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Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM next from Canon

This has stimulated me to compare Canon's MTFs of the very sharp EF 300mm f/2.8 II + 2xTC @ 600mm, f/5.6 with the RF 100-500mm @ 500mm, f/7.1. They are very similar for the centre of the frame and still good towards the edges. So, the zoom is pretty close in sharpness but loses 17% in focal length and 1.2 in stops. I wonder what the hypothetical zoom 100-300 + TC will be like?

300mmv100-500mm.jpg
 
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This has stimulated me to compare Canon's MTFs of the very sharp EF 300mm f/2.8 II + 2xTC @ 600mm, f/5.6 with the RF 100-500mm @ 500mm, f/7.1. They are very similar for the centre of the frame and still good towards the edges. So, the zoom is pretty close in sharpness but loses 17% in focal length and 1.2 in stops.
But you also lose a lot of lens weight and unwieldiness

I picked up the RF 100-500 this Friday and so far it's a pleasure. I'm impressed by how quick and silent the AF is.

I'm firmly in the "long lenses camp" with the 300/2.8 II, the 200-400 and now the 100-500.

I had been using the 200-400 over the 300 for the past couple of years, and when I recently tested them back-to-back I was surprised about how much smaller, lighter and less unwieldy the 300 is vs the 200-400.
 
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But you also lose a lot of lens weight and unwieldiness

I picked up the RF 100-500 this Friday and so far it's a pleasure. I'm impressed by how quick and silent the AF is.
Yes the RF 100-500mm handles extremely well, and for most people is probably a much better choice than the 300/2.8 + TC. A fraction of the weight, much more compact, more manoeuvrable, far cheaper, and as Alan's MTF charts indicate, for all practical purposes just as sharp.

The 300 + TC is sharper in the corners, but how often is maximum corner sharpness essential with the type of photography such a combo would be used for (mainly sports and wildlife)?

Of course, for people who need/want to shoot at F2.8 the 300/2.8 is the way to go, and a TC makes it more versatile.
 
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Yes the RF 100-500mm handles extremely well, and for most people is probably a much better choice than the 300/2.8 + TC. A fraction of the weight, much more compact, more manoeuvrable, far cheaper, and as Alan's MTF charts indicate, for all practical purposes just as sharp.

The 300 + TC is sharper in the corners, but how often is maximum corner sharpness essential with the type of photography such a combo would be used for (mainly sports and wildlife)?

Of course, for people who need/want to shoot at F2.8 the 300/2.8 is the way to go, and a TC makes it more versatile.
Also, the most important reason why the AF structure of the 100-500mm lens is quiet and fast is the Dual Nano USM motor. USM motor technology is still used in current fixed 2.8 -4 and higher tele lenses. Canon may surprise you and use a Dual Nano USM motor for the AF of the 100-300mm f/2.8. But this is an optimistic request.
 
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Also, the most important reason why the AF structure of the 100-500mm lens is quiet and fast is the Dual Nano USM motor. USM motor technology is still used in current fixed 2.8 -4 and higher tele lenses. Canon may surprise you and use a Dual Nano USM motor for the AF of the 100-300mm f/2.8. But this is an optimistic request.
It depends on the design. If the focusing group is heavy, ring USM will be needed.
 
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But you also lose a lot of lens weight and unwieldiness

I picked up the RF 100-500 this Friday and so far it's a pleasure. I'm impressed by how quick and silent the AF is.

I'm firmly in the "long lenses camp" with the 300/2.8 II, the 200-400 and now the 100-500.

I had been using the 200-400 over the 300 for the past couple of years, and when I recently tested them back-to-back I was surprised about how much smaller, lighter and less unwieldy the 300 is vs the 200-400.
Absolutely! For my purposes, it's the best telephoto lens I have ever owned.
 
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Disappointing to me. Very difficult to imagine that any zoom can rival the overall "best Canon" IQ of the EF 300 f/2.8 IS L II. Also, I'd rather bring the relatively light and smallish R 70-200mm f/2.8 L with me than a heavy and bulky 100-300mm L-quality zoom and just make a crop from the 50+ megapixels down to 30+ megapixels if needed for the shots over 200mm. Seems like an expensive, poor and expensive substitute for the stellar 300mm f/2.8 L's we have come to be used to.
 
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I‘m using the Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 on a R5 for soccer. AF is a lot better than on a DSLR. PQ is very good. Especially for my press agency that limit the longest side of a picture to 4000px.

Yeah, the RF 100-300 would be my dream lens. But 9500$ is out of my budget. But even if i could afford it right now, i‘m not sure if it’s that big of an upgrade for my work.
 
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