RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USMvs A7C II
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
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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.
Full-Frame Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
Who should buy what
A7C II (2023)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact body
- Hybrid shooters who need full-frame video and IBIS in a small package
- A7C owners looking for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Portrait and wedding photographers who want a discreet full-frame backup
Quick take: The a7c ii is the most affordable; only the rf 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1l is usm is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (2020) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,799 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | f/4.5-7.1 (variable max aperture) | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 33.0MP |
| Video | 90cm minimum focus distance | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | Dual Nano USM — fast subject tracking with Dual Pixel CMOS AF | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-stop IS (up to 6 stops combined with IBIS on compatible bodies) | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | N/A | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1530g | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 93.8mm diameter × 207.6mm length | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | N/A | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | A7C II |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
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