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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

Sony

FE 40mm F2.5 G

Sony E Mount

FE 40mm F2.5 G — 40mm f/2.5 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$599

Launch price

Released Apr 2021

FE 40mm F2.5 G is 1.7 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Video & HybridSports & Action

Wins

5categories

FE 40mm F2.5 G

Sports & Action

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM wins 3 categories·FE 40mm F2.5 G wins 2 categories
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BFE 40mm F2.5 G has lower Weight (173 g vs 900 g)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has higher Max magnification (0.3 × vs 0.15 ×)
  • BFE 40mm F2.5 G has lower Length (74 mm vs 125 mm)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Min focus distance (21 cm vs 30 cm)

Key specs at a glance

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USMFE 40mm F2.5 G
Focal Length24-70 mm40 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/2.5
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5 stopsNo
Weight900 g173 g
Min Focus21 cm30 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 USMFE 40mm F2.5 G
Portrait
4.5Fair
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
7.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
9.0Excellent
2.0Limited
Landscape
7.0Good
1.0Limited
Travel
4.0Fair
5.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
1.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
5.0Fair
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 Aspherical, 3 UD

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM supports it

  • Weather sealing

    Only RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM supports it

  • Control ring

    Only RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM supports it

  • Min focus distance

    21 cm vs 30 cm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.3 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the FE 40mm F2.5 G

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Weight

    173 g vs 900 g — lower is better

  • Length

    74 mm vs 125 mm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.5 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.5 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Diameter

    81 mm vs 88 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

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

FE 40mm F2.5 G

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day
  • Native Sony E mount compatibility

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM and FE 40mm F2.5 G at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 40mm F2.5 G
Focal length (Min)
24 mm
40 mm
Focal length (Max)
70 mm
40 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8
f/2.5+0.3 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8
f/2.5+0.3 stops wider
Elements
21
14
Groups
15
11
Special elements
3 Aspherical, 3 UD
Aspherical
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 40mm F2.5 G
Min focus distance
21 cm−9 cm less
30 cm
Max magnification
0.3 ×2× more
0.15 ×
Autofocus motor
Nano USM
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 40mm F2.5 G
Optical stabilization
Yes
No
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
0 stops
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 40mm F2.5 G
Weight
900 g
173 g−727 g less
Length
125 mm
74 mm−51 mm less
Diameter
88 mm
81 mm−7 mm less
Filter thread size
82 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
No
Diaphragm blades
9
9
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 40mm F2.5 G
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.