Canon RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM vs Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM

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RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM compared with RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM

	CanonRF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM	CanonRF 20mm F1.4 L VCM
Overview
Released
Released	October 2021	April 2025
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	100–400 mm	20 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6–8	f/1.4
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–45	f/16
Optical construction
Optical construction	12 elements in nine groups	Fifteen elements in eleven groups
Special elements
Special elements	One UD element and one PMo aspherical element	One Super UD, two UD, one BR and two glass-moulded aspherical elements; ASC, SWC and Super Spectra coatings; front fluorine coating
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra; no fluorine coating, per UK maker table	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine blades	Eleven blades with circular aperture
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 RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras; RF extenders not compatible. Iris ring provides movie aperture control; Canon lists EOS R, RP, Ra, R3, R5, R6, R6 Mark II, R7, R8, R10, R50, R100 and R5 C as unable to set still-photo aperture with this ring even with their latest 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	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.88 m	0.2 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.41×	0.19×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Nano USM autofocus and electronic manual focus	Rear focusing system driven by a VCM motor
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	Minimum focus 0.2 m
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Magnification detail	0.09× at 100 mm, 0.24× at 200 mm, 0.34× at 300 mm and 0.41× at 400 mm; no unpublished AF/MF distinction inferred	Maximum 0.19×
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	No optical stabiliser; Canon rates EOS R1 in-body stabilisation at 8 stops centrally and 5 stops in the corners under CIPA-2024 testing
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	No	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	67 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	79.5 mm	76.5 mm
Length
Length	164.7 mm	99.3 mm
Weight
Weight	635 g	519 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom, electronic manual focus and custom control rings; AF/MF and IS switches; zoom lock	Electronic manual-focus, customisable control and smooth-action iris rings; iris Auto-position lock; customisable lens function button; AF/MF switch
Filter detail
Filter detail	–	67 mm front thread and rear filter holder; Canon specifies a single rear filter no thicker than 0.2 mm and recommends removing the holder when unused to avoid possible ghosting
Zoom design
Zoom design	Extending zoom barrel; main maker length measured retracted	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	UK maker specification explicitly states no dust/moisture resistance	Dust and moisture resistant construction with mount rubber seal
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 79.5 mm maximum diameter × 164.7 mm length when retracted	Approximately 76.5 mm maximum diameter × 99.3 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 635 g lens	Approximately 519 g lens
Lens hood
Lens hood	ET-74B, optional accessory	EW-73H hood included
In the box
In the box	–	Lens, E-67 II front cap, RF dust cap, EW-73H hood, LP1219 case, rear filter holder and user manual
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	April 2025 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum