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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

Sony

FE 20mm F1.8 G

Sony E Mount

FE 20mm F1.8 G — 20mm f/1.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$899

Launch price

Released Feb 2020

FE 20mm F1.8 G is 4 months newer.

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Wins

2categories

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

Sports & ActionPortrait

Wins

6categories

FE 20mm F1.8 G

LandscapeSports & Action

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM wins 1 categories·FE 20mm F1.8 G wins 4 categories
  • ARF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Weight (373 g vs 1070 g)
  • BFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Min focus distance (30 cm vs 70 cm)
  • BFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)
  • BFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)

Key specs at a glance

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USMFE 20mm F1.8 G
Focal Length70-200 mm20 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/1.8
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5 stopsNo
Weight1070 g373 g
Min Focus70 cm30 cm
Filter Size77 mm82 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USMFE 20mm F1.8 G
Portrait
7.5Good
6.0Good
Sports & Action
9.5Excellent
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
3.5Limited
Landscape
4.0Fair
7.0Good
Travel
4.0Fair
5.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
1.5Limited

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

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

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

  • Control ring

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

  • Max magnification

    0.23 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the FE 20mm F1.8 G

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Weight

    373 g vs 1070 g — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 70 cm — lower is better

  • Internal focus

    Only FE 20mm F1.8 G 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

  • Length

    102 mm vs 146 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    86 mm vs 90 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

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

FE 20mm F1.8 G

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM and FE 20mm F1.8 G at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 20mm F1.8 G
Focal length (Min)
70 mm
20 mm
Focal length (Max)
200 mm
20 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
Elements
17
10
Groups
13
8
Special elements
1 Super UD, 1 UD, 2 Aspherical
Aspherical
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 20mm F1.8 G
Min focus distance
70 cm
30 cm−40 cm less
Max magnification
0.23 ×+53%
0.15 ×
Autofocus motor
Dual Nano USM
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
No
Yes
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 20mm F1.8 G
Optical stabilization
Yes
No
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
0 stops
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 20mm F1.8 G
Weight
1070 g
373 g−697 g less
Length
146 mm
102 mm−44 mm less
Diameter
90 mm
86 mm−4 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
82 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 20mm F1.8 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.