Canon RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

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RF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM compared with NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

	CanonRF 100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM	NikonNIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Overview
Released
Released	October 2021	December 2021
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	100–400 mm	100–400 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6–8	f/4.5–5.6
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–45	f/32–40
Optical construction
Optical construction	12 elements in nine groups	Twenty-five elements in twenty groups
Special elements
Special elements	One UD element and one PMo aspherical element	Six ED and two Super ED elements
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra; no fluorine coating, per UK maker table	Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat; fluorine coating on the front element
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	–	FX 24°20′–6°10′; DX 16°–4°
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon RF	Nikon Z mount
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	Nikon Z full-frame and DX cameras. Nikon Japan says mounting this lens disables selection of the mechanical-shutter setting, leaving Auto or electronic front-curtain options; use the latest camera 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	Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4x and TC-2.0x supported; maximum focal length becomes 560 or 800 mm. Nikon warns focusing can take longer or become less reliable depending on subject, brightness and focus point
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.88 m	0.75 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.41×	0.38×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Nano USM autofocus and electronic manual focus	Multi-focusing system with two stepping motors
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	Internal focusing; minimum distances from focal plane 0.75 m at 100 mm, 0.78 m at 135 mm, 0.8 m at 200 mm, 0.87 m at 300 mm and 0.98 m at 400 mm
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 reproduction ratio 0.38× at 400 mm; 0.16× at 100 mm, as Nikon Japan specifies
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	Lens-shift VR with voice-coil motors. Nikon rates 5.5 stops under CIPA conditions in NORMAL mode on a full-frame camera at maximum telephoto
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	Nikon describes reduced focus breathing, quiet autofocus and smooth aperture control
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	No	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	67 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	79.5 mm	98 mm
Length
Length	164.7 mm	222 mm
Weight
Weight	635 g (better)	1,355 g
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom, electronic manual focus and custom control rings; AF/MF and IS switches; zoom lock	Focus-mode and FULL/infinity–3 m limiter switches; zoom and focus rings, assignable control ring, L-Fn controls and display button. Photography Blog identifies aperture, focus-distance and focal-length display options
Zoom design
Zoom design	Extending zoom barrel; main maker length measured retracted	Barrel extends towards 400 mm; Nikon's Inner Balance Technology minimises centre-of-gravity movement. Zoom ring turns through 80°
Filter detail
Filter detail	–	77 mm screw-on filters, 0.75 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	UK maker specification explicitly states no dust/moisture resistance	Dust and drip protection; complete resistance is not guaranteed in all conditions
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 79.5 mm maximum diameter × 164.7 mm length when retracted	Approximately 98 × 222 mm; length from lens mount at 100 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 635 g lens	Approximately 1,355 g without tripod collar; 1,435 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	–	Rotating collar with removable foot, as Photography Blog describes
Lens hood
Lens hood	ET-74B, optional accessory	HB-103 hood included
In the box
In the box	–	LC-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-103 hood and CL-C3 case
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	Nikon Korea explicitly gives 16 December 2021 as the release and promotion start date; Nikon USA announced availability within 2021. Nikon Japan's regional on-sale date was later, 4 February 2022