Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM vs Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonRF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM | CanonRF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | July 2021 | June 2026 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Prime | Zoom |
| Focal length | 100 mm | 20–50 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32 | f/22 |
| Macro lens | Yes | – |
| Optical construction | Seventeen elements in thirteen groups | 13 elements in 11 groups |
| Special elements | – | Two glass-moulded aspherical and three UD elements |
| Coatings | Super Spectra coating and front-element fluorine coating | ASC and Super Spectra; fluorine coating on the front element |
| Aperture detail | Maximum f/2.8 at infinity; effective f-number becomes f/6.6 at 1.4× magnification according to the manual | Constant maximum f/4, minimum f/22 throughout the range |
| Diaphragm | Nine aperture blades | Nine aperture blades |
| Angle of view | – | Horizontal 84°–40°, vertical 62°–27° and diagonal 94°–46° on full frame |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon RF | Canon RF |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Compatibility | Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras; EF12 II and EF25 II extension tubes not compatible | Canon EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle; power-zoom control from camera body or remote devices depends on compatible model and firmware |
| Teleconverter support | Canon extenders not compatible | Canon RF extenders not compatible |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.26 m | 0.24 m |
| Maximum magnification | 1.4× | 0.33× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus detail | Dual Nano USM; electronic manual focusing with full-time manual override in One Shot AF when enabled in camera settings | Nano USM autofocus; full-time manual focus; maker rear-focus design retains length during focusing |
| Focus distance detail | Minimum focus 0.26 m from the imaging plane; 8.6 cm working distance from the lens front; limiter settings full, 0.5 m to infinity or 0.26–0.5 m | – |
| Magnification detail | Maximum 1.4×; approximately 25 × 17 mm field of view at minimum focus | Maker maximum magnification 0.14× at 20 mm or 0.33× at 50 mm; no AF/MF mode specified in the table |
| Stabilisation detail | Hybrid IS rated up to 5 stops with EOS R; 2 stops at 1.0× under Canon test standards; up to 8 stops coordinated with EOS R5 IBIS under CIPA yaw/pitch testing | Maker six-stop optical IS or combined camera/lens eight stops at centre and corners under CIPA-2024, at maximum focal length with its specified camera; not guaranteed in every shooting setup |
| Video features | – | Internal multi-speed power zoom and optically suppressed focus breathing; zoom ring switches between powered and conventional manual operation |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 81.5 mm | 79.9 mm |
| Length | 148 mm | 98.4 mm |
| Weight | 685 g | 420 g (better) |
| Controls | Manual-focus and customisable lens control rings; AF/MF, stabiliser and focus limiter switches; Spherical Aberration control ring with central-position lock. SA adjustment changes bokeh, soft focus, angle of view and exposure; its effect disappears at 0.26 m | Customisable control ring, focus ring and zoom ring; PZ/MZ selector, custom button, AF/MF and stabiliser switches (Digital Camera World; ePHOTOzine) |
| Zoom design | – | Internal zoom/focus keeps barrel length fixed; ePHOTOzine describes conventional mechanical manual zoom, while Digital Camera World's prose calls it fly-by-wire; no silent choice between those reviewer descriptions |
| Filter detail | – | 67 mm front screw-in filter thread |
| Weather resistance | Dust and moisture resistant construction; front fluorine coating | Dust and moisture resistant with mount gasket; maker warns camera attachment is required and protection cannot prevent all dust or water ingress; no waterproof/IP rating inferred |
| Dimensions detail | Approximately 81.5 mm maximum diameter × 148 mm length | Approximately 79.9 mm maximum diameter × 98.4 mm length |
| Weight detail | Approximately 685 g lens only, excluding caps and optional tripod mount | Approximately 420 g lens |
| Tripod mount | Tripod mount ring E (B) with dedicated adapter sold separately | – |
| Lens hood | ET-73C hood included | ES-73B; maker lists E-67 II cap, Lens Dust Cap RF and LP1219 pouch as accessories |
| In the box | Lens, E-67 II front cap, RF dust cap, ET-73C hood, LP1222 lens case and user manual kit (Canon UK store) | – |
| Release detail | July 2021 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum | Canon Japan's 11 June 2026 notice confirms first sale from 26 June 2026, resolving the earlier late-June launch wording |
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