LensCanon52% by Neofiliac Team76% by External Reviewers

Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM

Full-Frame Lens

Product Gallery

Photo 0of Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM  Photo 1of Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM  Photo 2of Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM  Photo 3of Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM  Photo 4of Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM

Product Overview

Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM is an affordable telephoto zoom lens designed for the consumer market. Compared to the premium RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L lens, the RF100-400mm is a much simpler design with a moderate maximum aperture; it also foregoes Canon's "big white" color scheme and image stabilization modes.
Nevertheless, for an MSRP of just $650, the RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM is something that more RF-mount photographers will be able to afford and to carry around without being afraid of dropping a month (or more)'s salary. It is compatible with Canon's extenders RF1.4x and RF2x, though they would further reduce the effective aperture of the lens.
The RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM lens has optical stabilization rated for 5.5 stops (at the 400mm end) and comes with 9 circular aperture blades. It has a very useful minimum focusing distance (around 1m) and maximum magnification (up to 0.41x), too.
Overall, it is a great option for consumers to access the 100+mm focal range for sports, wildlife, and landscape photography.

Ratings

What we found

Neofiliac score 52%
Pros
  • Optically stabilized
  • Very useful focal range
  • Good image quality
Cons
  • Dark maximum aperture
  • Large diameter
  • External zoom without zoom lock
  • Lacks weather sealing
  • Not the highest level of construction

What external reviewers found

External score 76%
Pros
  • Excellent image quality
  • Excellent optical quality
  • Lightweight, compact design
  • Fast autofocus
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • Bulky and heavy
  • No weather-sealing
  • No fluorine protection
  • Mount adapter required for use on Canon EOS R-series cameras
  • Lateral CA at this focal length
  • Lateral chromatic aberration

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Price Comparison

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Specifications

External Reviews

cameralabs[1]

Reviewer score 79% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from cameralabs have found:
The RF 100-400 is Canon’s most affordable telephoto zoom for the EOS R system without adapting an older EF lens. The optical quality is excellent for the money with sharp results across the frame near and far, and at the maximum - albeit modest - apertures. The lens also appeared to be mostly parfocal too in my tests meaning it didn’t change focus as you zoomed through the range.
Pros
  • Excellent optical quality
  • Easy to use
  • Fast autofocus
Cons
  • Bulky and heavy
  • No weather-sealing

digitalpicture[2]

Reviewer score 72% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from digitalpicture have found:
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens comparison shows the RF 100-400 modestly lighter and slightly longer. The Canon lens has a higher maximum magnification, 0.41x vs 0.26x. The Tamron lens is slightly sharper at 400mm and with extenders/teleconverters.
Pros
  • Lightweight, compact design
  • Sharpenss advantage at 135mm and with extenders/teleconverters
  • 1/3 - 2/3 stop wider aperture advantage is an image quality factor
Cons
  • Lateral CA at this focal length
  • Mount adapter required for use on Canon EOS R-series cameras

pcmag[3]

Reviewer score 78% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from pcmag have found:
The Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 L IS USM is an affordable telezoom. Optical performance is good wide open, with excellent resolution toward the center. A teleconverter is a pricey add-on for the lens and an accessory that works best in bright environments.
Pros
  • Compact, compact design
  • Excellent image quality
  • Dust, splash, fluorine, and dust protection
Cons
  • Lateral chromatic aberration
  • No fluorine protection

References

  1. ^ Canon RF 100-400mm f5.6-8 review. [cameralabs].
  2. ^ Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Lens Review. [digitalpicture].
  3. ^ Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Review. [pcmag].

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