OpticalLimits formerly known by camera review elders as photozone.de has produced their review of the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8.0
Without even really studying the review, it's difficult to find fault in a telephoto 100-400mm that sells for $599 USD.
Key features of the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM include;
- RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/5.6 to f/45
- One UD Element, One Aspherical Element
- Super Spectra Coating
- Nano USM AF Motor
- Maximum Magnification: 0.41x at 400mm
- Optical Image Stabilizer
- Customizable Control Ring
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
In the review, OpticalLimits notes that the resolution is good throughout the range.
[T]he Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 USM IS is quite good for what it is. On the positive side, the broader center performance is very good throughout the range – and that's what's most important with such a lens.
Chromatic abberations seem to be a slight problem reaching up to 2 line pairs, but this is easily cleaned up in post processing, and if you really want to give this lens a shot in the arm, break out Canon's Digital Photo Professional and run your RAW's through DLO. In camera, unless you are frame rate limited in using DLO, make sure you have that turned on for JPEG output. Keep in mind that some Canon cameras will have burst rate, or buffer reductions when DLO is enabled. DLO means Digital Lens Optimizer, and Canon does a bunch of math knowing the focal, aperture, camera and lens to determine exactly how to mathmatically compensate for known lens abberations.
Overall OpticalLimits gives it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars for “bang for buck” price/performance and summarizes the lens as follows;
the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM may not be the most fancy lens around, but it has to balance price and quality. Unlike lenses with shorter focal lengths, the center of attention is usually near the image center, and the Canon lens is capable of delivering pretty sharp results here. The outer image field is less impressive at the long end of the range. The sweet spot in terms of sharpness is around the 200mm mark, with a quite even performance here. Lateral CAs are good at 100mm but increase quite a bit the more you zoom out.
…
Overall, the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is a good lens for the money, especially for those with a lower-megapixel camera body. If you want more … well … the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 USM L IS will cost you 5x this much.
Purchase the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8.0 IS USM from BHPhotovideo.
Source: OpticalLimits
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I don´t like the review that much. I´ve never been a fan of lab testing a lens, I prefer real-world use. Especially with consumer grade lenses real world testing is essential imho because they do perform way better than lab testing would indicate. For that being said, I bought the lens because people on the forum were thrilled about the lens. Later, I sold the lens because I thought it was overkill because I already have the RF 100-500mm, so I sold it. Now, I miss it and want it back for hiking trips, so I´m waiting for a good offer :) I actually took it hiking to the "Feldberg" in the Black Forest and I got some nice shots with it :)
I recently also rebought the 70-200mm F4 (which I sold when I got the 100-400mm) and I have decided that I will build a small collection of zoom lenses. Therefore I'll repurchase the rf100-400mm and I will get the 200-800mm given good offers. This is the area where imho SP will never really catch up. Weird, I know. But at least I know what I want now :ROFLMAO:
I can agree with that sentiment, but photozone / opticallimits are one of the longest running lab-based lens testing around. I can't recall one going further back. I know there was one that tested out contax / zeiss optics, but it was a basic MTF test, but I can't remember the site. I don't think they are active anymore.
if there's anyone I'd trust to do these sorts of tests, it is optical limits.
Oh also as I mentioned, Canon consumer lenses shine if you use DLO.
Now for opticallimits own data. The RF 100-500mm has resolution in the centre of 4003 at 100mm, 3679 at 350mm and 3583 lw/ph at 500mm on the 30 Mpx R at 30mm and gets a 4* rating for being impressively sharp throughout the range. The RF 100-400mm gets 4758 at 100mm and 4370 lw/ph at 400mm on the R5 at 45 mpx R5. Downsize the 100-400 results to 30 Mpx gives 3880 at 100mm and 3568 lw/ph at 400mm. The edges are not as good but its the centre that counts for telephotos, and the RF 100-400mm at the centre is very close to the 100-500mm! The RF 100-400mm gets 3*.
I find and have posted many images here showing that the 100-400mm at 400mm on the R7 gives about the same resolution as the RF 100-500 at 500mm on the R5. I have no axe to grind as both are go-to lenses for me.
Compare all that with the final comment by opticallimits: "Overall, the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is a good lens for the money, especially for those with a lower-megapixel camera body. If you want more ... well ... the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 USM L IS will cost you 5x this much." The RF 100-400mm works very well on a high resolution sensor, and it is better at the mfd because it has less focus breathing than the 100-500mm.
Opticallimits have had the review on the paid-for Patreon for a couple weeks before releasing it for free.
More Ultra High-Resolution MTF Experiments
Possibly best bang-for-the buck lens I've purchased.
It’s much easier to bring along than the 100-500 with very similar performance.
What I don\'t like is T-stop of this lens, is so much darker compared to other lenses at f/8.
It's a lens that I don't feel ashamed to paint the silver ring into red:p
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Like you, I found his review of the 100-400mm a little harsh, given the optical results especially in the centre. Even for the edges, he notes that they are pretty well correctable in post.
If your use case for a long lens is a small bird at a distance, say something the size of the spot imaging circle in the VF, a test chart would need to be the size of a billboard.
Perhaps, unless the billboards fall, I'll never see a tree at all.
Ogden Nash
I'm another very happy owner and user.