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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

Viltrox

AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE

Sony E Mount

AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE — 27mm f/1.2 for Sony E, a popular choice in the viltrox lineup.

$799

Launch price

Released Oct 2023

AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE is 4 years newer.

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Wins

2categories

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

Sports & ActionPortrait

Wins

6categories

AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE

PortraitSports & Action

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM wins 2 categories·AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE wins 3 categories
  • ARF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BAF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE has lower Min focus distance (28 cm vs 70 cm)
  • BAF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/2.8)
  • BAF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/2.8)
  • ARF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has higher Max magnification (0.23 × vs 0.1 ×)

Key specs at a glance

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USMAF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE
Focal Length70-200 mm27 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/1.2
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5 stopsNo
Weight1070 g595 g
Min Focus70 cm28 cm
Filter Size77 mm67 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

AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE

76 × 88 mm

595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz)

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is 58mm longer and 14mm wider than AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE.

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is 475 g heavier than AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE.

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 USMAF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE
Portrait
7.5Good
7.0Good
Sports & Action
9.5Excellent
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
3.5Limited
Landscape
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Travel
4.0Fair
3.5Limited
Wildlife
5.5Fair
2.0Limited
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 0.1 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 Aspherical, 3 ED, 3 HR

  • Min focus distance

    28 cm vs 70 cm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Internal focus

    Only AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE supports it

  • Weight

    595 g vs 1070 g — lower is better

  • Length

    88 mm vs 146 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    76 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

AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE

Pros

  • Bright f/1.2 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • 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 AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE at major authorized retailers.

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

Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE
Focal length (Min)
70 mm
27 mm
Focal length (Max)
200 mm
27 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8
f/1.2+2.4 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8
f/1.2+2.4 stops wider
Elements
17
12
Groups
13
11
Special elements
1 Super UD, 1 UD, 2 Aspherical
1 Aspherical, 3 ED, 3 HR
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE
Min focus distance
70 cm
28 cm−42 cm less
Max magnification
0.23 ×2.3× more
0.1 ×
Autofocus motor
Dual Nano USM
STM stepping motor
Internal focus
No
Yes
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE
Optical stabilization
Yes
No
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
0 stops
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE
Weight
1070 g
595 g−475 g less
Length
146 mm
88 mm−58 mm less
Diameter
90 mm
76 mm−14 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
67 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
AF 27mm F1.2 Pro FE
Lens mount
Canon RF
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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