Canon
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF Mount
Canon's versatile super-telephoto zoom reaching 500mm — ideal for wildlife, sports, and safari without changing lenses.
$2,699
Launch priceReleased Jul 2020
Canon
RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
Canon RF Mount
A versatile wide-angle prime with 0.5x macro — perfect for street, travel, and close-up photography on a budget.
$499
Launch priceReleased Nov 2018
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is 1.7 years newer.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Wins
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Wins
RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
TL;DR — Key differences
- BRF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM has lower Min focus distance (17 cm vs 90 cm)
- BRF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM has lower Weight (305 g vs 1370 g)
- BRF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.8 vs f/7.1)
- BRF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM has lower Length (63 mm vs 208 mm)
- BRF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.8 vs f/4.5)
Key specs at a glance
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
- ✓
Special elements
Adds 1 Super UD, 3 UD, 3 Aspherical
- ✓
Weather sealing
Only RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM supports it
- ✓
OIS effectiveness
5.5 stops vs 5 stops — higher is better
Reasons to choose the RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
- ✓
Special elements
Adds 1 Aspherical
- ✓
Min focus distance
17 cm vs 90 cm — lower is better
- ✓
Weight
305 g vs 1370 g — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.8 vs f/7.1 — lower is better
- ✓
Length
63 mm vs 208 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.8 vs f/4.5 — lower is better
- ✓
Diameter
74 mm vs 93 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Max magnification
0.5 × vs 0.33 × — higher is better
Shared specifications
Internal focus
Both support internal focus
Optical stabilization
Both support optical stabilization
Control ring
Both support control ring
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Pros
- ✓Incredible 100-500mm reach in a single lens
- ✓5.5-stop optical image stabilization
- ✓Compatible with RF 1.4x and 2x extenders
- ✓Relatively compact for a 500mm-capable zoom
Cons
- –Variable f/4.5-7.1 aperture gets slow at tele end
- –Heavy at full extension (1370g)
- –Expensive for a variable-aperture zoom
RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
Pros
- ✓Versatile 35mm focal length for street and travel
- ✓0.5x macro capability in a compact prime
- ✓5-stop optical image stabilization
- ✓Affordable entry into RF primes
Cons
- –f/1.8 not as impressive as f/1.4 alternatives
- –Some distortion and vignetting wide open
- –Plastic build, no weather sealing
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM and RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM at major authorized retailers.
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.