Canon RF 100–300mm F2.8L IS USM vs Canon RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM

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RF 100–300mm F2.8L IS USM compared with RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM

	CanonRF 100–300mm F2.8L IS USM	CanonRF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM
Overview
Released
Released	May 2023	August 2020
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	100–300 mm	100–500 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/4.5–7.1
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/32–51
Optical construction
Optical construction	Twenty-three elements in eighteen groups	20 elements in 14 groups
Special elements
Special elements	One fluorite, four UD and one glass-moulded aspherical element	Six UD elements and one Super UD element
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra, ASC and fluorine coatings	ASC anti-reflection coating, fluorine coating and heat-shield barrel paint
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Constant maximum f/2.8; minimum f/22	Maximum f/4.5 at 100 mm to f/7.1 at 500 mm; minimum f/32 at 100 mm to f/51 at 500 mm. Digital Camera World's f/54 table entry is inconsistent with maker specifications and is not used
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine blades	Nine blades with circular aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	Full-frame diagonal 24°–8°15′; horizontal 20°–6°50′; vertical 14°–4°35′	Full-frame horizontal 20°–4°, vertical 14°–2°45′ and diagonal 24°–5°
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 EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle. Distinct from EF100–400mm F4.5–5.6L IS II USM and RF100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	RF 1.4× gives 140–420 mm f/4; RF 2× gives 200–600 mm f/5.6	RF1.4× and RF2× compatible only with lens set to 300–500 mm; maker RF2× FAQ requires extension beyond 300 mm before attachment and restricts subsequent zoom operation to 300–500 mm
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	1.8 m	0.9 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.16×	0.33×
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	Dual Nano USM autofocus with electronically controlled floating focus; full-time manual focus. Digital Camera World's initial EOS R action test preceded the firmware improvements it identifies, and its EOS R5 tracking test was substantially better
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 distance 0.9 m at 100 mm; Photography Blog reports 1.2 m at 500 mm. AF/MF mode distinction unpublished and omitted
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	0.06× at 100 mm and 0.16× at 300 mm	Maker maximum magnification 0.33× at 500 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	Lens optical IS rated five stops with EOS R at 500 mm under CIPA; coordinated EOS R5 body and lens IS rated six stops with required firmware, separately from lens-only rating
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	112 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	128 mm	93.8 mm
Length
Length	323.4 mm	207.6 mm
Weight
Weight	2,590 g	1,370 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate focus, zoom and clicking control rings; front lens-function buttons and focus-preset controls	Zoom and focus rings, customisable control ring, adjustable zoom torque, AF/MF switch, Full or 3 m–infinity focus limiter and IS on/off/mode switches
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zoom maintains barrel length	Extending zoom barrel; dimensions measured retracted
Filter detail
Filter detail	112 mm front screw-in thread; no rear drop-in filter	77 mm front filter thread
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust- and moisture-resistant construction with heat-blocking white paint	Dust and moisture resistant construction requires attachment to a camera; does not completely prevent dust or water ingress and is not waterproof
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	128 mm maximum diameter × 323.4 mm length	Approximately 93.8 mm maximum diameter × 207.6 mm length, retracted
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 2,590 g, as listed by Canon UK, Canon Japan and Canon Camera Museum	Maker Japan gives 1,370 g excluding tripod collar, which weighs approximately 160 g. Photography Blog and Digital Camera World list 1,530 g with collar; UK store's unexplained 2,250 g conflicts with the complete maker table and is not used
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Rotating tripod collar with support foot	Removable rotating tripod collar, approximately 160 g; shown attached in the maker press photograph
Lens hood
Lens hood	ET-124 included	ET-83F (WIII)
In the box
In the box	Lens, E-112 front cap, RF dust cap, ET-124 hood, LS100-300 soft case and user manual	UK maker store lists lens, ET-83F (WIII) hood, E-77 II front cap, Lens Dust Cap RF and LZ1328 case
Release detail
Release detail	May 2023 first release confirmed by Canon's June 2023 retrospective announcement and Camera Museum	Canon Japan's updated original announcement gives first sale 27 August 2020, consistent with Camera Museum marketed August. Region-specific retail day; exact UK first sale not inferred. Co-sold telephoto zooms are alternatives, with no inferred successor link