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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 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

Sony E Mount

FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS — 90mm f/2.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$1,099

Launch price

Released Jun 2015

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is 4.3 years newer.

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Wins

0categories

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

Sports & ActionPortrait

Wins

5categories

FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

Macro & Close-upSports & Action

3 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM wins 0 categories·FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS wins 5 categories
  • BFE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS has higher Max magnification (1 × vs 0.23 ×)
  • BFE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS has lower Min focus distance (28 cm vs 70 cm)
  • BFE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS has lower Weight (602 g vs 1070 g)
  • BFE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS has lower Diameter (81 mm vs 90 mm)
  • BFE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS has lower Length (134 mm vs 146 mm)

Key specs at a glance

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USMFE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Focal Length70-200 mm90 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5 stops5 stops
Weight1070 g602 g
Min Focus70 cm28 cm
Filter Size77 mm77 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 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Portrait
7.5Good
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
9.5Excellent
7.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
7.0Good
Landscape
4.0Fair
3.0Limited
Travel
4.0Fair
3.5Limited
Wildlife
5.5Fair
5.5Fair
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
9.0Excellent

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

Reasons to choose the FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Max magnification

    1 × vs 0.23 × — higher is better

  • Min focus distance

    28 cm vs 70 cm — lower is better

  • Internal focus

    Only FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS supports it

  • Weight

    602 g vs 1070 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    81 mm vs 90 mm — lower is better

  • Length

    134 mm vs 146 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Max aperture (Wide)

Both f/2.8

Max aperture (Tele)

Both f/2.8

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 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 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

Pros

  • Built-in optical image stabilization
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • 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 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM and FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS at major authorized retailers.

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

Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Focal length (Min)
70 mm
90 mm
Focal length (Max)
200 mm
90 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8
f/2.8
Elements
17
14
Groups
13
11
Special elements
1 Super UD, 1 UD, 2 Aspherical
Aspherical
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Min focus distance
70 cm
28 cm−42 cm less
Max magnification
0.23 ×
1 ×4.3× more
Autofocus motor
Dual Nano USM
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
No
Yes
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Optical stabilization
Yes
Yes
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
5 stops
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Weight
1070 g
602 g−468 g less
Length
146 mm
134 mm−12 mm less
Diameter
90 mm
81 mm−9 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
9
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
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.