Canon RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM vs Canon RF 75–300mm F4–5.6

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM compared with RF 75–300mm F4–5.6

	CanonRF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM	CanonRF 75–300mm F4–5.6
Overview
Released
Released	October 2021	May 2025
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	100–400 mm	75–300 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6–8	f/4–5.6
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–45	f/32–45
Optical construction
Optical construction	12 elements in nine groups	Thirteen elements in nine groups; Canon states the optical design is adapted from the EF 75–300mm F4–5.6 III
Special elements
Special elements	One UD element and one PMo aspherical element	–
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra; no fluorine coating, per UK maker table	Super Spectra; no fluorine coating
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	–	Maximum f/4 at 75 mm and f/5.6 at 300 mm; minimum f/32 and f/45 respectively
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine blades	Seven blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	–	Full-frame diagonal 32°11′–8°15′; horizontal 27°–6°50′; vertical 18°11′–4°35′
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; 120–480 mm equivalent field of view on Canon APS-C
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	Not compatible with RF extenders (The-Digital-Picture)
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.88 m	1.5 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.41×	0.25×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Nano USM autofocus and electronic manual focus	DC motor autofocus; no full-time manual focus override (Digital Camera World)
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	1.5 m minimum focus; front element and focus ring rotate during focusing (Digital Camera World and The-Digital-Picture)
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	0.06× at 75 mm and 0.25× at 300 mm
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 lens optical stabilisation
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	Substantial focus breathing in The-Digital-Picture's test
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	No	–
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	67 mm	58 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	79.5 mm	71.2 mm
Length
Length	164.7 mm	146.1 mm
Weight
Weight	635 g	507 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom, electronic manual focus and custom control rings; AF/MF and IS switches; zoom lock	Manual focus and zoom rings, AF/MF switch; no custom control ring (The-Digital-Picture)
Zoom design
Zoom design	Extending zoom barrel; main maker length measured retracted	Extending zoom barrel; further extension and front rotation during focusing (Digital Camera World)
Filter detail
Filter detail	–	58 mm front thread rotates during focusing
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	UK maker specification explicitly states no dust/moisture resistance	Canon UK's table lists dust/moisture resistance, but Digital Camera World and The-Digital-Picture both report no weather sealing
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 79.5 mm maximum diameter × 164.7 mm length when retracted	71.2 mm maximum diameter × 146.1 mm retracted length
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 635 g lens	Approximately 507 g lens
Lens hood
Lens hood	ET-74B, optional accessory	Optional ET-60 hood, not included
In the box
In the box	–	Lens, E-58 II lens cap, RF dust cap 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	May 2025 release confirmed retrospectively by Canon's February 2026 press release and Canon Camera Museum