# Best 70-200mm Lenses 2026: 9 Ranked, and Five Aperture Fields That Don't Add Up Source: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses Published: 2026-09-18 | Updated: 2026-09-19 | Prices checked on Amazon UK on 2026-09-18 Five of the nine listings in this round-up of the best 70-200mm lenses get the aperture field wrong. Four of them write it in millimetres — 'Maximum Aperture: 2.8 Millimetres' — which is a unit of distance applied to an f-number. Meanwhile the most expensive lens here, at £2,402.67, has a description field that talks about an 'RF35mm F1.4 L VCM', a completely different lens, and a 52 mm filter thread when every other f/2.8 in the group lists 77 mm or 82 mm. The second most expensive, the original Sony G Master at £1,939.00, carries 'Focus Type: Manual Focus' and a minimum focal length of 105 mm on a lens whose own title says 70-200mm. It also costs £114.00 more than the version II, which is newer and weighs 1045 g, at £1,825.00. We ranked nine of the best 70-200mm lenses on Amazon on four things we could check: price, star rating, number of ratings, and whether the specification table agrees with the product description on the same page. ## The ranking ### 1. Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II - Price: £1,825.00 | Amazon rating: 4.8 from 277 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/sony-70-200mm-gm-ii - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09JCMLP46?tag=ranked10-21 First place on two numbers that do agree: 1045 g of barrel and a 4.8 rating from 277 reviews, the strongest combination among the best 70-200mm lenses here. This sits at the top for two numbers that line up. The barrel weighs 1045 g, which Sony describes as roughly 29% lighter than the previous version, and it holds a 4.8 rating from 277 reviews — 94% of them five-star. In practice that pairing, light for an f/2.8 zoom and the highest rating in the group, is why it leads this list of the best 70-200mm lenses. Four XD linear motors drive the autofocus, and Sony quotes up to 4x the AF speed of the model it replaces. The aperture runs from f/2.8 to f/22 across nine blades, and the spec table names the A7 III and A7R IV among compatible bodies. At 1045 g it is also the best telephoto zoom for sony e-mount bodies if weight is what has kept you off an f/2.8 so far. The catch is the table itself: no filter thread size is listed anywhere for this lens, so you cannot check whether your existing filters will fit before you order. Either way, if you shoot Canon, Nikon or L-mount, none of this applies to your body. Pros: 1045 g barrel, about 29% lighter than the version it replaces; 4.8 rating from 277 reviews, with 94% of them five-star; Four XD linear motors, with Sony quoting up to 4x faster autofocus; Constant f/2.8, f/22 minimum, nine-blade diaphragm; Auto focus and optical stabilisation both listed for Sony E bodies Cons: No filter thread size anywhere in the specification table; £1,825.00, which is £626 more than the cheapest f/2.8 here; Sony E-mount only; 3% of its ratings are one-star ### 2. Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM (Canon EF) - Price: £1,199.00 | Amazon rating: 4.7 from 309 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/sigma-70-200mm-f2-8-canon - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KLCRTBP?tag=ranked10-21 The cheapest 70-200mm f2.8 here at £1,199.00, with an 82 mm filter thread and the joint-highest blade count at 11. It is the lowest price of any f/2.8 in this group, at £1,199.00 — £626 below the Sony at the top. However, it is also the clearest example of the aperture problem in these listings: the table reads 'Maximum Aperture: 2.8 Millimetres' and 'Minimum Aperture: 22 Millimetres'. The same table calls it a zoom and then lists 'Fixed Focal Length: 70 Millimetres', which contradicts itself rather than describing the lens. Optically Sigma quotes nine FLD elements and one SLD element, plus an 82 mm filter thread — the widest in this group. The diaphragm has 11 rounded blades, the joint-highest count here. In theory the tripod collar's 90° click stops and Arca Swiss type clamp mean you can drop the plate you would otherwise bolt on. Dust- and splash-proofing and a magnesium alloy barrel are both listed. That said, it is a Canon EF lens for DSLR bodies, not the mirrorless RF mount. If you have moved to an EOS R camera it needs an adapter. Worth noting too that 7% of its ratings sit at three stars or lower. Pros: £1,199.00, the lowest price of any f/2.8 in this group; 82 mm filter thread, the widest listed here; 11-blade rounded diaphragm for smoother defocus; Nine FLD and one SLD low-dispersion elements; Tripod collar with 90° click stops and an Arca Swiss type clamp Cons: Aperture given as '2.8 Millimetres' and '22 Millimetres'; Fixed focal length listed as 70 mm on a zoom; Canon EF mount, so mirrorless bodies need an adapter; 7% of its ratings are three-star or lower ### 3. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM - Price: £1,694.99 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 205 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/canon-ef-70-200mm-f2-8l-is-iii - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DLRXF43?tag=ranked10-21 Canon's EF-mount workhorse, and the listing where the two aperture fields are reversed rather than measured in the wrong unit. Here the aperture fields are swapped: the table gives 'Maximum Aperture: 32 f' and 'Minimum Aperture: 2.8 f'. The description on the same page says the maximum aperture is f/2.8 and that it lets in twice as much light as an f/4 lens. Worth noting that both numbers are on the page, and they disagree about which is which. For anyone still on Canon DSLRs, this is arguably the best 70-200mm lens for canon EF bodies. It uses fluorite and UD elements, a 3.5-stop image stabiliser, fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements, and a ring-type USM motor with full-time manual override, which is why the product title also sells it as a 70-200mm lens for sports photography. The filter thread is 77 mm and the diaphragm has eight blades. Even so, among the best 70-200mm lenses here it is the only one where the aperture fields are reversed rather than given in millimetres. It is a DSLR design, so it needs an adapter on the EOS R system, where the RF version is the native fit. The catch on price is smaller: £1,694.99 undercuts the RF model by around £304. Pros: f/2.8 maximum aperture with a 3.5-stop image stabiliser; Fluorite and UD optics with fluorine coatings front and rear; 77 mm filter thread and a weatherproof, sealed barrel; Ring-type USM with manual override at any time; £1,694.99, roughly £304 less than the RF version Cons: Maximum aperture listed as 32 and minimum as 2.8 — reversed; Minimum focal length given as 70.1 mm rather than 70; Canon EF mount, so mirrorless bodies need an adapter; 8% of its ratings are one-star ### 4. Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S - Price: £1,999.00 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 175 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/nikon-nikkor-z-70-200mm - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0837HB1HD?tag=ranked10-21 The only nikon z 70-200mm f2.8 in the group, at £1,999.00, and the only one with an OLED panel on the barrel. This is the only Nikon Z mount lens here, and the only 70-200mm f2.8 lens in the group with an OLED panel on the barrel showing aperture, focus distance, focal length, ISO and depth of field. The zoom ratio is listed as 2.86:1 and the minimum aperture as '22 Millimetres' — the same unit error that appears on four other listings in this article. In practice the useful figures are a 77 mm filter thread, nine diaphragm blades, optical stabilisation, auto focus and a constant f/2.8 across the range. The Fn button takes up to 21 assignable functions, from AF lock to metering and bracketing, which is more customisation than any other lens on this list. Nikon also states that focus breathing is all but eliminated. By contrast with the Canon and Sony options, no weight figure appears anywhere in this listing. The 'Real Angle Of View: 12.6 Degrees' is the figure for the 200 mm end, not a whole-zoom measurement. Crucially, if you shoot Sony or Canon, this is not a lens your body can take. Pros: Constant f/2.8 across a 2.86:1 zoom ratio; OLED panel showing aperture, focus distance, focal length, ISO and depth of field; Fn button with up to 21 assignable functions; 77 mm filter thread, nine blades, optical VR; Focus breathing described as all but eliminated Cons: Minimum aperture listed as '22 Millimetres'; No weight given anywhere in the specification; £1,999.00, the second-highest price in the group; 4% of its ratings are one-star ### 5. Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM - Price: £1,998.98 | Amazon rating: 4.7 from 138 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/canon-rf-70-200mm-lens - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZJGPMBV?tag=ranked10-21 Canon's mirrorless f/2.8 for the EOS R system, about £304 more than the EF version, and one of the four listings that measures aperture in millimetres. The table here reads 'Maximum Aperture: 2.8 Millimetres' and 'Minimum Aperture: 32', which means the body copy and the spec table on the same page describe two different apertures. The description calls it a constant F2.8 lens across the 70-200mm range. It is the native RF-mount 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens for EOS R bodies: dual Nano USM motors, a 5-stop image stabiliser, a nine-blade aperture, a 77 mm filter thread, and aspherical plus Super UD elements with SWC and Super Spectra coatings. No adapter is needed, and Canon's own copy lists sport among its uses. That said, at £1,998.98 it is £303.99 more than the EF version. The listing also gives no weight, despite 'Lightweight' appearing in the product name — as a result you cannot check that claim from the page. The 34.12 degrees real angle of view is the 70 mm figure, not a measurement across the zoom. Pros: Native Canon RF mount for EOS R bodies, no adapter needed; 5-stop image stabiliser; Dual Nano USM motors for stills and video; 77 mm filter thread and a nine-blade aperture; 4.7 rating from 138 reviews, 86% of them five-star Cons: Maximum aperture listed as '2.8 Millimetres'; No weight given, despite 'Lightweight' in the product name; £303.99 more than the EF version; 3% of its ratings are one-star ### 6. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master OSS - Price: £1,939.00 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 282 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/sony-70-200mm-g-master - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01G2ZMUDQ?tag=ranked10-21 The older Sony G Master, £114.00 more than the newer version II, and the listing that says 'Focus Type: Manual Focus'. Sony's own description of this lens names an RDSSM actuator and a double linear motor for stills and video autofocus. Its Amazon listing says 'Focus Type: Manual Focus'. At the same time, the minimum focal length is given as 105 mm and the fixed focal length as 35 mm, on a lens whose title reads 70-200mm. Optically it is well specified: one XA element and three aspherical elements, an 11-blade circular aperture, Nano AR coating, a fluorine coating on the front element, dust and moisture sealing, and a 77 mm filter thread. It fits all Sony E-mount bodies, which keeps it competitive as a best telephoto zoom for sony e-mount bodies on the used and older-stock market. Crucially, it costs £1,939.00 while the version II at the top of this list costs £1,825.00 — £114.00 less for a lens weighing 1045 g and rated 4.8 from 277 reviews, against 4.6 from 282 here. However, this model does have 11 diaphragm blades against the version II's nine, and 6% of its ratings are one-star. Pros: One XA and three aspherical elements; 11-blade circular aperture for smoother bokeh; Nano AR coating plus fluorine coating on the front element; Sealed against dust and moisture; 77 mm filter thread, compatible with all Sony E-mount bodies Cons: 'Focus Type: Manual Focus' contradicts the autofocus described in the same listing; Minimum focal length given as 105 mm and fixed focal length as 35 mm on a 70-200mm lens; £114.00 more than the newer, lighter version II; 6% of its ratings are one-star ### 7. Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II - Price: £1,324.00 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 106 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/sony-70-200mm-f4-macro - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CBNBDVMZ?tag=ranked10-21 The only 70-200mm f4 macro lens here, with half life-size reproduction right through the zoom range for £1,324.00. This is the cheapest lens in the top seven and the only 70-200mm f4 macro lens in the group. Sony calls it the first in its class with half-macro (1:2) capability across the whole zoom range, and it accepts the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters — with the 2.0x it reaches 1:1. Among the best 70-200mm lenses here it is also the only f/4, which is where the £1,324.00 price comes from. The spec table lists a 72 mm filter thread, nine diaphragm blades, optical stabilisation and auto focus. Four XD linear motors work with floating focus groups to drive the AF. The optical design pairs aspherical and advanced aspherical elements with three ED and one Super ED element to suppress chromatic aberration. The catch is that f/4 maximum aperture: it lets in half the light of the f/2.8 lenses above it, which is the exact difference the Canon EF listing points out in its own copy. If you shoot indoor sport or evening events, that is a real cost. In short, buy it for the macro range and the compact 72 mm thread, not for low light. Pros: Half-macro 1:2 across the entire zoom range, 1:1 with the 2.0x teleconverter; Four XD linear motors with floating focus groups; Aspherical, advanced aspherical, three ED and one Super ED elements; 72 mm filter thread and nine diaphragm blades; £1,324.00, the third-lowest price in this group Cons: f/4 maximum aperture, half the light of an f/2.8; Aperture range limited to f/4–f/22; 7% of its ratings are one-star; No weight figure given in the listing ### 8. Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS (L-Mount) - Price: £1,499.00 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 29 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/sigma-70-200mm-f2-8-l-mount - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CN1NL69M?tag=ranked10-21 £1,499.00 for the L-mount version, with the widest recorded one-star share in the group at 12%. This is the L-mount Sigma, and the listing carries two oddities worth flagging. The filter thread is given as '91.44 Millimeters', which is 3.6 inches and unlike the 72 mm, 77 mm and 82 mm threads on every other lens here. It also states 'Number of Items: 3', which on a lens page usually means a kit rather than a single lens. On the engineering side there is a high-response linear actuator for autofocus, a dust and splash-resistant structure, an 11-blade diaphragm, a minimum aperture of f/16 and optical stabilisation. The 2.86:1 zoom ratio matches most of the group. Sigma positions it as the completion of its f/2.8 mirrorless trio, at £1,499.00 — about £300 below the Canon RF f/2.8. However, only 29 ratings are recorded, and 12% of them are one-star, the highest one-star share of these nine listings. That is a small sample, so treat it as a flag rather than a verdict. If you shoot Sony E-mount, this lens is also made for that mount, but this particular listing is the Leica L version only. Pros: £1,499.00, around £300 less than the Canon RF f/2.8; 11-blade diaphragm and a constant f/2.8 with f/16 minimum; High-response linear actuator autofocus; Dust and splash-resistant structure; 2.86:1 zoom ratio, in line with the rest of the group Cons: Filter thread listed as 91.44 mm, unlike any other lens here; 'Number of Items: 3' with no explanation of what the three items are; 12% of its 29 ratings are one-star, the highest share in the group; Leica L mount only — no adapter path to Canon or Nikon bodies ### 9. Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z - Price: £2,402.67 | Amazon rating: 4.9 from 28 ratings - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/tech/best-70-200mm-lenses/canon-rf70-200mm-f2-8-z - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DKZ9XXT5?tag=ranked10-21 The most expensive lens here at £2,402.67 and the highest rated at 4.9, with a description field that talks about a different lens entirely. The £2,402.67 price makes this the most expensive lens in the group, £403.67 above the next one up. It also carries the best rating, 4.9 from 28 reviews. Meanwhile the table gives 'Maximum Aperture: 22 Millimetres' and 'Minimum Aperture: 2.8 Millimetres' — both reversed and both in the wrong unit. The zoom ratio is listed as 3:1, against 2.86:1 on almost every other 70-200mm here. The description field is the bigger problem. It describes an 'RF35mm F1.4 L VCM', a different lens, including a 52 mm filter thread. Every other f/2.8 in this group lists 77 mm or 82 mm. The same table gives a seven-blade diaphragm, the lowest count of these nine listings. The genuine features are an internal zoom and internal focus design, a manual iris ring, Nano USM motors driving two floating focus units, and compatibility with the PZ-E2 and PZ-E2B power zoom adapters. That said, with 28 ratings and a description about a 35 mm lens, read the listing carefully before you order. Pros: 4.9 rating from 28 reviews, the highest in this group; Internal zoom and internal focus design with a manual iris ring; Two floating focus units driven by Nano USM motors; Compatible with PZ-E2 and PZ-E2B power zoom adapters; Weather-resistant L-series construction Cons: £2,402.67, the highest price here by £403.67; Description field covers an RF35mm F1.4 L VCM and a 52 mm filter thread; Apertures listed as 22 mm and 2.8 mm, reversed and in the wrong unit; Seven diaphragm blades, the fewest in the group ## Verdict For most people the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II at £1,825.00 is the pick: 1045 g, a 4.8 rating from 277 reviews, and no contradiction we could find in its spec table. If you are still on a Canon DSLR, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III at £1,694.99 is the best 70-200mm lens for canon EF bodies and about £304 cheaper than the RF version. On a budget, the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM at £1,199.00 is the cheapest 70-200mm f2.8 here, and the only one with an 82 mm filter thread. If macro matters more than light gathering, the f/4 Sony at £1,324.00 shoots half life-size right through the zoom. Either way, when you compare the best 70-200mm lenses, read the aperture field before the marketing copy — in this group it is the field that goes wrong most often. In short: four listings state an f-number in millimetres, and two swap maximum and minimum.