The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 200-800mm and the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II 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 200-800mm is the longer of the two lenses at 314mm. The Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM with a length of 193mm, is 121mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon RF 200-800mm also has a larger diameter of 102mm compared to the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM's 94mm 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 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM weighs 1590g, 22% (460g) lighter than the Canon RF 200-800mm's weight of 2050g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 200-800mm has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II 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 95mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 200-800mm:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 200-800mm has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II 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 200-800mm has a focal range of 200-800mm and
4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
320 - 1280mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM has a focal range of 100-400mm and 4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 160 - 640mm.
