The Canon 70-200mm f/4 L IS is the sharpest zoom I've ever used. Not only that, but the ergonomics and operation are flawless, so flawless that I can shoot and zoom with only one hand.

We take a closer look at the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM and see if it can compete with its f/2.8 sibling When comparing the f/4 variety of this lens to the flagship f/2.8L version, in some ways this Canon f/4 lens is better designed.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM ($1,349 direct) isn't as lauded as the company's f/2.8 IS lens with the same zoom range, but it's priced about $650 less, making it an attractive option for shooters who can live with a slower lens. It is similar in design and price to the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/4G ED VR$1,396.95 at Amazon lens. It's compatible with full-frame Canon cameras, and can also be used with APS-C bodies, where it acts more like a 112-320mm lens due to the 1.6x crop factor. It's very sharp across the frame at its widest focal length, but performance at the edges suffers when set to 200mm.

Fairly lightweight for its size and construction, this lens balances well on midweight Canon DSLRs such as the EOS 30D, but is nose-heavy and ungainly on lightweights like the EOS Digital Rebel XTi. It has a very high level of fit and finish, with environmental sealing improved over the older non-IS version.