EF 100-300mm f/5.6L

100-300mm
f/100.0
Telephoto Zoom
695 g
Min focus 1.5 m

Quick answer

The Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L is a short telephoto to telephoto telephoto zoom lens covering 100-300mm at f/100.0 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/5.6L is designed for Canon EF mount bodies, from the Canon L series. The range suits sports, wildlife, events and portraits.

Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L specifications

Brand: Canon
Mount: Canon EF
Focal length: 100-300mm
Maximum aperture: f/100.0
Lens type: Telephoto Zoom
Format coverage: full-frame
Released: 1987
Optical construction: 15 elements in 10 groups
Aperture blades: 8
Minimum focus distance: 1.5 m
Maximum magnification: 0.26x
Filter thread: 58 mm
Weight: 695 g
Length: 166.6 mm
Diameter: 75 mm

Specification source: global.canon

What can you shoot with the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L?

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°

Try the field-of-view calculator

Frequently asked questions

What mount does the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L 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/5.6L?

It zooms across 100-300mm with a maximum aperture of f/100.0. That makes it a short telephoto to telephoto lens.

Is the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L 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/100.0.

What is the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L 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.