Canon RF 24-105 F4L vs RF 24-70 F2.8L

Canon's two L-series standard zooms for full-frame RF bodies. Both have 5-stop optical IS, Nano USM autofocus, a customizable control ring and dust- and water-resistant construction, and neither takes extenders. The RF 24-105mm reaches 105mm and is lighter and shorter; the RF 24-70mm gathers a stop more light and focuses much closer.

A Canon EOS R5 body fitted with the RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM zoom, seen from the front on a white background — **Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM**f/4, 5-stop IS, 700 g · launched at $1,099 in 2018Photo: Yerpo via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

A Canon EOS R5 body fitted with the RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM zoom, with its red L ring, on a dark background — **Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM**f/2.8, 5-stop IS, 900 g · launched at $2,299 in 2019Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Side-by-side specs

	Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM	Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Focal range / aperture	24–105mm; f/4 constant	24–70mm; f/2.8 constant
Minimum aperture / blades	f/22; 9 blades	f/22; 9 circular blades
Optics	18 elements in 14 groups; 3 aspherical, 1 UD; Air Sphere Coating	21 elements in 15 groups; 3 aspherical, 3 UD; Air Sphere Coating
Angle of view (diagonal)	84° to 23°20′	84° to 34°
Close focus / magnification	0.45 m; 0.24x	0.21 m (wide) to 0.38 m (tele); 0.30x at 32mm
Autofocus	Nano USM	Same
Stabilization	Optical IS, 5 stops (CIPA, EOS R at 105mm)	Optical IS, 5 stops (CIPA, EOS R at 70mm)
Control ring	Customizable	Same
Sealing	Dust- and water-resistant (Canon says it can't completely prevent entry)	Same
Filter / hood	77 mm; EW-83N	82 mm; EW-88E
Extenders	Not compatible	Same
Size (retracted) / weight	83.5 × 107.3 mm; 700 g	88.5 × 125.7 mm; 900 g
Launch price	Sep 5, 2018; $1,099 (US)	Aug 28, 2019; $2,299 (US)

RF 24-105mm specs from Canon Europe's specifications page, the Canon Camera Museum and Canon U.S.A., as cited in our RF 24-105mm guide; RF 24-70mm specs from Canon U.S.A.'s specification sheet and release and Canon UK's specifications page. US launch prices from Canon U.S.A. ✓ = advantage; blank = tie or not directly comparable.

Sample photos

Four photos taken with the Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM and four with the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM, shared on Wikimedia Commons under open licenses.

Sample photo 1 of 8 taken with the Canon EOS R — Taken with the Canon EOS R. Photo: Janusz Sobolewski from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 2 of 8 taken with the Canon EOS R6 — Taken with the Canon EOS R6. Photo: Robert Myers (Bidgee) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 AU (resized)

Sample photo 3 of 8 taken with the Canon EOS R — Taken with the Canon EOS R. Photo: Herbert Weber, Hildesheim via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 4 of 8 taken with the Canon EOS R — Taken with the Canon EOS R. Photo: Moheen Reeyad via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 5 of 8 taken with the Canon EOS R5 — Taken with the Canon EOS R5. Photo: Dinkun Chen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 6 of 8 taken with the Canon EOS R5 — Taken with the Canon EOS R5. Photo: Dinkun Chen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 7 of 8 taken with the Canon EOS R5 — Taken with the Canon EOS R5. Photo: Dinkun Chen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 8 of 8 taken with the Canon EOS R5 — Taken with the Canon EOS R5. Photo: Dinkun Chen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Who should buy which

Buy the RF 24-105 F4L if…

You want reach to 105mm for travel, landscapes and all-day walkaround use.
You want the lighter, shorter lens: 700 g and 107.3 mm vs 900 g and 125.7 mm.
You use 77 mm filters.

Buy the RF 24-70 F2.8L if…

You shoot indoor events, weddings or low light, where f/2.8 gathers a stop more light than f/4.
You want shallower depth of field across 24–70mm.
You shoot close-ups: 0.21 m close focus and 0.30x vs 0.45 m and 0.24x.

Both lenses have 5-stop optical IS, Nano USM, a control ring and weather sealing, so the choice is reach, weight and size versus a faster aperture and closer focus. See our full RF 24-105mm F4L and RF 24-70mm F2.8L guides, or all comparisons.

Where to buy

Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM

RF 24-105 F4L · lens (new)

Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM: Launched at $1,099 in 2018 (Canon U.S.A., September 5, 2018).

Check price
Read the full Canon RF 24-105 F4L review

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

RF 24-70 F2.8L · lens (new)

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM: Launched at $2,299 in 2019 (Canon U.S.A., August 28, 2019).

Check price
Read the full Canon RF 24-70 F2.8L review

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