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Canon

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM

Canon RF Mount

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM — 135mm f/1.8 for Canon RF, a popular choice in the canon lineup.

$2,099

Launch price

Released Aug 2023

vs
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Canon

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Canon RF Mount

The cornerstone zoom for Canon mirrorless, featuring 5 stops of optical image stabilization.

$2,399

Launch price

Released Aug 2019

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM is 4 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM

PortraitVideo & Hybrid

Wins

5categories

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Video & HybridSports & Action

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM wins 3 categories·RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM wins 2 categories
  • BRF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Min focus distance (21 cm vs 70 cm)
  • ARF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)
  • ARF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)
  • ARF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 5 stops)
  • BRF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Length (125 mm vs 130.4 mm)

Key specs at a glance

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USMRF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Focal Length135 mm24-70 mm
Max Aperturef/1.8f/2.8
MountCanon RFCanon RF
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5.5 stops5 stops
Weight935 g900 g
Min Focus70 cm21 cm
Filter Size82 mm82 mm

Size and weight, to scale

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM

89 × 130 mm

935 g (2.06 lb / 32.98 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM shown to scale

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

88 × 125 mm

900 g (1.98 lb / 31.75 oz)

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM is 5mm longer and 1mm wider than RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM.

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM is 35 g heavier than RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM.

Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 135mm F1.8 L IS USMRF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Portrait
9.0Excellent
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
7.5Good
7.5Good
Video & Hybrid
8.5Excellent
9.0Excellent
Landscape
4.0Fair
7.0Good
Travel
2.0Limited
4.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
5.5Fair
Macro & Close-up
3.5Limited
5.0Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 UD, 1 Aspherical

  • Custom function button

    Only RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM supports it

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.8 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.8 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • OIS effectiveness

    5.5 stops vs 5 stops — higher is better

Reasons to choose the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 Aspherical, 3 UD

  • Min focus distance

    21 cm vs 70 cm — lower is better

  • Length

    125 mm vs 130.4 mm — lower is better

  • Weight

    900 g vs 935 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    88 mm vs 89 mm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.3 × vs 0.29 × — higher is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Optical stabilization

Both support optical stabilization

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Built-in optical image stabilization
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Premium price point
  • Relatively heavy for extended handheld use

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Pros

  • Built-in optical image stabilization (up to 5 stops)
  • Excellent L-series sharpness and build quality
  • Fast and silent Nano USM focus motor
  • Very low chromatic aberration

Cons

  • Heavier than competitive options (900g)
  • Pricey entry threshold
  • Minor barrel distortion at 24mm

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM and RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM at major authorized retailers.

Canon RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Focal length (Min)
135 mm
24 mm
Focal length (Max)
135 mm
70 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
f/2.8
Elements
12
21
Groups
9
15
Special elements
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
3 Aspherical, 3 UD
RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Min focus distance
70 cm
21 cm−49 cm less
Max magnification
0.29 ×
0.3 ×+3%
Autofocus motor
Nano USM
Nano USM
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Optical stabilization
Yes
Yes
OIS effectiveness
5.5 stops+10%
5 stops
RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Weight
935 g
900 g−35 g less
Length
130.4 mm
125 mm−5 mm less
Diameter
89 mm
88 mm−1 mm less
Filter thread size
82 mm
82 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
9
RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Lens mount
Canon RF
Canon RF
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.