Canon EF 28-70mm F2.8L USM

The Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8L USM is an older professional standard zoom for EF-mount SLR cameras. Canon released it in November 1993, and according to Wikipedia it was produced until 2002. It is an L-series zoom with a constant f/2.8 aperture, and the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM followed it in Canon's lineup. It works on full-frame and APS-C EF bodies, and there is no optical stabilizer.

Optical design

The lens has 16 elements in 11 groups. Canon's Camera Museum says that an ultra-precision ground and polished glass aspherical element, the first element, provides contrast and sharpness at all shooting distances, and it describes the performance as close to that of a single focal length lens. The aperture is a constant f/2.8, with a smallest aperture of f/22 and an 8-blade circular diaphragm. The maximum magnification is 0.18x.

Autofocus and handling

Autofocus uses a USM (ultrasonic motor) with an inner focusing system, and full-time manual focus is possible. The minimum focus distance is 0.5 m. According to Canon, the filter attachment ring does not rotate during focusing, so polarizing filters can be used with good operability. The EW-83B petal-shaped hood is designed for effective shading over the zoom range. As an EF lens, it needs an adapter on RF mirrorless bodies.

Build and size

The lens weighs 880 g, measures 83.2 mm in diameter and 117.6 mm in length, and takes 77 mm filters.

Where it fits

The successor in the EF line is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, which weighs 950 g in our database with 16 elements in 13 groups and a 0.38 m minimum focus distance. The EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM (805 g) is the later and lighter version. The 28-70mm is shorter on the wide end. Compared with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (670 g), it is faster but heavier and offers a shorter range.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Constant f/2.8 on a 28-70 mm range
• Ground and polished glass aspherical element
• USM autofocus with full-time manual focus
• Filter ring does not rotate when focusing
• 880 g, lighter than the later EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM (950 g)

Cons

• Only 28 mm at the wide end
• No image stabilizer
• 0.5 m minimum focus distance and 0.18x magnification
• Old design from 1993, with no modern coatings listed
• Discontinued, and EF mount needs an adapter on mirrorless bodies

Verdict

The EF 28-70mm f/2.8L USM is of interest mainly as a used lens or for collectors of the early L-series. For daily work with EF cameras, the later 24-70mm f/2.8L lenses cover a wider range and are the more practical choice.