The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 100-500mm and the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L 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 RF 100-500mm is the longer of the two lenses at 208mm. The Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM with a length of 143mm, is 65mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon RF 100-500mm also has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM's 89mm 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 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM weighs 1050g, 23% (315g) lighter than the Canon RF 100-500mm's weight of 1365g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 100-500mm has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 100-500mm:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 100-500mm has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L 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
Canon RF 100-500mm has a focal range of 100-500mm and
5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
160 - 800mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM has a focal range of 70-300mm and 4.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112 - 480mm.
