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Canon

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM

Canon RF Mount

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM — 24mm f/1.4 for Canon RF, a popular choice in the canon lineup.

$1,549

Launch price

Released Oct 2024

vs

Canon

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

Canon RF Mount

An incredibly compact, extending telephoto zoom with L-series optics and 5 stops of stabilization.

$2,799

Launch price

Released Oct 2019

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM is 5 years newer.

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Wins

6categories

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM

LandscapePortrait

Wins

2categories

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

Sports & ActionPortrait

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM wins 4 categories·RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM wins 1 categories
  • BRF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • ARF 24mm F1.4 L VCM has lower Min focus distance (25 cm vs 70 cm)
  • ARF 24mm F1.4 L VCM has lower Weight (530 g vs 1070 g)
  • ARF 24mm F1.4 L VCM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.4 vs f/2.8)
  • ARF 24mm F1.4 L VCM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.4 vs f/2.8)

Key specs at a glance

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCMRF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
Focal Length24 mm70-200 mm
Max Aperturef/1.4f/2.8
MountCanon RFCanon RF
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNo5 stops
Weight530 g1070 g
Min Focus25 cm70 cm
Filter Size67 mm77 mm

Size and weight, to scale

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM

77 × 99 mm

530 g (1.17 lb / 18.70 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 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

90 × 146 mm

1070 g (2.36 lb / 37.74 oz)

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM is 47mm shorter and 14mm narrower than RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM.

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM is 540 g lighter than RF 70-200mm 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 24mm F1.4 L VCMRF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
Portrait
6.5Good
7.5Good
Sports & Action
4.5Fair
9.5Excellent
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
7.0Good
Landscape
7.0Good
4.0Fair
Travel
3.5Limited
4.0Fair
Wildlife
2.0Limited
5.5Fair
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM

  • Min focus distance

    25 cm vs 70 cm — lower is better

  • Weight

    530 g vs 1070 g — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.4 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.4 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 Aspherical

  • Internal focus

    Only RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM supports it

  • Length

    99.3 mm vs 146 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 Super UD, 2 Aspherical

  • Optical stabilization

    Only RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM supports it

  • Max magnification

    0.23 × vs 0.18 × — higher is better

Shared specifications

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM

Pros

  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

Pros

  • Unbelievably compact storage size thanks to extending barrel
  • Very lightweight design (only 1070g)
  • Excellent center sharpness at all focal lengths
  • Dual Nano USM focus motors offer fast, silent AF
  • Exceptional 5-stop optical image stabilization

Cons

  • Extending barrel can draw in dust/moisture over time
  • Not compatible with RF teleconverters (due to rear element position)
  • Vignetting is quite heavy wide open

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM and RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM at major authorized retailers.

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
Focal length (Min)
24 mm
70 mm
Focal length (Max)
24 mm
200 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.4+2 stops wider
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.4+2 stops wider
f/2.8
Elements
13
17
Groups
9
13
Special elements
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
1 Super UD, 1 UD, 2 Aspherical
RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
Min focus distance
25 cm−45 cm less
70 cm
Max magnification
0.18 ×
0.23 ×+28%
Autofocus motor
VCM
Dual Nano USM
Internal focus
Yes
No
RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
Optical stabilization
No
Yes
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
5 stops
RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
Weight
530 g−540 g less
1070 g
Length
99.3 mm−47 mm less
146 mm
Diameter
76.5 mm−14 mm less
90 mm
Filter thread size
67 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
9
RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM
RF 70-200mm 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.