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
Sony
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
Sony E Mount
The standard telephoto zoom, completely redesigned to be 29% lighter and significantly sharper.
$2,799
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II is 1.3 years newer.
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Wins
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Wins
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
TL;DR — Key differences
- BFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/7.1)
- BFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has lower Min focus distance (40 cm vs 90 cm)
- BFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/4.5)
- BFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has lower Weight (1045 g vs 1370 g)
- ARF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 4.5 stops)
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
- ✓
Control ring
Only RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM supports it
- ✓
OIS effectiveness
5.5 stops vs 4.5 stops — higher is better
- ✓
Max magnification
0.33 × vs 0.3 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
- ✓
Special elements
Adds 1 XA, 1 Aspherical, 1 Super ED…
- ✓
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8 vs f/7.1 — lower is better
- ✓
Min focus distance
40 cm vs 90 cm — lower is better
- ✓
Custom function button
Only FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II supports it
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8 vs f/4.5 — lower is better
- ✓
Weight
1045 g vs 1370 g — lower is better
- ✓
Diameter
88 mm vs 93 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Length
200 mm vs 208 mm — lower is better
Shared specifications
Internal focus
Both support internal focus
Optical stabilization
Both support optical stabilization
Weather sealing
Both support weather sealing
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
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
Pros
- ✓Extremely lightweight for an f/2.8 telephoto zoom (only 1045g)
- ✓Virtually instantaneous and silent autofocus with 4 XD Linear motors
- ✓Stunning optical performance and contrast across entire range
- ✓Outstanding built-in Optical SteadyShot stabilization
- ✓Dedicated physical aperture ring with click and lock switches
Cons
- –Very high price tag
- –Lens hood is bulky and can block storage space easily
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM and FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II at major authorized retailers.
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.