Canon RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM vs Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM

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RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM compared with RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM

	CanonRF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM	CanonRF 20mm F1.4 L VCM
Overview
Released
Released	August 2020	April 2025
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	100–500 mm	20 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/4.5–7.1	f/1.4
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–51	f/16
Optical construction
Optical construction	20 elements in 14 groups	Fifteen elements in eleven groups
Special elements
Special elements	Six UD elements and one Super UD 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	ASC anti-reflection coating, fluorine coating and heat-shield barrel paint	–
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Maximum f/4.5 at 100 mm to f/7.1 at 500 mm; minimum f/32 at 100 mm to f/51 at 500 mm. Digital Camera World's f/54 table entry is inconsistent with maker specifications and is not used	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine blades with circular aperture	Eleven blades with circular aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	Full-frame horizontal 20°–4°, vertical 14°–2°45′ and diagonal 24°–5°	–
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon RF	Canon RF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle. Distinct from EF100–400mm F4.5–5.6L IS II USM and RF100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM	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× and RF2× compatible only with lens set to 300–500 mm; maker RF2× FAQ requires extension beyond 300 mm before attachment and restricts subsequent zoom operation to 300–500 mm	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.9 m	0.2 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.33×	0.19×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Dual Nano USM autofocus with electronically controlled floating focus; full-time manual focus. Digital Camera World's initial EOS R action test preceded the firmware improvements it identifies, and its EOS R5 tracking test was substantially better	Rear focusing system driven by a VCM motor
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Maker minimum focus distance 0.9 m at 100 mm; Photography Blog reports 1.2 m at 500 mm. AF/MF mode distinction unpublished and omitted	Minimum focus 0.2 m
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maker maximum magnification 0.33× at 500 mm; no unpublished AF/MF distinction inferred	Maximum 0.19×
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Lens optical IS rated five stops with EOS R at 500 mm under CIPA; coordinated EOS R5 body and lens IS rated six stops with required firmware, separately from lens-only rating	No optical stabiliser; Canon rates EOS R1 in-body stabilisation at 8 stops centrally and 5 stops in the corners under CIPA-2024 testing
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	93.8 mm	76.5 mm
Length
Length	207.6 mm	99.3 mm
Weight
Weight	1,370 g	519 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Zoom and focus rings, customisable control ring, adjustable zoom torque, AF/MF switch, Full or 3 m–infinity focus limiter and IS on/off/mode switches	Electronic manual-focus, customisable control and smooth-action iris rings; iris Auto-position lock; customisable lens function button; AF/MF switch
Zoom design
Zoom design	Extending zoom barrel; dimensions measured retracted	–
Filter detail
Filter detail	77 mm front filter thread	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
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and moisture resistant construction requires attachment to a camera; does not completely prevent dust or water ingress and is not waterproof	Dust and moisture resistant construction with mount rubber seal
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 93.8 mm maximum diameter × 207.6 mm length, retracted	Approximately 76.5 mm maximum diameter × 99.3 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	Maker Japan gives 1,370 g excluding tripod collar, which weighs approximately 160 g. Photography Blog and Digital Camera World list 1,530 g with collar; UK store's unexplained 2,250 g conflicts with the complete maker table and is not used	Approximately 519 g lens
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Removable rotating tripod collar, approximately 160 g; shown attached in the maker press photograph	–
Lens hood
Lens hood	ET-83F (WIII)	EW-73H hood included
In the box
In the box	UK maker store lists lens, ET-83F (WIII) hood, E-77 II front cap, Lens Dust Cap RF and LZ1328 case	Lens, E-67 II front cap, RF dust cap, EW-73H hood, LP1219 case, rear filter holder and user manual
Release detail
Release detail	Canon Japan's updated original announcement gives first sale 27 August 2020, consistent with Camera Museum marketed August. Region-specific retail day; exact UK first sale not inferred. Co-sold telephoto zooms are alternatives, with no inferred successor link	April 2025 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum