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RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- 100-500mm
- f/4.5
- Telephoto Zoom
- Stabilized
- 1370 g
- Min focus 0.9 m
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Quick answer
A long telephoto zoom for Canon RF full-frame cameras with stabilization and weather sealing. Popular for wildlife and sports.
Pros
- Long 500mm reach
- Image stabilization
- Weather-sealed L build
- Compatible with RF extenders
Cons
- Slow at the long end (f/7.1)
- Heavy to handhold (1.37 kg)
- Large
Verdict
A flexible wildlife lens for RF. High-ISO performance helps with the narrow aperture.
About this lens
This 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 telephoto zoom lens from Canon fits Canon RF mount cameras, from the Canon L series with Image Stabilizer and ultrasonic-motor autofocus. A long-reach telephoto zoom for RF cameras, suited to wildlife and aviation.
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon RF
- Focal length
- 100-500mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/4.5
- Lens type
- Telephoto Zoom
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 2020
- Optical construction
- 20 elements in 14 groups
- Aperture blades
- 9
- Image stabilization
- Yes
- Autofocus motor
- USM
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.9 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.33x
- Filter thread
- 77 mm
- Weight
- 1370 g
- Length
- 207.6 mm
- Diameter
- 93.8 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM?
- Wildlife
- Birds
- Sports
- Airshows
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 100–500mm | 4.1–20.4° | 5–24.4° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 160–800mm | 2.6–12.8° | 3.1–15.4° |
Frequently asked questions
Does the Canon RF 100-500mm work with extenders?
Yes, with the RF 1.4x and 2x extenders. Each costs aperture, so the lens becomes slower at the long end.
Does the RF 100-500mm have image stabilization?
Yes. Canon rates the optical IS at up to five stops, and it can combine with in-body stabilization.
RF 100-500mm vs RF 100-400mm: which should I buy?
The 100-500 reaches farther, and is an L-series lens with sealing. The 100-400 is much lighter.
Alternatives for Canon RF from other brands
All Canon RF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
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