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

Preorder: Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM $9499

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*.

Preorder: Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM $9499

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539 comments

  1. Dual Nano USM AF System
    Compatible with 1.4x and 2x TCs
    Internal Zoom and Focusing Design

    Nice! I pre-ordered! Will sell Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 Sport, Canon EF 200-400mm f/4 1.4xTC and more to get it.
  2. I had the EF300 2.8ii some years back and used it on safari with extenders. Was acceptable quality with the 1.4x but not with the 2x, for my taste at least. Be very interested to hear how this one performs with extenders.
  3. Gordon Laing is positive. Says that Canon states it is sharper than the EF300mm/2.8 and takes TCs. Doesn't mention if you can stack TCs though...
    Yes, a hood is included
    Length is the same with R mount adapter and lens hood.
    Up 200gms on the EF300 (lighter with R mount adapter)
    Looks like the same tripod mount as the EF300mm/2.8
    No drop-in filters
    It isn't clear how you would use the control ring which looks to me next to the body unless on a tripod.

    Add a 2x TC and get a 200-600mm/5.6 which a lot of forum dwellers are waiting for but heavy on the wallet :cool:
  4. Kind of a large omission considering the size of the front element.
    I haven't really used the big whites but how often would you need filters? Gel filters are a pain in general.
    CPL only (but hard to rotate as there is no window in the hood?
    ND for video?
    Gordon mentioned 112mm filters. I am not sure that the EF300mm even had a front filter thread. I guess if you can afford the RF100-300mm then you can afford the filters.
  5. It isn't clear how you would use the control ring which looks to me next to the body unless on a tripod.
    The control ring is at the distal (far) end of the lens, not the proximal (mount) end.
  6. I haven't really used the big whites but how often would you need filters? Gel filters are a pain in general.
    CPL only (but hard to rotate as there is no window in the hood?
    ND for video?
    Gordon mentioned 120mm filters. I am not sure that the EF300mm even had a front filter thread.
    I use CPL drop-in, and others use fixed/variable ND filters.
    I can confirm that the EF 300 II does not have a front filter thread.
  7. I haven't really used the big whites but how often would you need filters? Gel filters are a pain in general.
    CPL only (but hard to rotate as there is no window in the hood?
    ND for video?
    Gordon mentioned 120mm filters. I am not sure that the EF300mm even had a front filter thread. I guess if you can afford the RF100-300mm then you can afford the filters.
    Drop in filters on big white are at the back where the camera attaches, not screw in filters.
  8. Price in UK = £11,499. Take off the 20% tax (VAT), convert tax-free price to $ gives $11882 = 25% mark up by Canon. Forget it Canon.

    And lenses are made of bread: The Canon RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM offers excellent optical quality, edge-to-edge. Its optical design includes one flourite lens,
  9. The weight. 2.65kg, to which the lens hood will weigh about 150-200g. Add on a 2xTC for 200-600mm f/5.6 gives 3.2kg. For comparison, the sony 200-600mm f/6.3 comes in at 2.4kg, and in the UK costs only £1600. I personally could not manage 3.2kg so I am thankful for my RF 100-500, coming in at half its new brother's weight.
  10. Canon did an excellent job on keeping the weight down. Also glad to here that it will be available in May. Hopefully we are done with the 3-4 month waits after announcements.

    According to Gordon Laing the lens takes 112 mm screw-in filters!! WOW!!

    Below are the RF100-300 mm f.28 MTFs from Canon Japan:

    RF100-300 MTF_1.png

    RF100-300 MFT 1p4.png

    CanonRF100-200 2x.png

    For comparison is the RF 100-500 mm MTF charts:

    RF100-500.png


    Overall, I am very impressed by the MTF curves of the bare lens and with the 1.4x extender. IMO the 2x suffers a bit, but is still very useable.
  11. Looks great, I am sure it would be a critical piece of equipment for some. I can see how this would be a pack light pro safari lens.

    Though, that minimum focus distance being 5.9ft (1800mm) seems awfully long considering it goes to 100mm on the wide end. That and having to use unconventional 112mm front filters.

    For that $9500 price you can get a RF 70-200 2.8, a used 300 2.8 is ii and a second RF body of choice (aside from R3) and have the benefit of 2 cameras, 30mm more on the wide end, a much shorter 2.5ft min focus distance, and rear drop in filter on the 300mm. Hard to justify from a pure value perspective.
  12. 112mm filter thread. Holy moly that‘s huge. If I would be in the market for a tele, it would be my choice, together with a 1.4 TC, but travelling with such a lens is quite the commitment. 100-500 is so much more versatile but 1 2/3 stops darker at 500 than the 300 with 1.4x TC at 420 and still 2/3 at 600 with 2x TC. everything has a price I guess, this one has two: price ans weight.

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