Canon RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM vs Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM

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RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM compared with RF 45mm F1.2 STM

	CanonRF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1L IS USM	CanonRF 45mm F1.2 STM
Overview
Released
Released	August 2020	November 2025
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	100–500 mm	45 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/4.5–7.1	f/1.2
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–51	f/16
Optical construction
Optical construction	20 elements in 14 groups	Nine elements in seven groups
Special elements
Special elements	Six UD elements and one Super UD element	One plastic-moulded aspherical element (Canon USA)
Coatings
Coatings	ASC anti-reflection coating, fluorine coating and heat-shield barrel paint	Super Spectra coating
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	f/1.2–16
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine blades with circular aperture	Nine aperture blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	Full-frame horizontal 20°–4°, vertical 14°–2°45′ and diagonal 24°–5°	43°35′ horizontal, 29°50′ vertical and 51°20′ diagonal on full frame
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 EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle
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	Canon RF extenders not compatible
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.9 m	0.45 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.33×	0.13×
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	Gear-type STM autofocus with magnetic focus-position detection; full-time electronic manual focus
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 focusing distance 0.45 m; Canon does not separately specify AF/MF distances
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maker maximum magnification 0.33× at 500 mm; no unpublished AF/MF distinction inferred	–
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 image stabilisation (Canon USA)
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	No
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	93.8 mm	78 mm
Length
Length	207.6 mm	75 mm
Weight
Weight	1,370 g	346 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	Separate focus and clickable control rings; AF/MF switch; no iris ring or lens function button (Canon USA)
Zoom design
Zoom design	Extending zoom barrel; dimensions measured retracted	–
Filter detail
Filter detail	77 mm front filter thread	67 mm front screw-in filter thread
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	No dust or weather resistant construction (Canon USA)
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 93.8 mm maximum diameter × 207.6 mm length, retracted	Approximately 78 mm maximum diameter × 75 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 346 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)	Optional ES-73B hood and LP1116 case; E-67 II front cap and Lens Dust Cap RF listed by Canon
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	Front and rear lens caps (Amateur Photographer); hood not included
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	Canon Japan's 14 November 2025 notice confirms first sale on 28 November 2025; Photography Blog instead reports availability from 20 November without a matching regional maker day, so no UK date is inferred