Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM vs Canon EF 24-70mm F/4L IS USM — Which Is Better?
Side by side43 specifications |
Canon · f/2.8 · Canon EF mount
Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM
87
SCORE
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Canon · f/4 · Canon EF mount
Canon EF 24-70mm F/4L IS USM
90
WINNER
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| General | ||
Read the General ComparisonGeneralThe Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM and the Canon EF 24-70mm F/4L IS USM are both full-frame L-series standard zooms for the Canon EF mount, released in 2012. The F/2.8L II is the faster lens for dim venues and shallow depth of field, while the F/4L IS brings image stabilisation for handheld shooting. | ||
| Release Year | 2012 | 2012 |
Production Status ⓘCurrent status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued). |
 In Production | In Production |
Version ⓘThe iteration or release number of a particular lens model. |
II | N/A |
Pro Branding ⓘSpecific branding codes used for professional-tier lenses. |
L | L |
Lens Mount ⓘThe lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras. |
Canon EF | Canon EF |
System ⓘIndicates which camera system the lens is designed to attach to. |
Canon EOS | Canon EOS |
Maximum Format ⓘLargest sensor size compatible with the lens. |
 Full Frame | Full Frame |
| Physical | 100/100 | 100/100 |
Read the Physical ComparisonPhysicalThe F/4L IS is the lighter, more compact travel lens, weighing 600 g against 805 g for the F/2.8L II, a saving of 205 g. It is also shorter at 93 mm versus 113 mm and slimmer at 83.4 mm versus 89 mm, so it packs into smaller space. Their direct-fit filter sizes differ: 77 mm for the F/4L IS and 82 mm for the F/2.8L II. A 77 mm polariser screws straight onto the F/4L IS but not onto the F/2.8L II. | ||
| Lens Weight | 805 g | 600 g |
Lens Diameter ⓘWidth of the lens at its widest point |
89 mm | 83.4 mm |
Lens Length ⓘHow long the lens is from front to back. |
113 mm | 93 mm |
Front Filter Compatible ⓘSome lenses are compatible with front filters, some are compatible with back filters and some are compatible with both. Front filters are usually more convenient to add and remove. |
 Yes | Yes |
Front Filter Size ⓘDiameter of attachable filters. |
82 mm | 77 mm |
| Optics | 81/100 | 71/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsThe F/2.8L II is the stronger choice for low-light work such as wedding receptions and evening interiors, holding f/2.8 across the zoom range while the F/4L IS stays at f/4. That one-stop advantage lets you keep shutter speeds up or work at lower ISO, and gives shallower backgrounds for portraits. Close work is a similarity: both lenses focus to 38 cm and reach the same 0.21x maximum magnification, so either handles small subjects without stepping back. | ||
Focal Range ⓘShortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end ) |
24–70 mm | 24–70 mm |
Aperture Range ⓘLargest aperture at the lens's shortest focal length to longest focal length (aperture range start - end) |
2.8 | 4 |
| Focal Length Angle of View | 84.07°–34.35° | 84.07°–34.35° |
Flange Focal Distance ⓘDistance from lens mount to sensor. |
44 mm | 44 mm |
Diaphragm Type ⓘStructure and design of the aperture |
 Automatic | Automatic |
Blades ⓘNumber of diaphragm blades in aperture |
9020 | 9020 |
Zoom Lens ⓘZoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups |
 Yes | Yes |
Zoom Mechanism ⓘSystem enabling zoom function |
 Manual | Manual |
Zoom Ring ⓘIf zooming is adjusted using a zoom ring |
 Yes | Yes |
Zoom Type ⓘThe design or approach to zooming |
 Rotary | Rotary |
Closest Focusing Distance ⓘMinimum distance for a subject to be in focus. |
38 cm01500 | 38 cm01500 |
Maximum Magnification ⓘLargest size a subject can be reproduced |
0.21x | 0.21x |
| Autofocus Mode |  Yes | Yes |
| Manual Mode |  Yes | Yes |
| Manual Focusing Ring |  Yes | Yes |
| Features | 52/100 | 73/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesThe F/4L IS has the key advantage for handheld shooting: image stabilisation rated at four stops, which the F/2.8L II lacks. It allows slower shutter speeds for handheld shots in dim interiors and twilight scenes. Their protective features match: both offer weather sealing for rain and dust, a zoom lock that stops the barrel extending in a bag, and a fluorine coating that sheds dust and water and wipes clean. | ||
Weather Sealing ⓘWeather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions. |
 Yes | Yes |
Fluorine Coating ⓘCoating to repel water and oil from lens elements. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Built In Lens Hood | ✗ | ✗ |
| Lens Hood Type |  Petal | Petal |
Zoom Lock ⓘZoom lock allows the zoom ring to be locked at the desired focal length |
 Yes | Yes |
Teleconverter ⓘA teleconverter (extender) is an extra piece of equipment that fits between the lens and the camera body to enhance magnification |
✗ | ✗ |
| Image Stabilization | ✗ | ✓ |
IS Efficiency ⓘIS efficiency refers to the effectiveness of the image stabilization system in compensating for the blurring effects of camera shake, quantified by the number of stops of stabilization it provides. |
N/A | 4 stops |
| Construction | 32/100 | 31/100 |
Read the Construction ComparisonConstructionThe F/2.8L II has the more elaborate optical construction, with 18 elements in 13 groups against 15 elements in 12 groups for the F/4L IS. Part of that extra glass is a super-low-dispersion element, which the F/4L IS does not include, alongside the shared aspherical and low-dispersion elements both lenses use to control aberrations. Neither lens uses internal focusing, so the barrel moves as you focus, and both extend while zooming. | ||
Elements ⓘLens elements refer to individual pieces of glass within the lens. |
18 | 15 |
| Groups | 13 | 12 |
Aspherical Elements ⓘThe number of aspherical lens elements which can help correct aberrations such as spherical aberration. |
1 | 1 |
Bi Aspherical Elements ⓘElements with two non-spherical surfaces |
0 | 0 |
Low Dispersion ⓘElements that reduce chromatic aberration |
1 | 1 |
Super Low Dispersion ⓘAdvanced elements further reducing chromatic aberration |
1 | 0 |
CA Reduction ⓘBuilt-in features to reduce chromatic aberration |
0 | 0 |
Internal Focusing ⓘInternal Focusing means that the lens does not change in size during focusing, and the front element does not rotate. |
✗ | ✗ |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Choose the EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM for indoor events, evening receptions and portraits where the extra stop holds shutter speed and blurs backgrounds. Its constant f/2.8 is the working advantage.
Choose the EF 24-70mm F/4L IS USM for travel and handheld work in dim interiors where your subject is not moving fast, because its four-stop stabilisation and 205 g lighter body make it the easier lens to carry and shoot steadily. Both share the 24-70mm range and weather sealing, so the choice is speed against stabilisation and weight.