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Which is a better lens for the EOS R5? RF100-500mm vs EF 100-400mm

Dmcd3055
Enthusiast

Which lens is better. 

Canon RF 100 - 500  F4.5-7.1L IS USM 

or 

Canon  EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5-5.6 L IS USM  with a 1.4x III

TIA 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Tronhard
VIP
VIP

If you have decided to move across to the R5 and not use any DSLRs, then without doubt I would recommend getting the RF100-500 for the following reasons:
1. The RF100-500 is designed for the R platform and offers features that no EF lens can do, even if they are brilliant units for that platform.
2. The RF 100-500 has dual nano-USM motors that make its focus and tracking blazing fast, again something that cannot be matched by legacy lenses.
3. For wildlife you want as much reach as you can get, and obviously the 100-500 has better reach in its basic format.  Yes, you can strap on the 1.4x converter but you will lose a stop of light, and it adds an extra set of physical connections between your camera and the optic.  I have shot with the EF 1.4x MkIII extender, and it worked well but honestly it's not at the same level as the RF 100-500L and on an R5  you may well notice the difference.  The only other contender IMHO is the RF 200-800, if you can get one.

I actually still have the EF 100-400L MkII, it's a lovely lens, but since I went onto the R platform and compared it to the RF glass, I use it only when working with my last couple of DSLRs.  


cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris

View solution in original post

7 REPLIES 7

Danny
Moderator
Moderator

Thanks for joining the conversation, Dmcd3055!

So that the Community can help you better, we need to know exactly which Canon camera model you're using. That, and any other details you'd like to give will help the Community better understand your issue!

If this is a time-sensitive matter, click HERE search our knowledge base or find additional support options HERE.

Thanks and have a great day!

i currently own a 90 D and am getting an R5

 

johnrmoyer
Whiz
Whiz

I have not used any RF lenses. I use the EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM +2x III a lot and even more often EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM +1.4x III .

 

https://personal.canon.jp/product/camera/ef/extender-ef14-iii/spec 

johnrmoyer_0-1714497178202.png

https://personal.canon.jp/product/camera/rf/rf100-500-f45-71l/spec 

johnrmoyer_1-1714497258409.png

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) vine in Norman, Oklahoma, United States on March 28, 2024 ; EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM +2x IIICarolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) vine in Norman, Oklahoma, United States on March 28, 2024 ; EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM +2x III

Aurora4233
Enthusiast

Generically I will tell you I sent 14 EF lenses back to B&H after experiencing the RF difference (size, weight, focus speed etc etc etc).  I'm sure there are deep complicated debates about any and every RF/EF detail and you're asking a particularly interesting question by throwing an extender in there, but bottom line RF lenses have treated me exceptionally well and put the fun back into 'Funtography'!!  I've been a Canon shooter for 30 years and honestly couldn't believe the R/RF difference.

Move on to R/RF strongly and don't look back, you will not be disappointed!!!

Tronhard
VIP
VIP

If you have decided to move across to the R5 and not use any DSLRs, then without doubt I would recommend getting the RF100-500 for the following reasons:
1. The RF100-500 is designed for the R platform and offers features that no EF lens can do, even if they are brilliant units for that platform.
2. The RF 100-500 has dual nano-USM motors that make its focus and tracking blazing fast, again something that cannot be matched by legacy lenses.
3. For wildlife you want as much reach as you can get, and obviously the 100-500 has better reach in its basic format.  Yes, you can strap on the 1.4x converter but you will lose a stop of light, and it adds an extra set of physical connections between your camera and the optic.  I have shot with the EF 1.4x MkIII extender, and it worked well but honestly it's not at the same level as the RF 100-500L and on an R5  you may well notice the difference.  The only other contender IMHO is the RF 200-800, if you can get one.

I actually still have the EF 100-400L MkII, it's a lovely lens, but since I went onto the R platform and compared it to the RF glass, I use it only when working with my last couple of DSLRs.  


cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris

i bought the rf 100-500.

whan i try to enlarge a picture i am running into pixelation issues. Any advice?

What shoulf my next RF lens be?

Whats a good landscape portrait RF lens?

Thaks

Don

Hi Don,

Since this thread is already marked "solved", we will go a head and reply to your other post.  

pixelation when enlarging picture from an EOS R... - Canon Community

~Rick
Bay Area - CA


~R5 C (1.0.7.1) ~RF Trinity, ~RF 100 Macro, ~RF 100~400, ~RF 100~500, +RF 1.4x TC, +Canon Control Ring, BG-R10, 430EX III-RT ~DxO PhotoLab Elite ~DaVinci Resolve ~Windows11 Pro ~ImageClass MF644Cdw/MF656Cdw ~Pixel 8
~CarePaks Are Worth It

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