Canon EF 50-200mm lens

Last updated September 12, 2025

The Canon EF 50-200mm f/3.5-4.5 is an EF mount normal-to-telephoto zoom lens. It is one of the first lenses in the Canon EF series.^[1]

In June 1988, Canon announced the EF 50-200mm f/3.5-4.5L lens. This lens has very similar physical qualities compared to the EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5.^[2] The main difference is that this is an L lens, meaning that the lens contains special lens elements which better correct for various aberrations. In the case of the EF 50-200mm 3.5-4.5 L, both an ultra-low dispersion ("UD") and a synthetic crystal fluorite ("Fluorite") were used. Aside from the different optical construction and slight variation in weight and length, the L and non-L lenses were basically identical. Note that at this time period Canon did not protect its L zooms against adverse elements such as weather. Both this lens and the similar duo EF 100-300mm 5.6 and its L variant lacked weather sealing construction, sharing the same housing as their non-L counterparts. Canon did, however, supply the L versions with lens hoods and cases at the time of purchase, which were available for the non-L lenses for separate purchase.

Specifications

Attribute	f/3.5-4.5	f/3.5-4.5L
Image
Key features
Full-frame compatible	Yes
Image stabilizer	No
Ultrasonic Motor	No
Stepping Motor	No
L-series	No	Yes
Macro	No
Technical data
Focal length	50 mm–200 mm
Aperture (max/min)	f/3.5–f/4.5 / f/29
Construction	16 elements / 13 groups	16 elements / 14 groups
# of diaphragm blades	8
Closest focusing distance	1.2 m (3.9 ft)
Max. magnification	0.23 x
Horizontal viewing angle
Vertical viewing angle
Diagonal viewing angle
Physical data
Weight	690 g (24 oz)	695 g (24.5 oz)
Maximum diameter	75.6 mm (2.98 in)
Length	146.4 mm (5.76 in)	145.8 mm (5.74 in)
Filter diameter	58 mm
Accessories
Lens case
Lens hood
Retail information
Release date	December 1987	June 1988
Currently in production?	No
MSRP yen	72,100	105,500

References

↑ Canon Inc. "EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5". Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
↑ Canon Inc. "EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5L". Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved 2016-05-24.

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[canonmuseum_1st-1] Canon Inc. "EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5". Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved 2016-05-24.

[canonmuseum_2nd-2] Canon Inc. "EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5L". Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved 2016-05-24.

[1]

[2]

v t e Canon EF/EF-S/EF-M lenses
EF-S zoom	EF-S 10–18mm EF-S 10–22mm EF-S 15–85mm EF-S 17–55mm EF-S 17–85mm EF-S 18–55mm EF-S 18–135mm EF-S 18–200mm EF-S 55–250mm
Ultra-wide zoom	EF 11–24mm EF 16–35mm EF 17–35mm† EF 17–40mm EF 20–35mm†
Standard zoom	EF 22–55mm† EF 24–70mm EF 24–85mm† EF 24–105mm EF 28–70mm† EF 28–80mm† EF 28–90mm† EF 28–105mm† EF 28–135mm EF 28–200mm† EF 28–300mm EF 35–70mm† EF 35–80mm† EF 35–105mm† EF 35–135mm† EF 35–350mm† EF 38–76mm† EF 50–200mm† EF 55–200mm†
Telephoto zoom	EF 70–200mm EF 70–210mm† EF 70–300mm EF 75–300mm EF 80–200mm† EF 90–300mm† EF 100–200mm† EF 100–300mm† EF 100–400mm EF 200–400mm
Wide-angle prime	EF 14mm EF 20mm EF 24mm EF-S 24mm EF 28mm EF 35mm
Standard prime	EF 40mm† EF 50mm
Telephoto prime	EF 85mm EF 100mm EF 135mm EF 200mm
Super telephoto prime	EF 300mm EF 400mm EF 500mm EF 600mm EF 800mm EF 1200mm†
Distorting lens	EF 8–15mm Fisheye EF 15mm Fisheye†
Tilt-shift	TS-E 17mm TS-E 24mm TS-E 45mm TS-E 50mm TS-E 90mm TS-E 135mm
Macro	EF-M 28mm Macro EF-S 35mm Macro EF 50mm Compact Macro TS-E 50mm MACRO EF-S 60mm Macro MP-E 65mm 1–5x Macro TS-E 90mm Macro EF 100mm Macro TS-E 135mm Macro EF 180mm Macro
EF-M zoom	EF-M 11–22mm EF-M 15–45mm EF-M 18–55mm EF-M 18–150mm EF-M 55–200mm
EF-M prime	EF-M 22mm EF-M 28mm Macro EF-M 32mm
Lens accessories	Extender EF
† denotes discontinued lenses.