The lens features a ring-type USM AF drive allowing very fast and silent AF operations. Full-time manual focusing (FTM) remains possible in one-shot AF mode. Manual focusing is very smooth and the broad, rubberized focus control rings adds to the positive impression here. The minimal focus distance is 1.5m resulting in a max. magnification of 1:5. The outer shell is mostly made of metal. The size of the lens remains constant thanks to an IF design. Consequently the front element does not rotate so using a polarizer remains easily possible. All-in-all a typical Canon L lens. The optical construction is made of 9 elements in 7 groups with 2 UD elements. The lens features 8 aperture blades. The filter size is 72mm. With a weight of 765g and a size of 83x136mm it is fairly compact and light weight for such a large aperture lens. The EF 200mm f/2.8 L is capable to accept both Canon tele-converters resulting either in a 280mm f/4 (w/1.4x) or 400mm f/5.6 (w/2x) combination.