The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 100-400mm and the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 189mm. The Canon RF 100-400mm with a length of 165mm, is 24mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Canon RF 100-400mm's 80mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon RF 100-400mm weighs 635g, which means it is 745g (53%) lighter than the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM which has a weight of 1380g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 100-400mm has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 100-400mm:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 100-400mm has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
100-400mm but while Canon RF 100-400mm has the fastest aperture of
F5.6-8, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM's widest aperture value is
F4.5 - F5.6.
