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 50mm F1.2L USM
Canon RF Mount
Canon's flagship 50mm f/1.2 prime — extraordinary resolution and creamy bokeh for portraits and low light.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Dec 2018
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is 1.6 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 50mm F1.2L USM
TL;DR — Key differences
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BRF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/7.1)
- BRF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/4.5)
- BRF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Min focus distance (40 cm vs 90 cm)
- BRF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Length (108 mm vs 208 mm)
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
- ✓
OIS effectiveness
5.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
- ✓
Optical stabilization
Only RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM supports it
- ✓
Max magnification
0.33 × vs 0.19 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose the RF 50mm F1.2L USM
- ✓
Special elements
Adds 1 UD, 1 Aspherical
- ✓
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2 vs f/7.1 — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2 vs f/4.5 — lower is better
- ✓
Min focus distance
40 cm vs 90 cm — lower is better
- ✓
Length
108 mm vs 208 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Weight
950 g vs 1370 g — lower is better
- ✓
Diameter
89 mm vs 93 mm — lower is better
Shared specifications
Internal focus
Both support internal focus
Weather sealing
Both support weather sealing
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 50mm F1.2L USM
Pros
- ✓Stunning sharpness even wide open at f/1.2
- ✓Beautiful, smooth bokeh with 9 rounded aperture blades
- ✓Fast and accurate Dual Pixel AF with Ring USM
- ✓Weather-sealed L-series construction
Cons
- –Heavy for a 50mm prime (950g)
- –Premium price for a single focal length
- –No optical image stabilization
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM and RF 50mm F1.2L USM at major authorized retailers.
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM
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.