Canon RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM vs Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ

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RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM compared with RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ

	CanonRF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM	CanonRF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ
Overview
Released
Released	October 2021	June 2026
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	100–400 mm	20–50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6–8	f/4
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–45	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	12 elements in nine groups	13 elements in 11 groups
Special elements
Special elements	One UD element and one PMo aspherical element	Two glass-moulded aspherical and three UD elements
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra; no fluorine coating, per UK maker table	ASC and Super Spectra; fluorine coating on the front element
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	–	Constant maximum f/4, minimum f/22 throughout the range
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine blades	Nine aperture blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	–	Horizontal 84°–40°, vertical 62°–27° and diagonal 94°–46° on full frame
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon RF	Canon RF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon RF mount, full-frame image circle; incompatible with EF DSLRs and EOS M 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
Teleconverter support	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	Canon RF extenders not compatible
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.88 m	0.24 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.41×	0.33×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Nano USM autofocus and electronic manual focus	Nano USM autofocus; full-time manual focus; maker rear-focus design retains length during focusing
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	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	0.09× 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	Maker maximum magnification 0.14× at 20 mm or 0.33× at 50 mm; no AF/MF mode specified in the table
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	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	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
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	Internal multi-speed power zoom and optically suppressed focus breathing; zoom ring switches between powered and conventional manual operation
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	No	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	67 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	79.5 mm	79.9 mm
Length
Length	164.7 mm	98.4 mm
Weight
Weight	635 g	420 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom, electronic manual focus and custom control rings; AF/MF and IS switches; zoom lock	Customisable control ring, focus ring and zoom ring; PZ/MZ selector, custom button, AF/MF and stabiliser switches (Digital Camera World; ePHOTOzine)
Zoom design
Zoom design	Extending zoom barrel; main maker length measured retracted	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
Filter detail	–	67 mm front screw-in filter thread
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	UK maker specification explicitly states no dust/moisture resistance	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
Dimensions detail	Approximately 79.5 mm maximum diameter × 164.7 mm length when retracted	Approximately 79.9 mm maximum diameter × 98.4 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 635 g lens	Approximately 420 g lens
Lens hood
Lens hood	ET-74B, optional accessory	ES-73B; maker lists E-67 II cap, Lens Dust Cap RF and LP1219 pouch as accessories
Release detail
Release detail	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	Canon Japan's 11 June 2026 notice confirms first sale from 26 June 2026, resolving the earlier late-June launch wording