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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

vs

Sigma

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

Sony E Mount

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary — 100–400mm f/5-6.3 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$949

Launch price

Released Jul 2020

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary is 10 months newer.

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Wins

6categories

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Video & HybridSports & Action

Wins

1categories

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM wins 5 categories·100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary wins 0 categories
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/6.3)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Min focus distance (21 cm vs 38 cm)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/5)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Length (125 mm vs 210 mm)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Weight (900 g vs 1140 g)

Key specs at a glance

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
Focal Length24-70 mm100-400 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/5-6.3
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5 stops5 stops
Weight900 g1140 g
Min Focus21 cm38 cm
Filter Size82 mm77 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
Portrait
4.5Fair
5.5Fair
Sports & Action
7.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
9.0Excellent
7.0Good
Landscape
7.0Good
3.0Limited
Travel
4.0Fair
5.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
9.5Excellent
Macro & Close-up
5.0Fair
3.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 Aspherical, 3 UD

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/6.3 — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    21 cm vs 38 cm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/5 — lower is better

  • Length

    125 mm vs 210 mm — lower is better

  • Weight

    900 g vs 1140 g — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.3 × vs 0.25 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Diameter

    81 mm vs 88 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Optical stabilization

Both support optical stabilization

OIS effectiveness

Both 5 stops

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

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

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Built-in optical image stabilization
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Relatively heavy for extended handheld use
  • Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM and 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary at major authorized retailers.

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

Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
Focal length (Min)
24 mm
100 mm
Focal length (Max)
70 mm
400 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8+1.7 stops wider
f/5
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8+2.3 stops wider
f/6.3
Elements
21
23
Groups
15
17
Special elements
3 Aspherical, 3 UD
Aspherical
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
Min focus distance
21 cm−17 cm less
38 cm
Max magnification
0.3 ×+20%
0.25 ×
Autofocus motor
Nano USM
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
Optical stabilization
Yes
Yes
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
5 stops
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
Weight
900 g−240 g less
1140 g
Length
125 mm−85 mm less
210 mm
Diameter
88 mm
81 mm−7 mm less
Filter thread size
82 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
9
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
Lens mount
Canon RF
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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