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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

vs

Panasonic

LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3

Leica L Mount

LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3 — 100–400mm f/5-6.3 for Leica L, a popular choice in the panasonic lineup.

$1,299

Launch price

Released Jan 2024

LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3 is 4.2 years newer.

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Wins

4categories

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

Sports & ActionPortrait

Wins

4categories

LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM wins 4 categories·LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3 wins 1 categories
  • ARF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/6.3)
  • ARF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Min focus distance (70 cm vs 130 cm)
  • ARF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/5)
  • ARF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Length (146 mm vs 205.5 mm)
  • BLUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3 has higher OIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 5 stops)

Key specs at a glance

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USMLUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3
Focal Length70-200 mm100-400 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/5-6.3
MountCanon RFLeica L
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5 stops5.5 stops
Weight1070 g985 g
Min Focus70 cm130 cm
Filter Size77 mm72 mm

Size and weight, to scale

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

90 × 146 mm

1070 g (2.36 lb / 37.74 oz)

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3

83 × 206 mm

985 g (2.17 lb / 34.74 oz)

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is 60mm shorter and 7mm wider than LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3.

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is 85 g heavier than LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3.

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 70-200mm F2.8L IS USMLUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3
Portrait
7.5Good
5.5Fair
Sports & Action
9.5Excellent
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
7.0Good
Landscape
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Travel
4.0Fair
5.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
9.5Excellent
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
3.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 Super UD, 1 UD, 2 Aspherical

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/6.3 — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    70 cm vs 130 cm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/5 — lower is better

  • Length

    146 mm vs 205.5 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3

  • Special elements

    Adds 2 ED, 1 UED

  • Internal focus

    Only LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3 supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3 supports it

  • OIS effectiveness

    5.5 stops vs 5 stops — higher is better

  • Weight

    985 g vs 1070 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    83 mm vs 90 mm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.25 × vs 0.23 × — higher is better

Shared specifications

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 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

LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3

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 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM and LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3 at major authorized retailers.

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

Panasonic LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3
Focal length (Min)
70 mm
100 mm
Focal length (Max)
200 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
17
17
Groups
13
13
Special elements
1 Super UD, 1 UD, 2 Aspherical
2 ED, 1 UED
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3
Min focus distance
70 cm−60 cm less
130 cm
Max magnification
0.23 ×
0.25 ×+9%
Autofocus motor
Dual Nano USM
Linear motor
Internal focus
No
Yes
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3
Optical stabilization
Yes
Yes
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
5.5 stops+10%
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3
Weight
1070 g
985 g−85 g less
Length
146 mm−60 mm less
205.5 mm
Diameter
90 mm
83 mm−7 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
72 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
9
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
LUMIX S 100-400mm F5-6.3
Lens mount
Canon RF
Leica L
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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