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
Nikon
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
Nikon Z Mount
Nikon's flagship S-Line standard zoom offering incredible resolution and custom OLED info panel.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Feb 2019
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is 1.4 years newer.
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Wins
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Wins
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
TL;DR — Key differences
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/7.1)
- BNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S has lower Min focus distance (38 cm vs 90 cm)
- BNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S has lower Weight (805 g vs 1370 g)
- BNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S has lower Length (126 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 0.22 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
- ✓
Special elements
Adds 2 ED, 4 Aspherical
- ✓
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8 vs f/7.1 — lower is better
- ✓
Min focus distance
38 cm vs 90 cm — lower is better
- ✓
Custom function button
Only NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S supports it
- ✓
Weight
805 g vs 1370 g — lower is better
- ✓
Length
126 mm vs 208 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8 vs f/4.5 — 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
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
Pros
- ✓Stunning resolution and contrast across zoom range
- ✓OLED information panel displays focal length, focus, or aperture
- ✓Multi-focusing stepping motor system for silent, rapid AF
- ✓Almost zero focus breathing
Cons
- –No optical stabilization (relies on Nikon body IBIS)
- –No mechanical aperture ring (uses control ring instead)
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM and NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S at major authorized retailers.
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.