Cameras Ranked

100–500 Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM vs 200–800 Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM

Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM vs Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM: our pick for most people is the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM. Pick the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM if you carry it all day or travel light, you shoot in low light or want a blurrier background, you want a wider view at the short end, or you want cheaper filters (weight: 1370 g vs 2050 g; widest aperture: f/4.5-7.1 vs f/6.3-9; focal length: 100-500 mm vs 200-800 mm; filter thread: 77 mm vs 95 mm). Pick the Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM if you want more reach at the long end (focal length: 100-500 mm vs 200-800 mm).

To one scale. Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: length 207.6 mm, diameter 93.8 mm, filter thread 77 mm; Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM: length 314.1 mm, diameter 102.3 mm, filter thread 95 mm.207.6 mmø93.8Canon 100–5001370 g314.1 mmø102.3+106.5 mmCanon 200–8002050 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 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: length 207.6 mm, diameter 93.8 mm, filter thread 77 mm; Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM: length 314.1 mm, diameter 102.3 mm, filter thread 95 mm.207.6 mmø93.8Canon 100–5001370 g314.1 mmø102.3+106.5 mmCanon 200–8002050 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 100–500

7.5points

Wins on weight, widest aperture, focal length (widest) and filter thread.

Canon 200–800

2points

Wins on focal length (longest).

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 200–800 on its ownAll Canon RF lenses

Where they differ

6 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 100–500f/4.51Canon 200–800f/6.32

    1.8 apart (40%), to the Canon 100–500

    3points

  2. Weight

    Importance 2

    Canon 100–5001370 g3Canon 200–8002050 g4

    680 g apart (49.6%), to the Canon 100–500

    2points

  3. Focal length (longest)

    Importance 2

    Canon 100–500500 mm5Canon 200–800800 mm2

    300 mm apart (60%), to the Canon 200–800

    2points

  4. Focal length (widest)

    Importance 2

    Canon 100–500100 mm5Canon 200–800200 mm2

    100 mm apart (2×), to the Canon 100–500

    2points

  5. Filter thread

    Importance 0.5

    Canon 100–50077 mm3Canon 200–80095 mm4

    18 mm apart (23.4%), to the Canon 100–500

    0.5points

  6. Closest focus, wide end

    Importance 1

    Canon 100–5000.9 m3at 100 mmCanon 200–8000.8 m4at 200 mm

    0.1 m apart (12.5%), not counted: compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest)

    0points

Also different, no weight reads them9

  1. Widest aperture at the long end

    Canon 100–500f/7.11Canon 200–800f/92

    1.9 apart (26.8%)

    Not weighted

  2. Length

    Canon 100–500207.6 mm3retractedCanon 200–800314.1 mm4

    106.5 mm apart (51.3%)

    Not weighted

  3. Diameter

    Canon 100–50093.8 mm3Canon 200–800102.3 mm4

    8.5 mm apart (9.1%)

    Not weighted

  4. Maximum magnification, wide end

    Canon 100–5000.12x3at 100 mmCanon 200–8000.25x4at 200 mm

    0.13 apart (2.1×)

    Not weighted

  5. Closest focus, long end

    Canon 100–5001.2 m3at 500 mmCanon 200–8003.3 m4at 800 mm

    2.1 m apart (2.8×)

    Not weighted

  6. Maximum magnification, long end

    Canon 100–5000.33x3at 500 mmCanon 200–8000.2x4at 800 mm

    0.13 apart (65%)

    Not weighted

  7. Elements

    Canon 100–500203Canon 200–800174

    3 apart (17.6%)

    Not weighted

  8. Groups

    Canon 100–500143Canon 200–800114

    3 apart (27.3%)

    Not weighted

  9. Stabilization effect

    Canon 100–5006 stops3with compatible camerasCanon 200–8005.5 stops4

    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 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: 100 to 500 mm; Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM: 200 to 800 mm.Canon 100–500Canon 200–800−100 mm+300 mm85135200400800
The focal lengths each maker states.

Specifications

SpecificationsCanon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USMCanon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
Focal length100-500 mm5200-800 mm2
Widest aperturef/4.5-7.11f/6.3-92
Closest focus0.9 m at 100 mm, 1.2 m at 500 mm30.8 m at 200 mm, 3.3 m at 800 mm4
Maximum magnification0.12x at 100 mm, 0.33x at 500 mm30.25x at 200 mm, 0.2x at 800 mm4
Stabilization6 stops (with compatible cameras)35.5 stops4
Weight1370 g32050 g4
Length207.6 mm (retracted)3314.1 mm4
Diameter93.8 mm3102.3 mm4
Filter thread77 mm395 mm4
Elements203174
Groups143114
Focus motor2x Nano USM3Nano USM & Position Sensors4
HoodET-83F (WIII)3ET-101 (included)4
Tripod ringNot statedYes4

Same on both

  • Mount Canon RF3
  • Covers Full frame
  • Type Zoom
  • Aperture blades 93
  • Weather sealed Yes3
  • Extends when zooming Yes3
  • Extenders Extender RF1.4x, Extender RF2x3

Full specifications, side by side†

Show all 7 rows
Full specifications, side by sideCanon 100–5003Canon 200–8004
Lens construction14-2011 groups, 17 elements
Drive system2x Nano USMNano USM & Position Sensors
Filter size7795 mm
Minimum aperture32 - 5432 - 51
Diaphragm blades99
Anti-dust and moistureSupportedYes
Weight13702050 g (Approx.)
Rows only one maker lists: 26

Also on the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM spec page3

Diagonal angle of view24° – 5°
Horizontal angle of view20° – 4°
Vertical angle of view14° – 2°45′
Closest focusing distance0.9 / 2.95 (at 100 mm)
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 magnification0.12 (at 100 mm)
Max magnification0.33 (at 500 mm)
Lens capE-77 II
Lens hoodET-83F (WIII)
Lens bagLZ1328

Also on the Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM spec page4

Diagonal angle of view12°00′ to 3°05′ (Diagonal)
Horizontal angle of view10°00′ to 2°35′ (Horizontal)
Vertical angle of view7°00′ to 1°40′ (Vertical)
Closest focusing distance0.8 m / 2.62 ft (f=200mm)
Closest focusing distance1.8 m / 5.91 ft (f=400mm)
Closest focusing distance2.8 m / 9.19 ft (f=600mm)
Closest focusing distance3.3 m / 10.83 ft (f=800mm)
Diameter and length102.3 mm × 314.1 mm (Approx.)
Max magnification0.25x (f=200mm)
Max magnification0.2x (f=800mm)
Included lens capLens Cap E-95 & Lens Dust Cap RF (included)
Included lens hoodET-101 (included)
Lens bagLZ1438 (sold separately)

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. www.canon.at (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)
  2. www.usa.canon.com, 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 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, checked Oct 6, 2026
  4. Canon product specifications: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM, checked Oct 6, 2026
  5. www.canon.at (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)
  6. Wikidata: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)

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

  • Tripod ring for the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM: our sources don't state it yet.

More comparisons