Canon L lens

Not to be confused with Leica L-Mount.

The 70-200 mm f/2.8L lens

Canon's series of L lenses (Luxury lenses) are a professional line of photography lenses made by Canon. Canon has sold zoom and prime L-series lenses for the discontinued FD lens mount, for the current EF lens mount used on all Canon EOS SLR cameras and for the RF mount used on mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras.

Characteristics

Canon L series lenses have a distinctive red ring around the lens barrel and the letter "L" after the lens name. ^[1] Some models of L lenses utilize an infrared reflective heat shield coating. ^[2] Most L series lenses share a number of common characteristics not found in Canon's line of lower-end lenses: L lenses tend to be more durable, incorporating dust and water-resistant rubber seals on some models, as well as featuring optics of higher quality, with many lenses containing aspherically ground, fluorite or ultra-low dispersion glass elements. Their front elements do not rotate for the proper operation of some filters, such as circular polarizers. L lenses are often "fast", with maximum apertures commonly f/2.8 or f/4, and, with the exception of the RF 100–500 mm f/4.5–7.1L IS USM lens and the RF 1200 mm f/8L IS USM lens, never exceeding f/5.6. Prime L lenses have a much larger maximum aperture, such as Canon's current 50mm and 85mm L lenses with maximum apertures of f/1.2. All current L-series lenses have ultrasonic autofocus motors (USM) with exceptions of RF 10–20mm f/4 L IS STM, RF 20 mm f/1.4L VCM, RF 24 mm f/1.4L VCM, RF 35 mm f/1.4L VCM, RF 50 mm f/1.4L VCM lens, and extra communication pins, except for the specialist tilt-shift lenses which do not provide auto focus.

A gelatin filter holder, on the rear of an EF lens.

Larger sized L-lenses, such as the 70–200 mm, 100–400 mm zooms, and longer focal length primes (300 mm+), usually have an off-white barrel to reduce heat absorption under the sun that may otherwise affect the performance of the lens. ^[3]

Wide angle L-lenses typically have a gelatin filter holder on the mounting collar of the lens, which allows a gelatin to be installed behind the lens. Some telephoto L-lenses, such as the EF 70-200mm zoom lenses, or the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM do not have rear gelatin filter holders. Super-telephoto lenses such as the EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, or the EF 200mm f/2L IS USM have a rear 52mm drop-in filter holder which can be used to hold gelatin type filters.

According to Canon, its L series lenses:

Incorporating specialized optical materials such as synthetic fluorite, Super UD and UD glass, and large-aperture high-precision aspherical lenses, only lenses that perform to the highest photographic standards are allowed to bear the designation ‘L’. ^[1]

Lenses

EF mount zoom lenses

Name	Category	Min focal length mm	Max focal length mm	Max aperture at min focal length f/	Max aperture at max focal length f/	Min focusing distance, m	Filter diameter, mm	Weight g	USM	IS	Current product
8–15mm f/4L USM Fisheye	Wide-angle	8	15	4	4	0.15	67	540
11–24mm f/4L USM	Wide-angle	11	24	4	4	0.28	n/a	1180
16–35mm f/2.8L USM	Wide-angle	16	35	2.8	2.8			600
16–35mm f/2.8L II USM	Wide-angle	16	35	2.8	2.8			640
16–35mm f/2.8L III USM	Wide-angle	16	35	2.8	2.8	0.28	82	790
16–35mm f/4L IS USM	Wide-angle	16	35	4	4	0.28	77	615
17–35mm f/2.8L USM	Wide-angle	17	35	2.8	2.8			545
17–40mm f/4.0L USM	Wide-angle	17	40	4	4	0.28	77	500
20–35mm f/2.8L	Wide-angle	20	35	2.8	2.8			570
24–70mm f/2.8L USM	Standard	24	70	2.8	2.8			950
24–70mm f/2.8L II USM	Standard	24	70	2.8	2.8	0.38	82	805
24–70mm f/4L IS USM	Standard	24	70	4	4	0.38	77	600
24–105mm f/4L IS USM	Standard	24	105	4	4	0.45	77	670
24–105mm f/4L IS II USM	Standard	24	105	4	4	0.45	77	795
28–70mm f/2.8L USM	Standard	28	70	2.8	2.8			880
28–80mm f/2.8–4.0L USM	Standard	28	80	2.8	4			945
28–300mm f/3.5–5.6L IS USM	Telephoto	28	300	3.5	5.6	0.7	77	1670
35–350mm f/3.5–5.6L USM	Telephoto	35	350	3.5	5.6			1385
50–200mm f/3.5–4.5L	Telephoto	50	200	3.5	4.5			690
70–200mm f/4.0L USM	Telephoto	70	200	4	4	1.2	67	705
70–200mm f/4.0L IS USM	Telephoto	70	200	4	4			760
70–200mm f/4.0L IS II USM [4]	Telephoto	70	200	4	4	1.0	72	780
70–200mm f/2.8L USM	Telephoto	70	200	2.8	2.8			1310
70–200mm f/2.8L IS USM	Telephoto	70	200	2.8	2.8			1470
70–200mm f/2.8L IS II USM	Telephoto	70	200	2.8	2.8	1.2	77	1490
70–200mm f/2.8L IS III USM [5]	Telephoto	70	200	2.8	2.8	1.2	77	1440
70–300mm f/4–5.6L IS USM	Telephoto	70	300	4	5.6	1.2	67	1050
80–200mm f/2.8L	Telephoto	80	200	2.8	2.8			1330
100–300mm f/5.6L	Telephoto	100	300	5.6	5.6			695
100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS USM	Telephoto	100	400	4.5	5.6			1590
100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM	Telephoto	100	400	4.5	5.6	0.98	77	1570
200–400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x Extender	Telephoto	200	400	4	4			3620

EF mount prime lenses

Name	Category	Focal length mm	Max aperture f/	Min focusing distance, m	Filter diameter, mm	Weight, g	USM	IS	Current product
14mm f/2.8L USM	Wide-angle	14	2.8
14mm f/2.8L II USM	Wide-angle	14	2.8	0.2	n/a	645
24mm f/1.4L USM	Wide-angle	24	1.4
24mm f/1.4L II USM	Wide-angle	24	1.4	0.25	77	650
35mm f/1.4L USM	Wide-angle	35	1.4	0.28	72	760
35mm f/1.4L II USM	Wide-angle	35	1.4
50mm f/1.0L USM	Standard	50	1
50mm f/1.2L USM	Standard	50	1.2	0.45	72	645
85mm f/1.2L USM	Medium telephoto	85	1.2
85mm f/1.2L II USM	Medium telephoto	85	1.2	0.95	72	1025
85mm f/1.4L IS USM	Medium telephoto	85	1.4	0.85	77	950
135mm f/2.0L USM	Telephoto	135	2	0.9	72	750
200mm f/1.8L USM	Telephoto	200	1.8
200mm f/2.0L IS USM	Telephoto	200	2
200mm f/2.8L USM	Telephoto	200	2.8
200mm f/2.8L II USM	Telephoto	200	2.8
300mm f/2.8L USM	Telephoto	300	2.8
300mm f/2.8L IS USM	Telephoto	300	2.8
300mm f/2.8L IS II USM	Telephoto	300	2.8	2.0	52	2400
300mm f/4.0L USM	Telephoto	300	4
300mm f/4.0L IS USM	Telephoto	300	4
400mm f/2.8L USM	Super-telephoto	400	2.8
400mm f/2.8L II USM	Super-telephoto	400	2.8
400mm f/2.8L IS USM	Super-telephoto	400	2.8
400mm f/2.8L IS II USM	Super-telephoto	400	2.8
400mm f/2.8L IS III USM	Super-telephoto	400	2.8
400mm f/5.6L USM	Super-telephoto	400	5.6
500mm f/4.5L USM	Super-telephoto	500	4.5
500mm f/4.0L IS USM	Super-telephoto	500	4
500mm f/4.0L IS II USM	Super-telephoto	500	4
600mm f/4.0L USM	Super-telephoto	600	4
600mm f/4.0L IS USM	Super-telephoto	600	4
600mm f/4.0L IS II USM	Super-telephoto	600	4
600mm f/4.0L IS III USM	Super-telephoto	600	4
800mm f/5.6L IS USM	Super-telephoto	800	5.6
1200mm f/5.6L USM	Super-telephoto	1200	5.6
100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM	Macro	100	2.8	0.3	67	625
180mm f/3.5L Macro USM	Macro	180	3.5	0.48	72	1090
17mm f/4.0L Tilt-Shift	Tilt-shift	17	4
24mm f/3.5L Tilt-Shift	Tilt-shift	24	3.5
24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift	Tilt-shift	24	3.5
50mm f/2.8L Macro Tilt-Shift	Tilt-shift	50	2.8
90mm f/2.8L Macro Tilt-Shift	Tilt-shift	90	2.8
135mm f/4L Macro Tilt-Shift	Tilt-shift	135	4

RF mount zoom lenses

Name	Category	Min focal length mm	Max focal length mm	Max aperture at min focal length f/	Max aperture at max focal length f/	Min focusing distance, m	Filter diameter, mm	Weight, g	USM	IS	Current product
10–20mm f/4L IS STM	Wide-angle	10	20	4	4	0.25	n/a	570
14–35mm f/4L IS USM	Wide-angle	14	35	4	4	0.2	77	540
15–35mm f/2.8L IS USM	Wide-angle	15	35	2.8	2.8	0.28	82	840
24–70mm f/2.8L IS USM	Standard	24	70	2.8	2.8	0.21	82	900
24–105mm f/4L IS USM	Standard	24	105	4	4	0.45	77	700
24–105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z	Standard	24	105	2.8	2.8	0.45	82	1330
28–70mm f/2L USM	Standard	28	70	2	2	0.39	95	1430
70–200mm f/2.8L IS USM	Telephoto	70	200	2.8	2.8	0.7	77	1070
70–200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z	Telephoto	70	200	2.8	2.8	0.49	82	1110
70–200mm f/4L IS USM	Telephoto	70	200	4	4	0.6	77	695
100–300mm f/2.8L IS USM	Telephoto	100	300	2.8	2.8	1.8	112	2590
100–500mm f/4.5–7.1L IS USM	Telephoto	100	500	4.5	7.1	0.9	77	1530

RF mount prime lenses

Name	Category	Focal length mm	Max aperture f/	Min focusing distance, m	Filter diameter, mm	Weight, g	USM	IS	Current product
5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fisheye 3D VR	Wide-angle	5.2	2.8	0.002	n/a	352
20mm f/1.4L VCM	Wide-angle	20	1.4	0.2	67	519
24mm f/1.4L VCM	Wide-angle	24	1.4	0.24	67	515
35mm f/1.4L VCM	Wide-angle	35	1.4	0.28	67	555
50mm f/1.4L VCM	Standard	50	1.4	0.4	67	580
50mm f/1.2L USM	Standard	50	1.2	0.14	77	950
85mm f/1.2L USM	Medium telephoto	85	1.2	0.85	82	1195
85mm f/1.2L USM DS	Medium telephoto	85	1.2	0.85	82	1195
100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM	Macro	100	2.8	0.26	67	730
135mm f/1.8L IS USM	Telephoto	135	1.8	0.7	82	935
400mm f/2.8L IS USM	Super-telephoto	400	2.8	2.5	52 (drop-in)	2890
600mm f/4L IS USM	Super-telephoto	600	4	4.2	52 (drop-in)	3100
800mm f/5.6L IS USM	Super-telephoto	800	5.6	2.6	52 (drop-in)	3140
1200mm f/8L IS USM	Super-telephoto	1200	8	4.3	52 (drop-in)	3340

Fixed zoom lenses

The Canon PowerShot Pro1 is the first in the Canon PowerShot family of point-and-shoot cameras to have an L-designated zoom lens ranging from 7.2 to 50.8 mm, equal to 28 to 200 mm in 35mm equivalent focal length. Its maximum aperture changes from f/2.4 to f/3.5, with focus driven by an ultrasonic motor.

Canon lens codes

On the back of Canon lenses is a six-digit code, which indicates where the lens was manufactured and when.

Example of a code "UV1212"

The first letter, 'U', represents the factory that made the lens. Three possible first letters are:

U	=	Utsunomiya
F	=	Fukushima
O	=	Ōita

The second letter, 'V', represents the year of manufacture

A	=	1960,	1986,	2012
B	=	1961,	1987,	2013
C	=	1962,	1988,	2014
D	=	1963,	1989,	2015
E	=	1964,	1990,	2016
F	=	1965,	1991,	2017
G	=	1966,	1992,	2018
H	=	1967,	1993,	2019
I	=	1968,	1994,	2020
J	=	1969,	1995
K	=	1970,	1996
L	=	1971,	1997
M	=	1972,	1998
N	=	1973,	1999
O	=	1974,	2000
P	=	1975,	2001
Q	=	1976,	2002
R	=	1977,	2003
S	=	1978,	2004
T	=	1979,	2005
U	=	1980,	2006
V	=	1981,	2007
W	=	1982,	2008
X	=	1983,	2009
Y	=	1984,	2010
Z	=	1985,	2011

The next two digits represent the month the lens was manufactured.

The last two digits are for internal Canon use.

Therefore, the example ( pictured ) of UV0512 means the lens was made in the Utsunomiya, Japan factory in May 2007.

See also

• Canon EF lens mount
• Canon RF mount

References

1. "THE L STORY | Canon". Canon: EF/RF L SERIES. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
2. "Heat Shield Coating | Canon". Canon: EF/RF L SERIES. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
3. Canon Europa N.V. and Canon Europe Ltd 2002-2015. "Black or White Lenses - Canon Professional Network". Canon Professional Network.
4. "Canon Updates Lineup of EF L-Series Telephoto Zoom Lenses With the Introduction of EF 70-200MM F/4L II USM and EF 70-200MM F/2.8L IS II USM". usa.canon.com.
5. "Canon Updates Lineup of EF L-Series Telephoto Zoom Lenses With the Introduction of EF 70-200MM F/4L II USM and EF 70-200MM F/2.8L IS II USM". usa.canon.com.

External links

• At the-digital-picture.com:
  • Canon L Lens Series Information
• On Canon Website:
  • EF LENS WORK III