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
RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM — 800mm f/5.6 for Canon RF, a popular choice in the canon lineup.
$16,999
Launch priceReleased Feb 2022
RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM is 1.7 years newer.
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Wins
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Wins
RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM
TL;DR — Key differences
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has lower Min focus distance (90 cm vs 400 cm)
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has higher Max magnification (0.33 × vs 0.14 ×)
- 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 140 mm)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
RF 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
⌀140 × 432 mm
3140 g (6.92 lb / 110.76 oz)
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is 224mm shorter and 47mm 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 400 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 140 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/4.5 vs f/5.6 — lower is better
- ✓
Max magnification
0.33 × vs 0.14 × — higher is better
- ✓
OIS effectiveness
5.5 stops vs 4.5 stops — higher is better
Reasons to choose the RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM
- ✓
Special elements
Adds 2 Fluorite, 2 Super UD, 1 UD
- ✓
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
Shared specifications
Internal focus
Both support internal focus
Optical stabilization
Both support optical stabilization
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.