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 800mm F5.6 L IS USM
Canon RF Mount
800mm super-telephoto with built-in 1.4× extender (1120mm F8) and Dual Nano USM autofocus.
$16,999
Launch priceReleased Apr 2022
RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM is 1.8 years newer.
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Wins
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Wins
RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM
1 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has lower Min focus distance (90 cm vs 260 cm)
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has lower Weight (1370 g vs 3140 g)
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has lower Length (208 mm vs 432 mm)
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has lower Diameter (93 mm vs 163 mm)
- BRF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/5.6 vs f/7.1)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this lens size diff to shareRF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
⌀93 × 208 mm
1370 g (3.02 lb / 48.33 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM
⌀163 × 432 mm
3140 g (6.92 lb / 110.76 oz)
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is 224mm shorter and 70mm narrower than RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM.
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is 1770 g lighter than RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM.
Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.
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
- ✓
Min focus distance
90 cm vs 260 cm — lower is better
- ✓
Weight
1370 g vs 3140 g — lower is better
- ✓
Length
208 mm vs 432 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Diameter
93 mm vs 163 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/4.5 vs f/5.6 — lower is better
Reasons to choose the RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM
- ✓
Special elements
Adds 2 Fluorite, 2 UD, 1 Aspherical
- ✓
Custom function button
Only RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM supports it
- ✓
Max aperture (Tele)
f/5.6 vs f/7.1 — lower is better
- ✓
Max magnification
0.34 × vs 0.33 × — higher is better
Shared specifications
Internal focus
Both support internal focus
Optical stabilization
Both support optical stabilization
OIS effectiveness
Both 5.5 stops
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 800mm F5.6 L IS USM
Pros
- ✓Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
- ✓Built-in optical image stabilization
- ✓Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
Cons
- –Premium price point
- –Relatively heavy for extended handheld use
- –Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM and RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM at major authorized retailers.
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.