Compare lenses

Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM vs Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM

The Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM and the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM if you want a lighter lens (635 g against 1365 g). Pick the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM if you want a brighter f/4.5 (0.6 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds and more reach (to 500mm equivalent).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM and the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM	Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Maker	Canon	Canon
Focal length	100-400mm (zoom)	100-500mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	100-400mm	100-500mm
Maximum aperture	f/5.6-8	f/4.5-7.1brighter
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	Canon RF	Canon RF
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	4.0×	5.0×more range
Weight	635 glighter	1365 g
Cameras it fits	18 in this guide	18 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM: 100-400mm.

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM: 100-500mm.

Aperture

Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM: f/5.6 wide open.

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM: f/4.5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

18 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.