Quick answer
The Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6 is a short telephoto to telephoto telephoto zoom lens covering 100-300mm at f/5.6 for the Canon EF mount. Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
About this lens
A 100-300mm f/5.6 telephoto zoom lens, the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6 is designed for Canon EF mount bodies. The range suits sports, wildlife, events and portraits.
Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6 specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 100-300mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/5.6
- Lens type
- Telephoto Zoom
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 1987
- Optical construction
- 15 elements in 9 groups
- Aperture blades
- 8
- Minimum focus distance
- 2 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.26x
- Filter thread
- 58 mm
- Weight
- 685 g
- Length
- 166.8 mm
- Diameter
- 75 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6?
At 100-300mm this is a short telephoto to telephoto telephoto zoom, which typically suits:
- Portraits with a flattering perspective
- Events and weddings
- Isolating subjects from the background
- Sports and action
- Wildlife and birds at moderate distance
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 | 100–300mm | 6.9–20.4° | 8.2–24.4° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 160–480mm | 4.3–12.8° | 5.2–15.4° |
Frequently asked questions
What mount does the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6 use?
It uses the Canon EF mount, so it fits Canon EF cameras directly.
What is the focal length of the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6?
It zooms across 100-300mm with a maximum aperture of f/5.6. That makes it a short telephoto to telephoto lens.
Is the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6 a prime or a zoom lens?
It is a zoom lens covering 100-300mm, so you can reframe without moving. Its maximum aperture is f/5.6.
What is the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6 equivalent on a crop sensor?
On APS-C (1.6x crop) it frames like 160–480mm on full frame, with a 4.3–12.8° horizontal and 5.2–15.4° diagonal field of view. These figures are calculated from the focal length and crop factor.
Which cameras does the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6 fit?
Any Canon EF-mount camera, including Canon EOS 1D X, Canon EOS 5D, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 5D Mark III, and Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and 7 more.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
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