Canon RF 70-200mm F4 L IS USM

Reviewers agree the centre is excellent at every focal length, including 200mm wide open, where many telezooms fade. Corner results vary: one lab test found soft corners at 70mm and a dip at 135mm, while others found it sharp to the edges across the range and at least a match for the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II, with better close-up results. Colour fringing is very low in one test and noticeable in another's uncorrected lab results, distortion is mild, and vignetting is visible at f/4 at 200mm but clears by f/8.

AF is fast, quiet and accurate for stills, tracks small moving subjects well and suits video. Stabilisation impressed two testers, though one measured only about four stops on an R5. Opinions on focus breathing differ, from well controlled to significant enough to reduce magnification at close range. Every test lists no extender support, no tripod mount and a price well above the EF f/4 version as drawbacks. Two also note the hood has no filter window and that long-term sealing of the extending barrel is unproven.

Owners mostly chose it over the f/2.8 for size, weight and price, and few regret it. Travel, landscape, wildlife and hobby sports shooters praise its sharpness, fast autofocus, close focus and how easily it packs, and one says it has become one of their favourite lenses. One uses it with an APS-C body for indoor volleyball at high ISO and finds f/4 sufficient.

Complaints are minor. One finds the stabiliser settings confusing, one wishes the hood had a window for turning a polariser, and one would have preferred f/2.8 for low light.