Cameras Ranked

100–400 Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM vs 100–500 Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM vs Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: our pick for most people is the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM. Pick the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM if you carry it all day or travel light, or you want cheaper filters (weight: 635 g vs 1370 g; filter thread: 67 mm vs 77 mm). Pick the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM if you shoot in low light or want a blurrier background, you want more reach at the long end, or you want to focus closer at the wide end (widest aperture: f/5.6-8 vs f/4.5-7.1; focal length: 100-400 mm vs 100-500 mm; closest focus: 1.2 m at 100 mm, 1.05 m at 400 mm vs 0.9 m at 100 mm, 1.2 m at 500 mm).

To one scale. Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM: length 164.7 mm, diameter 79.5 mm, filter thread 67 mm; Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: length 207.6 mm, diameter 93.8 mm, filter thread 77 mm.164.7 mmø79.5Canon 100–400635 g207.6 mmø93.8+42.9 mmCanon 100–5001370 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.
To one scale. Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM: length 164.7 mm, diameter 79.5 mm, filter thread 67 mm; Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: length 207.6 mm, diameter 93.8 mm, filter thread 77 mm.164.7 mmø79.5Canon 100–400635 g207.6 mmø93.8+42.9 mmCanon 100–5001370 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.

The pick, in points

Lead for a pick: 1

Canon 100–400

2.5points

Wins on weight and filter thread.

Canon 100–500

6points

Wins on widest aperture, focal length (longest) and closest focus, wide end.

Each real difference scores its importance for the side that wins it; a lead under 1 is “it depends”. How the weights work

The Canon 100–500 on its ownThe Canon 100–400 on its ownAll Canon RF lenses

Where they differ

5 of 21 specs

Each bar is the gap as a share of the smaller value, on one scale from 0 to 100%; an arrow end is a gap past 100%. The dashed tick marks where a gap starts to count.

  1. Widest aperture

    Importance 3

    Canon 100–400f/5.61Canon 100–500f/4.52

    1.1 apart (24.4%), to the Canon 100–500

    3points

  2. Weight

    Importance 2

    Canon 100–400635 g3Canon 100–5001370 g4

    735 g apart (2.2×), to the Canon 100–400

    2points

  3. Focal length (longest)

    Importance 2

    Canon 100–400400 mm5Canon 100–500500 mm6

    100 mm apart (25%), to the Canon 100–500

    2points

  4. Closest focus, wide end

    Importance 1

    Canon 100–4001.2 m3at 100mmCanon 100–5000.9 m4at 100 mm

    0.3 m apart (33.3%), to the Canon 100–500

    1points

  5. Filter thread

    Importance 0.5

    Canon 100–40067 mm3Canon 100–50077 mm4

    10 mm apart (14.9%), to the Canon 100–400

    0.5points

Also different, no weight reads them9

  1. Widest aperture at the long end

    Canon 100–400f/81Canon 100–500f/7.12

    0.9 apart (12.7%)

    Not weighted

  2. Length

    Canon 100–400164.7 mm3Canon 100–500207.6 mm4retracted

    42.9 mm apart (26%)

    Not weighted

  3. Diameter

    Canon 100–40079.5 mm3Canon 100–50093.8 mm4

    14.3 mm apart (18%)

    Not weighted

  4. Maximum magnification, wide end

    Canon 100–4000.09x3at 100mmCanon 100–5000.12x4at 100 mm

    0.03 apart (33.3%)

    Not weighted

  5. Closest focus, long end

    Canon 100–4001.05 m3at 400mmCanon 100–5001.2 m4at 500 mm

    0.15 m apart (14.3%)

    Not weighted

  6. Maximum magnification, long end

    Canon 100–4000.41x3at 400mmCanon 100–5000.33x4at 500 mm

    0.08 apart (24.2%)

    Not weighted

  7. Elements

    Canon 100–400123Canon 100–500204

    8 apart (66.7%)

    Not weighted

  8. Groups

    Canon 100–40093Canon 100–500144

    5 apart (55.6%)

    Not weighted

  9. Stabilization effect

    Canon 100–4005.5 stops3Canon 100–5006 stops4with compatible cameras

    0.5 apart (9.1%)

    Not weighted

Side by side, to scale

Focal length on one log scale

Focal length on one log scale: Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM: 100 to 400 mm; Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: 100 to 500 mm.Canon 100–400Canon 100–500+100 mm85135200400800
The focal lengths each maker states.

Specifications

SpecificationsCanon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USMCanon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Focal length100-400 mm5100-500 mm6
Widest aperturef/5.6-81f/4.5-7.12
Closest focus1.2 m at 100 mm, 1.05 m at 400 mm30.9 m at 100 mm, 1.2 m at 500 mm4
Maximum magnification0.09x at 100 mm, 0.41x at 400 mm30.12x at 100 mm, 0.33x at 500 mm4
Stabilization5.5 stops36 stops (with compatible cameras)4
Weight635 g31370 g4
Length164.7 mm3207.6 mm (retracted)4
Diameter79.5 mm393.8 mm4
Filter thread67 mm377 mm4
On sale fromOct 20217Not stated
Elements123204
Groups93144
Weather sealedNot statedYes4
Focus motorNano USM32x Nano USM4
HoodET-74B (sold separately)3ET-83F (WIII)4
Extends when zoomingNot statedYes4

Same on both

  • Mount Canon RF3
  • Covers Full frame
  • Type Zoom
  • Aperture blades 93
  • Extenders Extender RF1.4x, Extender RF2x3

Full specifications, side by side†

Show all 11 rows
Full specifications, side by sideCanon 100–4003Canon 100–5004
Diagonal angle of view24°00′ - 6°10′24° – 5°
Horizontal angle of view20°00′ - 5°10′20° – 4°
Vertical angle of view14°00′ - 3°30′14° – 2°45′
Closest focusing distance1.2 m / 3.94 ft (at 100mm)0.9 / 2.95 (at 100 mm)
Lens construction9 groups, 12 elements14-20
Drive systemNano USM2x Nano USM
Filter size67 mm77
Max magnification0.09x (at 100mm)0.12 (at 100 mm)
Minimum aperture32 - 4532 - 54
Diaphragm blades99
Weight635 g (Approx.)1370
Rows only one maker lists: 16

Also on the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM spec page3

Closest focusing distance0.88 m / 2.89 ft (at 200mm)
Closest focusing distance1.05 m / 3.44 ft (at 400mm)
Diameter and length79.5 mm × 164.7 mm (Approx.)
Max magnification0.41x (at 400mm)
Included lens capLens Cap E-67 II & Lens Dust Cap RF (included)
Lens hoodLens Hood ET-74B (sold separately)
Lens caseLens Case LP1224 (sold separately)

Also on the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM spec page4

Closest focusing distance1 / 3.28 (at 300 mm)
Closest focusing distance1.2 / 3.94 (at 500 mm)
Diameter and length93.8 x 207.6 (Retracted)
Diameter and length93.8 x 297.6 (Fully Extended)
Max magnification0.33 (at 500 mm)
Anti-dust and moistureSupported
Lens capE-77 II
Lens hoodET-83F (WIII)
Lens bagLZ1328

How the pick works

  1. Widest aperture3

    Lower wins once they are 0.3 apart.

  2. Weight2

    Lower wins from a 12% gap.

  3. Focal length (longest)2

    Higher wins from a 15% gap.

  4. Focal length (widest)2

    Lower wins once they are 2 mm apart.

  5. Optical stabilization1

    Having it wins.

  6. Closest focus, wide end1

    Lower wins from a 15% gap. Compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest).

  7. Filter thread0.5

    Lower wins once they are 5 mm apart.

  8. Lead for a pick1

Our pick or our take adds up the importance of each real difference, with these importances and thresholds: a gap smaller than its row's threshold is too close to call and counts as the same. They are our editorial choice, not a measurement, the same on every page, and they never read prices, sales or who sells it.

Paid placements0

How we rank, in full

Sources

  1. Wikidata, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  2. www.canon.at: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM (canon.at/lenses/rf-100-500mm-f-4-5-7-1-l-is-usm/specifications), cited by Wikidata for Focal length, Widest aperture (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  3. Canon product specifications: Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM, checked Oct 6, 2026
  4. Canon product specifications: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, checked Oct 6, 2026
  5. www.canon.at: Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM, cited by Wikidata for Focal length, Widest aperture (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  6. www.canon.at: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM (canon.at/lenses/rf-100-500mm-f-4-5-7-1-l-is-usm), cited by Wikidata for Focal length, Widest aperture (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  7. global.canon, cited by Wikidata for On sale from (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)

Worked out by code, not stated by a source

  • Read from the lens name: each maker marks the sensor size a lens covers (Sony FE/E, Canon RF/RF-S, Nikon DX, Tamron Di III/Di III-A, Sigma DG/DC); every Fujifilm X lens is APS-C and every Micro Four Thirds lens is Four Thirds.
  • Prime or zoom, read from the focal length in the lens name.

Each value is checked automatically against the source it links, on the date shown. How we build these pages

† The makers' own tables, row by row, with labels in our plain words (translated where the maker's page isn't in English); each row's numbers are checked against the page it links.

What we don't know yet

  • On sale from for the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: our sources don't state it yet.
  • Weather sealed for the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM: our sources don't state it yet.
  • Extends when zooming for the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM: our sources don't state it yet.

More comparisons