Just like their DSLR counterparts, mirrorless cameras give us the opportunity to piece together a photography kit that best suits our style and needs — thanks to the availability of camera accessories and lenses. While this choice is excellent for helping us develop our own photographic character, it can be daunting for beginners when it comes to pulling the trigger on a lens purchase.
The two lenses being discussed today — the Canon RF 100-400mm IS USM and the Canon RF 100-500mm L IS USM — are compatible with Canon EOS R mirrorless cameras. Being telephoto zooms, people buy these with the specific need of framing subjects that are some distance away. With such an important role, which one do you choose? Let's find out.
First contender: Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM
- Maximum aperture: f/5.6–8
- Fast USM AF motor
- Compact & lightweight build
- High-quality optical design: one Ultra Low Dispersion element and one Aspherical Lens Element
- Image Stabilisation
The Canon RF 100-400mm lens offers a great amount of zoom that gets you a nice tight crop of subjects from a distance. While traditionally a lens with this zoom range would be large and bulky, the key selling point of this lens is its portability. The RF 100-400mm is lightweight and surprisingly suitable for handheld use — making it the perfect option for long days of shooting.
The lightweight nature of this Canon zoom lens makes it easy to keep steady, which combines with the highly effective image stabilisation system to drastically reduce camera shake.
Not only is this lens suitable for still photography but also video — the RF 100-400mm features exceptionally quick and quiet autofocus performance. This is great for video recording, and also comes in handy when photographing sensitive wildlife that you don't want to spook.
The Canon RF 100-400mm is compatible with Canon teleconverters, making it possible to achieve a focal length of up to 800mm. It also includes Canon's customisable control ring, so users can assign a key shooting setting for fast and easy access — excellent for developing a workflow that suits each individual user. If you're wondering how teleconverters work, check out our guide to teleconverters.
Shop the Canon RF 100-400mm →
Second contender: Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Maximum aperture: f/4.5–7.1
- Fast USM AF motor
- Dust and moisture-sealing with protective fluorine coating
- Image Stabilisation
We'll start by stating the obvious — this RF 100-500mm lens offers a full 100mm of extra zoom compared to the lens above, making it a handy 5x optical zoom. While compact compared to traditional telephoto lenses, it is considerably larger than the RF 100-400mm in both length and weight.
Why the larger size? Firstly, it offers more zoom, and secondly, it includes better build quality. As a member of Canon's famous L-Series, the RF 100-500mm features a rugged, weather-sealed build — ideal if you spend time working outdoors. Also worth noting is the faster maximum aperture range, which makes background blur easier to achieve and improves subject isolation.
Like all L-Series members, this lens includes a premium optical design, so throughout the long zoom range, users can expect high levels of sharpness and detail.
Just like the 100-400mm, this lens offers fast and quiet autofocus and advanced image stabilisation. It also takes support one step further with the inclusion of a removable tripod mount, making it easier to attach to a tripod or monopod for more balanced and sharper shooting.
Shop the Canon RF 100-500mm →
So, which one should I choose?
Hopefully by this stage you have a better understanding of the differences between these two fine Canon zoom lenses. Here's a quick summary to keep it fresh in your mind.
If you are looking for a telephoto lens that is easy to manage for long days of shooting and want to keep your mirrorless kit as portable as possible, the RF 100-400mm is the easy choice.
If a longer zoom range, sturdy build, and premium optical quality are important to you, it's hard to go past the RF 100-500mm — the best Canon lens for long-distance photography.
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