The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM and the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 146mm. The Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM with a length of 94mm, is 52mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 90mm compared to the Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM's 69mm diameter.
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Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM and Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM weighs 270g, which means it is 800g (74%) lighter than the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM which has a weight of 1070g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Canon RF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Canon RF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM and the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has the same Canon RF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon RF lenses are Canon R100, Canon R50 and Canon R10.
Focal Range
Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM has a focal range of 55-210mm and
3.8X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
88-336mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112 - 320mm.