Compare lenses

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM

The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM and the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM if you want a brighter f/4.5 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a wider view (from 100mm equivalent); and a lighter lens (1365 g against 2050 g). Pick the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM if you want more reach (to 800mm equivalent).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM and the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 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.
SpecCanon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USMCanon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM
MakerCanonCanon
Focal length100-500mm (zoom)200-800mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent100-500mm200-800mm
Maximum aperturef/4.5-7.1brighterf/6.3-9
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsCanon RFCanon RF
Stabilisedyesyes
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range5.0×more range4.0×
Weight1365 glighter2050 g
Cameras it fits18 in this guide18 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

1424355085135200400800100-500mm equiv.RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM: 100-500mm.
1424355085135200400800200-800mm equiv.RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9
Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM: 200-800mm.

Aperture

f/4.5
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM: f/4.5 wide open.
f/6.3
Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM: f/6.3 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

RF 100-500mm at 100mm · 20°RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 at 200mm · 10°RF 100-500mm at 500mm · 4°RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 at 800mm · 3°
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.

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

and 8 more

Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM

and 8 more

On their own pages