All L series lenses are easily identifiable by the red ring around the end of the barrel and the letter L at the end of their technical designations.

Most L series lenses are heavy shiny black plastic or white-painted metal. Most newer lenses (since 1999 or so) are weather-sealed though some (the earliest L series) are textured black plastic. The handful of early L series lenses with old-style barrels are not built to the same tough build quality of modern L lenses, though optically they’re fine.

Most L series lenses are large and fast lenses and thus quite expensive. However in the past few years Canon have also released a few more affordable L series zooms. These lenses are optically slower f/4 lenses which are smaller, lighter and cheaper than their f/2.8 counterparts. No L series lens has ever been made with an EF-S lens mount: they are always EF lens mounts only.

14mm 2.8 L USM

24mm 1.4L USM

16-35mm 2.8 L USM, Ø77

16-35mm 2.8 L II USM, Ø82

17-35mm 2.8 L USM, Ø77

17-40mm 4 L USM, Ø77

20-35mm 2.8 L, Ø72

24-70mm 2.8 L USM, Ø77

24-105mm 4 L IS USM, Ø77

28-70mm 2.8 L USM “Macro”, Ø77

28-80mm 2.8-4 L USM, Ø72

28-300mm 3.5-5.6L IS USM, Ø77

35mm 1.4 L USM, Ø72

35-350mm 3.5-5.6 L USM, Ø72

50mm 1 L USM, Ø72

50mm 1.2 L USM, Ø72

50-200mm 3.5-4.5 L, Ø58
Old-style barrel, push-pull zoom

70-200mm 2.8 L USM, Ø77

70-200mm 2.8 L IS USM, Ø77

70-200mm 4 L USM, Ø67

70-200mm 4 L IS USM, Ø67

80-200mm 2.8L
Old-style barrel; not compatible with teleconverters

85mm 1.2 L USM, Ø72

85mm 1.2 L USM II, Ø72

100-300mm 5.6 L, Ø58
Old-style barrel, push-pull zoom

100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS USM, Ø77
Push-pull zoom

135mm 2 L USM, Ø72

180mm 3.5 Macro L USM, Ø72
True 1:1 macro

200mm 1.8 L USM

200mm 2.8 L USM, Ø72

200mm 2.8 L II USM, Ø72

300mm 2.8 L USM

300mm 2.8 L IS USM

300mm 4 L USM, Ø77

300mm 4 L IS USM, Ø77

400mm 2.8 L USM

400mm 2.8 L II USM

400mm 2.8L L IS USM

400mm 5.6L USM

500mm 4 L IS USM

500mm 4.5 L USM

600mm 4 L USM

600mm 4 L USM II

1200mm 5.6L USM