weather-Sealed Design, Fluorine Coating    Detachable, Rotatable Tripod Collar    Rounded 8-Blade Diaphragm

Versatile telephoto zoom is designed for full-frame Canon EF-mount DSLRs, however can also be used with APS-C models where it provides a 112-320mm equivalent focal length range.

Bright constant f/2.8 maximum aperture affords consistent performance throughout the zoom range and offers notable control over depth of field for working with selective focus techniques.

One fluorite element and five ultra-low dispersion glass elements noticeably reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations for high clarity and color fidelity.

An Air Sphere Coating (ASC) has been applied to lens elements to reduce backlit flaring and ghosting for maintained light transmission and high contrast in strong lighting conditions.

An Optical Image Stabilizer helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake by up to 3.5 shutter speed stops to better enable working in low-light conditions and with slower shutter speeds. In addition to the single-shot standard IS mode, a second mode is also available that it optimized for panning.

A ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM), along with an internal focusing system, is employed to deliver fast, precise, and quiet autofocus performance as well as full-time manual focus override.

Focus Limiter switch lets you constrain the focusing to two different ranges to suit different applications: 3.9'-infinity or 8.2'-infinity.

Rounded eight-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing out of focus quality that benefits the use of shallow depth of field and selective focus techniques.

A weather-resistant design protects the lens from dust and moisture to enable its use in inclement conditions. Additionally, fluorine coatings have also been applied to the front and rear lens elements for further protection against fingerprints and smudging.

Removable rotating tripod collar is included and benefits working with the lens atop a tripod or monopod.

Compatible with optional EF 1.4X and EF 2X teleconverters.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. What is Optic Deal today mean?

A: Optic is a photographic symposium being held by B&H. While Optic is open, we are offering special deals. Act quickly for they are like Cinderella's coach and can vanish.

Q: 2. Will this lens work on canon 5D mark 3?

A: Yes, this lens will work on a Canon 5D mark III.

Q: 3. Is this lens only for Canon cameras or will it work on my old Nikon D90?

A: This is for Canon DSLRs, and will not work with the Nikon D90.

Q: 4. Is a UV filter recommended to be used with this lens? I understood that the version iii of this lenses have a special coating, and other coated filter may destroy the function of this lens.

A: Yes, a uv filter is always a good idea, not just to cut down on uv haze but also to protect the front element from getting scratched.

Q: 5. I have a canon rebel T 6 and a Tamron lense piezo drive 16-300 . How is this lense different/better?

A: This lens offers a telephoto zoom range and a constant aperture of f/2.8. While it lacks the wider focal lengths and compact size of the Tamron 16-300mm, it would perform better in low light, offers weather sealing and offers a tripod collar to support the lens from a tripod as needed. Whether it would be better is going to depend on what you're shooting.

Q: 6. will this fit on my Eos 1dx mark III?

A: Yes. The canon 1dx adapts to Canon EF lens.

Q: 7. has anyone used this lens with the Lumix Gh4 and a metabones adapter... Any issues with autofocus?

A: The focusing will work, but it is not nearly as efficient as using a native lens. Continuous focusing does seem to hunt quite a bit with the adapter and this lens as well.

Q: 8. Is the III the same as the II except for the addition of newer coatings on the outer element surfaces?

A: All of my comments are intended to address ONLY the 70-200/2.8L-II and 70-200/2.8L-III lenses (not the f/4 series).The L-II and the new L-III 70-200/2.8 lenses do, indeed, appear to be identical in design and feature set, and nearly identical every other way, with the exception of (1) the new Air Sphere Coating (ASC) on the new L-III version (which is intended to suppress flare and ghosting, particularly in strongly backlit situations); and (2) anti-smudge/easy-to-clean Fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements (not to be confused with Fluorite coatings on internal lens elements, which BOTH the L-II and the newer L-III have). A close study of the official Canon websites in both Japan and USA indicate that all physical dimensions, mass (weight), technical specifications (lens groups and elements; arrangement; internal and external design; AF and IS* design, functions, and performance; etc.), lens design and feature set all appear to be IDENTICAL between the L-II and the new L-III lens, again, with the exception of (1) the new Air Sphere Coating (ASC) applied to certain lens elements of the L-III lens (presumably an incremental improvement over their previous Super Spectra Coating anti-flare/anti-ghosting coating technology, which Canon used on the L-II lens); and (2) anti-smudge/easy-to-clean Fluorine coatings on the exterior surfaces of the front and rear lens elements. It's also interesting and important to note that the L-II version DOES have its own Super Spectra Coating applied to its internal lens elements to achieve ghosting and flare reduction. Canon seems to be claiming that their newer Air Sphere Coating is an evolutionary improvement over their previous Super Spectra Coating, further and/or better-suppressing flare and ghosting (images on the Canon USA website 70-200L-III Features tab suggest that the new ASC is highly effective at suppressing or minimizing flare and ghosting in certain scenes, although these marketing images do not attempt to directly compare the L-II Super Spectra Coating against the newer Air Sphere Coating, but instead seem to merely compare an image taken with and without the ASC). As of the date of this writing, no testing data has been published comparing these two lenses or their anti-flare/anti-ghosting coating technologies (ASC vs. SSC).* Note: oddly, Canon claims 4-stop Image Stabilization performance on the L-II lens, while throttling back slightly to 3.5-stops Image Stabilization performance on the new L-III lens. While this may be a moot point for most of us, any reduction in performance is nonetheless quite unexpected, and one must wonder if perhaps a more sophisticated (i.e. more strict) STANDARD of Image Stabilization testing and performance methodology might possibly be at work here. It seems unlikely (though certainly not impossible) that with an IDENTICAL ELECTRO-OPTICAL DESIGN, the Image Stabilization on the newer L-III lens would even slightly under-perform against the previous (L-II) lens. Again, 3.5-stops of IS versus 4-stops is probably a moot point for most of us, but it's an interesting and unexpected observation. I think most of us are expecting that in real-world use, the new L-III will perform at least as well as its predecessor (the L-II) in ALL criteria, and BETTER than its predecessor in a few (namely flare and ghosting).All said and done, then, most will likely view the new L-III as a rather modest (perhaps even subtle), incremental enhancement over the previous L-II lens. Whether or not such an enhancement warrants the cost and hassle of re-selling one's L-II lens and replacing it with the new L-III lens will, as always, depend upon the assessment of value and the specific preferences and priorities of each individual photographer. While we all wish for amazing, revolutionary improvements to routinely take place with every single item in our photo bags, it bears reminding ourselves that the blade over-sharpened soon becomes dull, and the 70-200/2.8L-IS-II is already a very, VERY sharp blade...

Q: 9. Does this lens work well with the Canon EOS R, granted you have the EF Adapter?

A: Yes, it works very well with the Canon EOS R with the Canon EF to RF Adapter.

Q: 10. Anyone adapt this to Sony A7RIII with MC-11? I’m just looking for portrait work use. Is it good using eye-af? The version II was just “ok” in that area.

A: For better results consider Metabones Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E Mount T Smart Adapter