Canon RF 100–300mm F2.8L IS USM vs Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonRF 100–300mm F2.8L IS USM | CanonRF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | May 2023 | June 2026 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Zoom |
| Focal length | 100–300 mm | 20–50 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Optical construction | Twenty-three elements in eighteen groups | 13 elements in 11 groups |
| Special elements | One fluorite, four UD and one glass-moulded aspherical element | Two glass-moulded aspherical and three UD elements |
| Coatings | Super Spectra, ASC and fluorine coatings | ASC and Super Spectra; fluorine coating on the front element |
| Aperture detail | Constant maximum f/2.8; minimum f/22 | Constant maximum f/4, minimum f/22 throughout the range |
| Diaphragm | Nine blades | Nine aperture blades |
| Angle of view | Full-frame diagonal 24°–8°15′; horizontal 20°–6°50′; vertical 14°–4°35′ | Horizontal 84°–40°, vertical 62°–27° and diagonal 94°–46° on full frame |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon RF | Canon RF |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Compatibility | Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras | Canon EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle; power-zoom control from camera body or remote devices depends on compatible model and firmware |
| Teleconverter support | RF 1.4× gives 140–420 mm f/4; RF 2× gives 200–600 mm f/5.6 | Canon RF extenders not compatible |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 1.8 m | 0.24 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.16× | 0.33× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus detail | Two Nano USM motors independently drive the electronic floating-focus groups; full-time electronic manual focus | Nano USM autofocus; full-time manual focus; maker rear-focus design retains length during focusing |
| Focus distance detail | 1.8 m minimum focus throughout the zoom range; limiter selects full range or 6 m–infinity | – |
| Magnification detail | 0.06× at 100 mm and 0.16× at 300 mm | Maker maximum magnification 0.14× at 20 mm or 0.33× at 50 mm; no AF/MF mode specified in the table |
| 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 | Maker six-stop optical IS or combined camera/lens eight stops at centre and corners under CIPA-2024, at maximum focal length with its specified camera; not guaranteed in every shooting setup |
| Video features | – | Internal multi-speed power zoom and optically suppressed focus breathing; zoom ring switches between powered and conventional manual operation |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 112 mm | 67 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 128 mm | 79.9 mm |
| Length | 323.4 mm | 98.4 mm |
| Weight | 2,590 g | 420 g (better) |
| Controls | Separate focus, zoom and clicking control rings; front lens-function buttons and focus-preset controls | Customisable control ring, focus ring and zoom ring; PZ/MZ selector, custom button, AF/MF and stabiliser switches (Digital Camera World; ePHOTOzine) |
| Zoom design | Internal zoom maintains barrel length | Internal zoom/focus keeps barrel length fixed; ePHOTOzine describes conventional mechanical manual zoom, while Digital Camera World's prose calls it fly-by-wire; no silent choice between those reviewer descriptions |
| Filter detail | 112 mm front screw-in thread; no rear drop-in filter | 67 mm front screw-in filter thread |
| Weather resistance | Dust- and moisture-resistant construction with heat-blocking white paint | Dust and moisture resistant with mount gasket; maker warns camera attachment is required and protection cannot prevent all dust or water ingress; no waterproof/IP rating inferred |
| Dimensions detail | 128 mm maximum diameter × 323.4 mm length | Approximately 79.9 mm maximum diameter × 98.4 mm length |
| Weight detail | Approximately 2,590 g, as listed by Canon UK, Canon Japan and Canon Camera Museum | Approximately 420 g lens |
| Tripod mount | Rotating tripod collar with support foot | – |
| Lens hood | ET-124 included | ES-73B; maker lists E-67 II cap, Lens Dust Cap RF and LP1219 pouch as accessories |
| In the box | Lens, E-112 front cap, RF dust cap, ET-124 hood, LS100-300 soft case and user manual | – |
| Release detail | May 2023 first release confirmed by Canon's June 2023 retrospective announcement and Camera Museum | Canon Japan's 11 June 2026 notice confirms first sale from 26 June 2026, resolving the earlier late-June launch wording |
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