Canon has announced the new RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM, an all-new design by Canon. This new lens will be targeted at photojournalists, wedding photographers and sports photographers.
The RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM is a nice mix of relatively light-weight, the fast autofocus performance with the Canon EOS R3, and terrific optical performance that will rival the 300mm f/2.8 prime lenses during the EF generation.
“Exceeding the reach and potential of traditional 70-200mm lenses, and adding zoom flexibility to its Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS predecessor, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens brings new value to customers,”
The new Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM is only marginally heavier than the EF prime lens that it is replacing, which is pretty remarkable for a zoom lens of this kind.
“This telephoto zoom lens is ideal for professionals who use a Canon EOS R3, EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II full-frame mirrorless camera, but can also be a catalyst for users who have developed into serious, aspirational enthusiasts and are looking to step beyond their traditional telephoto lens experience,”
What's inside the RF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM? We have a lens construction consisting of 23 elements in 18 groups. Included in the lens are one flourite element, four UD elements and one aspherical piece of glass. The aperture rage is from f/2.8 through to f/22 and is equipped with 9 aperture blades. The minimum focusing distance is 5.9 feet (179) through the entire focal range.
“Best use cases include, but are not limited to, indoor sports, motorsports, outdoor fashion, video and cinema, photojournalism, and theater work. For high-level shooters and videographers particularly those working in low-light settings and seeking a hand-holdable solution, this lens provides the total answer.”
On it's own, the RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM has 5.5 stops of image stabilization built-in and will increase to 6 stops when using an RF mount camera with IBIS. IBIS isn't as effective on bigger and longer lenses, so it's no surprise that the new lens is mostly going to utilize built-in IS.
Canon we use extenders? You sure can. Both the RF 1.4x extender and RF 2x extender are compatible with the RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM. With the 1.4x, you will get an focal range of RF 140-420mm f/4L IS USM, and with the 2x, a very useable RF 200-600mm f/5.6L IS USM.
Official Press Release
Canon Introduces the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM to Its Lens Lineup
The new lens combines the flexibility of a zoom lens with the quality of a telephoto lens
MELVILLE, NY, April 20, 2023 – Today, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens, answering calls from photojournalists and professional level customers for a modern 300mm f/2.8 equivalent lens.
“This lens is an absolute game changer! It gives you the most incredible range, but without sacrificing the f/2.8 aperture. To have this kind of performance at your fingertips is incredible!”
Roberto Valenzuela, fashion and wedding photographer
For decades, the 300mm f/2.8 telephoto lens has been an industry standard for photojournalists, professionals, and aspiring enthusiast photographers due to its outstanding image quality, excellent speed for indoor shooting, and relatively light weight for hand-holding. Now, with the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM, Canon delivers the flexibility of a zoom lens design with the truly outstanding quality of a 300mm f/2.8 L-series telephoto lens. Exceeding the reach and potential of traditional 70-200mm lenses, and adding zoom flexibility to its Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS predecessor, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens brings new value to customers with the following features:
- Wide Focal Range — 100-300mm range
- Extended Zoom — Optional RF1.4x and 2x extenders are supported with this lens, enabling a zoom range of up to 600mm
- Spectacular Image Quality — f/2.8 constant wide aperture; Fluorite Aspherical and UD-glass design
- Reliable Stabilization — Up to 5.5 stops correction with in-lens Optical Image Stabilization and up to 6.0 stops correction with in-body coordinated Image Stabilization (CIPA standard)
- Weather and Dust Resistant — Durable in various environmental conditions
- Compact and Lightweight Design — Despite capabilities to zoom over 300mm, this lens is unusually lightweight, just barely heavier than the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II
“I love this lens! It’s incredibly lightweight, versatile, and sharp. Toss on the 2x extender and you can snipe gorgeous frames at a distance, especially with the built in image stabilizer. This lens is going to change the game for live concerts, weddings, and so much more.”
Ben Hagarty, Grammy award-winning cinematographer
This telephoto zoom lens is ideal for professionals who use a Canon EOS R3, EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II full-frame mirrorless camera, but can also be a catalyst for users who have developed into serious, aspirational enthusiasts and are looking to step beyond their traditional telephoto lens experience. Best use cases include, but are not limited to, indoor sports, motorsports, outdoor fashion, video and cinema, photojournalism and theater work. For high-level shooters and videographers particularly working in low-light settings and seeking a hand-holdable solution, this lens provides the total answer.
Price & Availability
The Canon RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens is expected to be available in May for an estimated retail price of $9,499.00*. For more information, please visit usa.canon.com.
