RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USMvs RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (2020) Starting from £2799 new Best for Wildlife, birding & sports photography View RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
VS
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (2019) Starting from £2799 new Best for Sports, weddings, wildlife & events View RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?

Wildlife, Birding & Sports Photography — RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (2020): Canon RF's definitive wildlife and birding lens — 500mm reach with L-series quality and IS that makes handheld shooting at extreme focal lengths genuinely viable.

Sports, Weddings, Wildlife & Events — RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (2019): A landmark telephoto zoom — internal zoom, exceptional optics, and the best IS in its class.

↓ Full specifications below

Who should buy what

Quick take: These cameras are closely matched across the key specs below. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (2020)RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (2019)
Price £2,799 £2,799
Sensor f/4.5-7.1 (variable max aperture) Canon RF mount (full-frame)
Video 90cm minimum focus distance N/A — lens
Autofocus Dual Nano USM — fast subject tracking with Dual Pixel CMOS AF Dual Nano USM — class-leading speed and tracking
Stabilisation 5-stop IS (up to 6 stops combined with IBIS on compatible bodies) Optical IS — 5 stops (up to 7.5 stops with IBIS)
Burst Rate N/A N/A
Battery Life N/A N/A
Weight 1530g 1070g
Dimensions 93.8mm diameter × 207.6mm length 89.9mm diameter × 146mm length
Weather Sealed Yes Yes
Viewfinder N/A N/A
Screen N/A N/A
Mount Canon RF 77mm filter thread
Memory Cards N/A N/A
Connectivity N/A N/A

Suitability by genre

Genre RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USMRF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Wildlife
9.0
9.0
Sports & Action
9.0
—
Landscape
7.0
—
Sports —
9.0
Wedding —
9.0
⚡ Compare specs side by side RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM prices → RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM prices →

More comparisons with RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM

Compare RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs A1 → Compare RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs A1 II → Compare RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs A6100 → Compare RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs A6400 → Compare RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs A6600 → Compare RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs A6700 → Compare RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs A7C → Compare RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs A7C II →