Canon RF 100–300mm F2.8L IS USM vs Canon RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM

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RF 100–300mm F2.8L IS USM compared with RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM

	CanonRF 100–300mm F2.8L IS USM	CanonRF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM
Overview
Released
Released	May 2023	October 2021
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	100–300 mm	100–400 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/5.6–8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/32–45
Optical construction
Optical construction	Twenty-three elements in eighteen groups	12 elements in nine groups
Special elements
Special elements	One fluorite, four UD and one glass-moulded aspherical element	One UD element and one PMo aspherical element
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra, ASC and fluorine coatings	Super Spectra; no fluorine coating, per UK maker table
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Constant maximum f/2.8; minimum f/22	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine blades	Nine blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	Full-frame diagonal 24°–8°15′; horizontal 20°–6°50′; vertical 14°–4°35′	–
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon RF	Canon RF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras	Canon RF mount, full-frame image circle; incompatible with EF DSLRs and EOS M cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	RF 1.4× gives 140–420 mm f/4; RF 2× gives 200–600 mm f/5.6	RF1.4× gives 140–560 mm f/8–11 and maximum 0.58×; RF2× gives 200–800 mm f/11–16 and maximum 0.83×. Maker confirms autofocus and IS, with reduced AF coverage on listed EOS R bodies; extenders usable throughout the zoom range
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	1.8 m	0.88 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.16×	0.41×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Two Nano USM motors independently drive the electronic floating-focus groups; full-time electronic manual focus	Nano USM autofocus and electronic manual focus
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	1.8 m minimum focus throughout the zoom range; limiter selects full range or 6 m–infinity	Maker minimum focus 1.2 m at 100 mm, 0.88 m at 200 mm, 0.95 m at 300 mm and 1.05 m at 400 mm. Main value is the closest published distance at 200 mm; Cameralabs’ approximate constant-distance observation does not replace the maker’s per-focal-length table
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	0.06× at 100 mm and 0.16× at 300 mm	0.09× at 100 mm, 0.24× at 200 mm, 0.34× at 300 mm and 0.41× at 400 mm; no unpublished AF/MF distinction inferred
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Canon rates lens optical IS at 5.5 stops under CIPA conditions, and coordinated IS at up to 6 stops with EOS R5 and compatible bodies	Optical IS rated 5.5 stops at 400 mm on EOS R under CIPA, yaw/pitch; coordinated EOS R5 body/lens IS rated six stops under the same maker conditions. Cameralabs measured approximately five stops at 100 mm and three at 400 mm with EOS R6, a different test condition
Video features
Video features	–	Cameralabs found little focus breathing and mostly maintained focus while zooming in its tests; these are reviewer observations rather than maker parfocal certification
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	No
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	112 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	128 mm	79.5 mm
Length
Length	323.4 mm	164.7 mm
Weight
Weight	2,590 g	635 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate focus, zoom and clicking control rings; front lens-function buttons and focus-preset controls	Separate zoom, electronic manual focus and custom control rings; AF/MF and IS switches; zoom lock
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zoom maintains barrel length	Extending zoom barrel; main maker length measured retracted
Filter detail
Filter detail	112 mm front screw-in thread; no rear drop-in filter	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust- and moisture-resistant construction with heat-blocking white paint	UK maker specification explicitly states no dust/moisture resistance
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	128 mm maximum diameter × 323.4 mm length	Approximately 79.5 mm maximum diameter × 164.7 mm length when retracted
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 2,590 g, as listed by Canon UK, Canon Japan and Canon Camera Museum	Approximately 635 g lens
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Rotating tripod collar with support foot	–
Lens hood
Lens hood	ET-124 included	ET-74B, optional accessory
In the box
In the box	Lens, E-112 front cap, RF dust cap, ET-124 hood, LS100-300 soft case and user manual	–
Release detail
Release detail	May 2023 first release confirmed by Canon's June 2023 retrospective announcement and Camera Museum	October 2021 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum, matching Canon Canada’s original October availability. No exact worldwide first-sale day inferred; no direct replacement of brighter EF or RF L-series zooms assumed