Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is simply an excellent lens for those looking for range, quality, and lightness in a single body. Its compact design and light weight make it perfect for travel, nature, and wildlife photography without carrying heavy equipment. Focusing is fast, precise, and quiet thanks to its Nano USM motor, ideal for both photos and videos. Its image stabilizer does a great job, allowing sharp shots even handheld. It also offers surprising sharpness for its price, with well-defined colors and natural contrast that highlights details. Although its maximum aperture is not very bright (f/5.6-8), it performs wonderfully in good light. Its price-performance ratio is one of the best within the RF system, making it a great option for those who want professional results without spending a fortune. In short, the Canon RF 100-400mm IS USM is a lens that exceeds expectations: lightweight, versatile, and with optical quality that makes you smile with every shot.

This lens works great with the Canon R6. It has very fast focus and is sharp. I tested it by shooting small birds in flight and it didn't disappoint. I look forward to getting out on the trail with this very little weight, far reaching lens. This is a plastic lens, so don't be surprised and has no water and dust proofing. Canon even cheaps out and doesn't include the lens hood. I bought a third party hood that works just fine.

The Canon RF100-400mm lens has exceeded my expectations in every way. This lens is perfect for photographers who need a versatile telephoto solution without sacrificing portability. Its performance is outstanding for wildlife, sports, and even portraits with compressed backgrounds. Key Highlights: Image Quality: The sharpness across the zoom range is impressive, even at 400mm. The colors and contrast are vibrant, with minimal chromatic aberration. It delivers professional-grade results for such a compact lens. Lightweight Design: At just under 1.4 pounds (635 grams), this lens is a dream for handheld shooting. You no longer need a heavy tripod or monopod for stability, making it ideal for travel or extended outdoor sessions. Autofocus Performance: The autofocus is fast, silent, and highly accurate, even in challenging lighting conditions. Paired with Canon's latest mirrorless bodies, the focus tracking is exceptional for moving subjects. Image Stabilization: The lens offers up to 5.5 stops of image stabilization (or more when paired with IBIS-equipped cameras), allowing for clear shots at slower shutter speeds. Value for Money: Considering its optical quality and features, the RF100-400mm is surprisingly affordable. It's an excellent choice for enthusiasts or semi-professionals looking to expand their kit without breaking the bank. While it doesn't have the widest aperture, the f/5.6-8 range works well in good lighting, and modern camera sensors handle low light superbly. The lens’s build quality feels solid, and the control ring is a handy addition for quick adjustments. Overall, the Canon RF100-400mm lens is a stellar choice for anyone seeking a lightweight, high-performing telephoto zoom. It has quickly become a favorite in my gear collection. Highly recommended!

This lens is an outstanding piece of equipment, perfect for capturing high-quality images across various photography settings. Its autofocus (AF) system functions seamlessly, ensuring that every shot is sharp, clear, and precisely focused. Whether you're shooting portraits, landscapes, or fast-moving subjects, this lens adapts effortlessly to different conditions. The build quality is robust, offering durability for long-term use, while the image stabilization feature minimizes blurriness. The lens produces vibrant colors and excellent depth, enhancing every detail. Lightweight and easy to handle, it's a must-have for both amateur and professional photographers looking for exceptional performance and reliability.

I paired this lens with my Canon EOS R6 camera - they work great together. Autofocus is nearly instantaneous. Pictures are tack sharp - essentially limited only by the camera's 20 MP sensor resolution. I recently took this lens on vacation and its light weight made it easy to carry on long hikes. Holding the camera with the lens is much more balanced and natural than with heavier lenses - this lens just feels perfectly balanced with the camera body. Because of its light weight and image stabilization (and camera IBIS), I could get sharp hand held shots down to 1/8 second shutter speed (see cactus photo - unedited - 1/8 sec, f6.7, 100 ISO). I also own the Sigma 100-400mm 1:5.6-6.3 lens. Although it's a faster lens than the Canon, the Sigma is about twice the weight. Additionally, the image stabilization with the R6 is not nearly as good as with the Canon lens. The Canon is a much better choice for the R6. Bottom line - I love this new Canon lens! I highly recommend it if you own one of the Canon mirrorless cameras.

I was really contemplating getting the rf 100-500 L series lens. I really wanted it but then out of nowhere i see this lens and think let me give it a try. So i get it today and a hour later get a crazy good sharp picture of this red tailed hawk.........this lens is crazy good for the price. Not to mention ive saved about 2 grand and to think the rf 200-500 lens is coming out soon anyway. I recommend to anyone with a canon r camera......... you don't need to spend all this extra money for a lens when you can get this one cheaper and get similar results

I own the Canon 100-400 EF IS II and thought I would give this a try because it is so much lighter. WOW is this lens sharp and light. Image quality is right there with the more expensive version. As long as you do not need weather sealing or a metal lens body that can take punishment... this is the lens to buy. We just came back from Orlando and here are a few pictures from Sea World with the lens... amazing value.

Canon's telephoto lenses can set you back several thousand dollars but this lens is only 649 dollars. This lens isn't as bright, lacks weather sealing, is made of mostly reinforced plastic instead of metal, has a slight slower AF system (only 1 USM motor,) among other features. But you know what? You aren't paying $2700 the lens either, which is what a comparable lens costs. What you do get is a small, relative light (1lb instead of 3+ lbs,) with quick and accurate autofocus and image stabilization. This lets does give you quite a bit of range that is great for wildlife and sports photography. I have also heard that some professionals use this lens for landscape photos. You will struggle in low light but that is the trade-off your making for such a relatively low price. Overall I am happy with this lens and recommend it for anyone on a budget who needs a telephoto lens in their arsenal.

My favorite lens in my bag. I use it for wildlife, sports, and even landscapes. Sharp images, easy zoom, fast auto focus. I really love being able to zoom in a grab detail shots. The F5.6 struggles with low light and every once in a while I wish I had the extra 100mm but for the price it’s been an amazing lens. Eventually I would love the 100-500. Perfect for anyone looking for an affordable telephoto zoom lens.

I have two German Shepherds who are involved in dog sports, and I recently invested in a telephoto lens to capture their energy on the field. Here's why I chose the Canon RF 100-400mm lens: Using the Canon RF 100-400mm lens has made telephoto photography into an enjoyable and effortless experience. When paired with the Canon EOS R7's animal eye tracking, it was impressively responsive, making wildlife photography a delight. Capturing stunning images of the my four legged children was a breeze. However, it's worth noting that this lens performs best in broad daylight. With a variable aperture of f5.6 - f8, it's not the fastest lens out there. Did that give me second thoughts? Absolutely not. At this price point, the results are fantastic, and I absolutely love this lens. If you're searching for a lightweight telephoto lens that is responsive, sharp, and doesn't break the bank, the Canon RF 100-400mm is the perfect choice. It offers the performance of Canon's more expensive flagship lenses without the hefty price tag, making it a must-have for any photography enthusiast.

This 100 to 400 lens is very lightweight and compact. For shooting nature and Wildlife it is enjoyable to carry and for me a much better choice than the larger and way more expensive 100 to 500 mm. The times I enjoy the lighter weight and smaller size and great image quality of this lens over the larger and heavier lens is way more often than the times I need that extra 100mm. Also I'm often backing out the zoom to 250 to 350mm to get the best composition anyway. I think it's the best value medium range telephoto lens out there for the Canon R5 and R6 and rf mount cameras. It's less than 25% the cost of that larger telephoto. It's on my R6 everyday and I'm enjoying it very much!

This lens is a lot more reasonably priced than a lot of the RF lenses, which I appreciate. Not everyone can afford to spend $2000, and above, for additional lenses. I took my R6mii out today, to Kingwood Center Gardens, in Mansfield Ohio. This RF100-400mm lens did a superb job at capturing a hummingbird! Looking forward to using it at Animal Kingdom Park, to capture the gorillas!

The Canon 100-400mm lens is a powerhouse for wildlife and sports photography. With its impressive zoom range, sharp optics, and reliable image stabilization, it delivers crisp, detailed shots even at long distances. Autofocus is quick and precise, while the sturdy build ensures durability. A must-have for capturing dynamic, far-off action.

Fantastic lens. If you need a telephoto RF series lens at an affordable price. This is it. Light enough for backpack. If you buy an EOS R series Canon camera and can't afford a $2700.00 L series 100-500mm F4.5/7.1 lens then it's the only way to go. Canon hit the sweet spot on pricing. Fantastic photos. Image stabilized. Only wish Canon included a lens hood...

Amazing quality, i have loved every single picture i've taken with this lens. The build quality is overall great, i love fidgeting with the rings cause of how smooth they turn lol. Also surprisingly not that heavy, i was expecting the lens to pack more weight.

This RF 100-400mm is an outstanding lens because it's sharper than most others, focuses faster than my own eyes and it's small, light, super close-focussing

Finally, an affordable entry level telephoto lens for Canon's RF line of lenses! As someone who has been wanting to reach out further than 200mm, this was right up my alley and I can so far my expectations have been met. Paired with the Canon EOS R, the lens does a pretty solid job of tracking and focusing in on subjects and the image quality you get is fantastic. Even with the F-stop reaching as low as 8 (when extended out to 400mm) there is some nice bokeh when the subject is further away from a background which works really great with bird photography which is likely what you'll be using this lens primarily for. Really an overall solid piece of glass that's worth adding to your kit.

I wanted a great quality lens on a budget, and this delivers! I highly recommend, especially if you photograph wildlife.

Pretty good for the money! I was seriously considering the very expensive $2000 and $3000 lenses but decided on this one instead. Image quality is good and seems sturdy without being too heavy. What surprised me is that not only can you zoom in well, especially on a crop sensor camera (see hummingbird photo), but you can also focus on nearby small things when zoomed out all the way as well (see grasshopper photo). Wish it came with a lens hood, but you can get cheap 3rd party ones online.

This Canon RF 100-400mm lens truly exceeded my expectations. The sharpness, image stabilization, and lightweight build make it perfect for sports, wildlife, and events. I recently had the chance to photograph the greatest football player in the world — Lionel Messi — using this lens, and the results were stunning! Even from a distance, the focus was fast and accurate, and the image quality was crisp. This lens proves that you don’t need to spend thousands to get professional results. Highly recommended for anyone who wants reach and quality in one compact package.