A Canon RF 300-600mm f/4-5.6L IS USM on the Horizon

[G650ER]

I don't see the usefulness of this range. I love my 100-500L but still hold onto my 500 f/4L for those low light situations. I'd much rather see an RF 500 F/4L DO type of lens or a f/5.6 version of the 100-500L as I truly find it versatile. Even 150mm on the low end is too much from my experience whereas 100mm works great as a landscape lens all the to its 500mm end.

 

[john1970]

I don't see the usefulness of this range. I love my 100-500L but still hold onto my 500 f/4L for those low light situations. I'd much rather see an RF 500 F/4L DO type of lens or a f/5.6 version of the 100-500L as I truly find it versatile. Even 150mm on the low end is too much from my experience whereas 100mm works great as a landscape lens all the to its 500mm end.

A 500 mm f4 DO would be a dream lens for me. Would be lightweight and with a 1.4x TC you have 700 mm f5.6. With that said, I do the the usefulness for a 300-600 mm f4-f5.6 lens. At one time there were rumors of a 500 mm DO lens, but have not heard much in over a year or more about that possibility.

 

[foda]

If this lens ever sees the light of day it would be interesting to see how it compares to the EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x. That lens ranges from 200mm @ f/4 to 560mm @ f/5.6 which gives you 100mm more (less?) at the short end and is only 40mm short at the long end.

 

[justaCanonuser]

I wonder if there is copy variation of the TC or the 100-500 that causes this. My RF 2xTC on the RF 100-500mm is good. I posted some comparisons here https://www.canonrumors.com/forum/t...tc-vs-ef-600mm-f-4-iii-vs-rf-200-800mm.44688/

Just came across that now, and I checked your very interesting comparison. The first set of test images show that the 100-300 with 2x TC is visibly softer compared to other lenses and combos. I expected that relied on other comments I found in the web, and that's why this fast zoom wouldn't be my choice for birding for which one mostly needs longer focal lenghts. It is definitely too short for that purpose and such an ultra-fast zoom comes with too many optical compromises for adding TCs if you want to catch as many detail as possible (e.g. fine feather patterns).

 

[Tom R5R7]

I don't see the usefulness of this range. I love my 100-500L but still hold onto my 500 f/4L for those low light situations. I'd much rather see an RF 500 F/4L DO type of lens or a f/5.6 version of the 100-500L as I truly find it versatile. Even 150mm on the low end is too much from my experience whereas 100mm works great as a landscape lens all the to its 500mm end.

I'm the complete opposite - versus the 100-500, I gain a little more on the long end as well as 2/3 of a stop more light, which is pretty significant. I would like to see a little more range on the wide end, but it's a tradeoff I'm willing to make as is. Of course, it all boils down to price in the long run.

 

[Froschphoto]

Sounds like just the lens I am after, I have to say the brand that starts with an "S" has a 200-600 that multiple friends of mine own or have supplied by employers and love. Being F4-5.6 is a big plus over the other brand, really makes it usable for what I do and am hoping for reality in this one, hoping it is indeed arriving. I heavly use an ef version of 400 2.8 (fantastic lens), the potential/hopeful weight savings would also be a plus. I have to say the 200-600 with the incentives along with the weight of their 400 2.8 paired with discounts on the other company's equipment has definitely made switching attractive, but I despise the ergonomics of the company's cameras that begin with "S".

 

[homebodyMacro2]

Any updates in the last 2 months on this one? @Canon Rumors

Honestly, I'm way more interested in this RF 300-600 f/4.0-5.6 L than in any of the other things going on right now lol

 

[stillviking]

Any update when this lens is out? Can't wait for it!

 

[grilled_rooster]

Any update when this lens is out? Can't wait for it!

I guess we'll have to wait a little bit. I think @Canon Rumors mentioned at some point that Canon would probably make another announcement at the end of November.

 

[Tom R5R7]

Any update when this lens is out? Can't wait for it!

Since I just broke down and bought a 200-800, the 300-600 L is imminent.
Sure as if you wash your car, it will rain - if I buy a long tele, a newer, better long tele will be released.

 

[P-visie]

Since I just broke down and bought a 200-800, the 300-600 L is imminent.
Sure as if you wash your car, it will rain - if I buy a long tele, a newer, better long tele will be released.

Thanks for the heads-up. Enjoy your new lens. You can buy 2 or 3 200-800mm lenses for the rumored price of the 300-600mm.

 

[Olli]

Im also curious if there are any news.

R6 Mark 3 is out now but I need some lighter Tele lenses where I don’t need to spend +10k

 

[homebodyMacro2]

Thanks for the heads-up. Enjoy your new lens. You can buy 2 or 3 200-800mm lenses for the rumored price of the 300-600mm.

Honestly I'm willing to pay $6-7k for this lens if it's anything like the amazing 70-200Z. The latter is incredible even with the 2x teleconverter, but I do need some more length that isn't a $14k 600mm f/4.0 lens lol. Going up to 600mm @ f/5.6, presumably with a bit better IQ than the 70-200Z @ 400mm (also f/5.6) would be lovely. Plus having up to 840mm with a 1.4x would be attractive for some situations.

Would really prefer to avoid the slow external zoom like the 200-800 as well. The internal zoom on the 70-200Z is fast and feels perfect imo. Helps when getting zippy subjects like this:

 

[stillviking]

@homebodyMacro2 we are on same boat. Would you mind to tell us or share some samples if new 70-200 2.8 L Z + 2x teleconverter stills sharp corner-to-corner in the 400mm?

 

[homebodyMacro2]

@homebodyMacro2 we are on same boat. Would you mind to tell us or share some samples if new 70-200 2.8 L Z + 2x teleconverter stills sharp corner-to-corner in the 400mm?

I went to reply yesterday, and it said these forums were being deleted permanently at the end of the year, and nothing was visible. That was bizarre. It now seems the forums are being migrated, so I don't know how that changed in the span of a day.

Here's a post on DPReview where I posted more examples and linked to "The Digital Picture" where you can see lens comparisons with their tool: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thr...n-rf-70-200z-and-2-x-tc.4815380/post-68428911

Someone in that thread posted this video comparing the 70-200Z with other lenses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTVyg9T43SY

I would consider the 70-200Z with 2x as roughly equal in image quality with the 100-500L up to 400mm, based on the comparison data from that video and The Digital Picture.

 

[AlanF]

I did a direct comparison of the RF 70-200mm f/2.8 Z in CR

Thread 'Quick comparison of RF 100-500mm vs RF 100-300 and 70-200 f/2.8 Z + 2xTC vs EF 600mm f/4 iii vs RF 200-800mm'

Aug 21, 2025

WEX was having a Road Show day today with Canon reps plus gear and I took advantage of it to do some comparisons of telephotos on my R5ii. The store in Cambridge is situated about 70m from the front of Sidney Sussex College that has some good targets for comparison. Here, I have selected crops from the centre of a shield and cockerel, and also dug up some images from a year ago from the RF 200-800mm and RF 800mm f/11 on the R5. With these copies of the lens: the image from the RF 70-200mm f/2.8 + RF 2xTC at 400mm is extremely good, as is the RF 100-500mm at 500mm; the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 +...

• AlanF
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Canon Lenses

• 

 

[homebodyMacro2]

I did a direct comparison of the RF 70-200mm f/2.8 Z in CR

Thread 'Quick comparison of RF 100-500mm vs RF 100-300 and 70-200 f/2.8 Z + 2xTC vs EF 600mm f/4 iii vs RF 200-800mm'

Aug 21, 2025

WEX was having a Road Show day today with Canon reps plus gear and I took advantage of it to do some comparisons of telephotos on my R5ii. The store in Cambridge is situated about 70m from the front of Sidney Sussex College that has some good targets for comparison. Here, I have selected crops from the centre of a shield and cockerel, and also dug up some images from a year ago from the RF 200-800mm and RF 800mm f/11 on the R5. With these copies of the lens: the image from the RF 70-200mm f/2.8 + RF 2xTC at 400mm is extremely good, as is the RF 100-500mm at 500mm; the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 +...

• AlanF
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Canon Lenses

• 

Nice!

With November moving along here, I'm not sure whether to be hopeful that there will be any announcement on this hypothetical 300-600L. Such is the nature of rumors, I guess lol.

 

[john1970]

Nice!

With November moving along here, I'm not sure whether to be hopeful that there will be any announcement on this hypothetical 300-600L. Such is the nature of rumors, I guess lol.

I was hoping to at least hear a development announcement even if it did not ship until Q1 2026. We shall see.....

 

[EricN]

I was hoping to at least hear a development announcement even if it did not ship until Q1 2026. We shall see.....

Some years they did 6 and some 7. Unless, I miscounted 45mm was #6 for 2025. It could be 1:2 odds?

 

[Del Paso]

Some years they did 6 and some 7. Unless, I miscounted 45mm was #6 for 2025. It could be 1:2 odds?

You just shattered my hopes for a 24-70 f/2, should number 7 be the 300-600.
I can only hope 2026 will be an "L" year (35 f/1,2, 24-70 II, 180 macro, 70-150, 14 TSE, 400 L etc...).