Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens

[Martin Vronsky]

Press release:

Canon Introduces the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM to Its Lens Lineup

The new lens combines the flexibility of a zoom lens with the quality of a telephoto lens

MELVILLE, NY, April 20, 2023 – Today, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens, answering calls from photojournalists and professional level customers for a modern 300mm f/2.8 equivalent lens.

“This lens is an absolute game changer! It gives you the most incredible range, but without sacrificing the f/2.8 aperture. To have this kind of performance at your fingertips is incredible!”

Roberto Valenzuela, fashion and wedding photographer

For decades, the 300mm f/2.8 telephoto lens has been an industry standard for photojournalists, professionals, and aspiring enthusiast photographers due to its outstanding image quality, excellent speed for indoor shooting, and relatively light weight for hand-holding. Now, with the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM, Canon delivers the flexibility of a zoom lens design with the truly outstanding quality of a 300mm f/2.8 L-series telephoto lens. Exceeding the reach and potential of traditional 70-200mm lenses, and adding zoom flexibility to its Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS predecessor, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens brings new value to customers with the following features:

• Wide Focal Range — 100-300mm range
• Extended Zoom — Optional RF1.4x and 2x extenders are supported with this lens, enabling a zoom range of up to 600mm
• Spectacular Image Quality — f/2.8 constant wide aperture; Fluorite Aspherical and UD-glass design
• Reliable Stabilization — Up to 5.5 stops correction with in-lens Optical Image Stabilization and up to 6.0 stops correction with in-body coordinated Image Stabilization (CIPA standard)
• Weather and Dust Resistant — Durable in various environmental conditions
• Compact and Lightweight Design — Despite capabilities to zoom over 300mm, this lens is unusually lightweight, just barely heavier than the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II

“I love this lens! It’s incredibly lightweight, versatile, and sharp. Toss on the 2x extender and you can snipe gorgeous frames at a distance, especially with the built in image stabilizer. This lens is going to change the game for live concerts, weddings, and so much more.”

Ben Hagarty, Grammy award-winning cinematographer

This telephoto zoom lens is ideal for professionals who use a Canon EOS R3, EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II full-frame mirrorless camera, but can also be a catalyst for users who have developed into serious, aspirational enthusiasts and are looking to step beyond their traditional telephoto lens experience. Best use cases include, but are not limited to, indoor sports, motorsports, outdoor fashion, video and cinema, photojournalism and theater work. For high-level shooters and videographers particularly working in low-light settings and seeking a hand-holdable solution, this lens provides the total answer.

Price & Availability

The Canon RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens is expected to be available in May for an estimated retail price of $9,499.00*. For more information, please visit usa.canon.com

[Martin Vronsky]

Quote

My Canon RF 100-300mm f2.8L initial review! A pro zoom for close-range sports and the red carpet!

 

[Martin Vronsky]

Specs:

Lens type - Zoom lens
Max Format size - 35mm FF
Focal length - 100–300 mm
Image stabilization - Yes
CIPA Image stabilization rating - 5.5 stop(s)
Lens mount - Canon RF

Aperture
Maximum aperture - F2.8
Minimum aperture - F22
Aperture ring - No
Number of diaphragm blades - 9

Optics
Elements - 23
Groups - 18
Special elements / coatings - One fluorite element, four UD elements, one aspherical element

Focus
Minimum focus - 1.80 m (70.87″)
Maximum magnification - 0.16×
Autofocus - Yes
Motor type - Nano ultrasonic
Full time manual - Yes
Focus method - Internal
Distance scale - No
DoF scale - No

Physical
Weight - 2650 g (5.84 lb)
Diameter - 128 mm (5.04″)
Length - 323 mm (12.72″)
Materials - Magnesium alloy
Sealing - Yes
Zoom method - Rotary (extending)
Power zoom - No
Zoom lock - No
Filter thread - 112 mm
Hood supplied - Yes
Hood product code - ET-124
Tripod collar - Yes

[Martin Vronsky]

Quote

Yes, that’s a good thing! The RF 100-300mm f/2.8 features an all-new design, a consistent aperture of f/2.8 with super quick AF, up to 5.5 stops of O.I.S and more. But does this lens maintain its tack-sharpness at 300mm? How does it perform with Canon’s 2x teleconverters? Join Doug as he tests out these features and more!

• 0:00 Key Specs
• 1:50 Hands-on & Sample Images
• 3:55 Optical Performance
• 4:38 Physical Specs
• 6:15 Final Thoughts

 

[Martin Vronsky]

Quote

It is not uncommon for a fashion photographer to use a telephoto lens. Still, this brand-new lens allows us to literally and figuratively reach beyond the 'normal' telephoto and has some new features that allow for unique imagery!

Check out my fashion images as I shoot with the new Canon RF 100-300 mm f/2.8 lens! In this dynamic fashion shoot, I showcase the lens's telephoto prowess by compressing the subject against the NYC skyline and achieving super-tight beauty shots. 

Would I add this lens to my fashion photography kit? Watch and find out!

• 00:00 intro 
• 00:38 Canon RF 100-300 mm f/2.8 L IS USM introduction
• 1:25 Weight of lens 
• 2:42 Tighter compositions- minimum focus distance 
• 3:11 Lens collar demo 
• 3:30 Camera and Camera settings 
• 4:03 Final Images 
• 4:18 Would it be added to her fashion kit? 
• 4:43 Outro 

Lindsay Adler is a Fashion and Beauty Photographer, Educator, and Author based in New York City. Her editorials have appeared in Bullett Magazine, Zink Magazine, and Fault. She has contributed to photo publications Professional Photographer, Rangefinder Magazine, and Popular Photography.

 

[Martin Vronsky]

Quote

Yet another potentially incredible Canon supertelephoto L lens arrives in my test lab - so let's see what it can do, on an R5 and an R7.