Canon Tips First Ever 100-300mm F2.8 Zoom Lens
Canon's latest lens isn't one that most of us will own, or even get to use. But pros who make a living shooting sports, fashion, events, and wildlife should find some utility in the RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM. It's not exactly the first zoom of its kind—Nikon and Sigma both made 120-300mm F2.8 lenses for SLRs—but Canon still wins a first-ever prize for stretching the wide angle to 100mm, and making the lens for a mirrorless system.
As an L series lens, the 100-300mm has all of the accouterments you expect. The zoom is fully weather-sealed, with water-repellant fluorine on the front glass. It includes a full control panel of switches and toggles on one side, and has a rotating tripod collar. At 5.8 pounds and 12.7 inches long, the lens may not be handholdable for every photographer. The tripod foot is not made for Arca-Swiss tripod heads, though, so you'll need to add a quick release plate.
The 5.8-pound weight may sound heavy, especially for enthusiasts used to carrying a lens like the 3-pound RF 100-500mm, but it's not too much more than the 5.3-pound EF 300mm F2.8 prime for Canon SLRs, and a less than the Nikon 120-300mm F2.8 (7.2 pounds) or Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 Sports (7.5 pounds).
The extra weight comes from the F2.8 optics. Opening up to F2.8 creates more separation between subject and background, an aspect aided by a telephoto length. Canon can make the RF 100-500mm so light because it gathers light from F4.5-7.1 across its range, a formula that requires less glass to imagine.
The RF 100-300mm F2.8's optics include 23 elements arranged in 18 groups, including the massive front element. Focus is driven by dual USM motors, which promise great speed, though we'll note that we've not had a chance to test the
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