Canon has recently announced its latest addition to the RF lens lineup, the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens, designed to cater to professional photographers, especially photojournalists. This lens is remarkable in its category, with a focus on lightweight and compact design, making it an ideal choice for landscape, sports, and event photography.

Pre-order links:

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens: $9,499 at B&H, Adorama.

Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8L IS USM specs

• Mount: Canon RF
• Full frame: Yes
• Image stabilization: Yes 5.5 stops (6 stops with IBIS)
• Autofocus: Yes – Dual Nano USM motor
• Lens construction: 23 elements in 18 groups (inc 1 Flourite and 4 UD elements)
• Diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded)
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum focusing distance: 1.8m
• Maximum magnification ratio: 0.16x
• Filter size: 112mm
• Dimensions: 128×323.4mm
• Weight: 2590g / 91.3oz

What sets the Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens apart is its remarkable focal range and nine circular aperture blades that create stunning bokeh. Paired with the Canon EOS R series camera, this lens offers six stops of optical image stabilization, ensuring steady shots even in low light conditions. Despite offering all these features, the Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 Lens only weighs 5.8 lbs, making it the ultimate lightweight lens for professional photographers.

One of the most impressive features of this lens is its ability to maintain an incredible f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range. This capability translates into exceptional performance, with great low-light shooting performance, superb bokeh, and fast shutter speeds.

The long-awaited Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM telephoto lens has finally arrived, and it has been designed to fill the gap left by the popular EF 300mm f/2.8 L lens. The lens is listed at a price of $9,499, making it a luxury item aimed at professional photographers. However, for photographers who can afford it, the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L offers exceptional features that make it worth the investment.

The Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens has two built-in nano ultra-sonic motors (USMs), enabling lightning-fast autofocus, which is ideal for capturing spontaneous moments. The USMs also allow the lens to focus effortlessly from close-up to infinity. The lens’s weight and feel have been improved, which makes it less strenuous to handle when taking handheld shots, reducing stress on the hands and wrist.

Canon has not compromised on the quality of the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens, as it features one fluorite lens, four ultra-low dispersion (UD) glass elements, a fluorine coating, and a super spectra (SSC) coating that helps to minimize ghosting and flare. Seals around the mount, switches, and rings prevent dust and moisture from entering the lens, and a specially designed fluorine coating prevents grime from sticking to the exterior.

The RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is compatible with two extenders: the Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x. These extenders can expand the effective focal length to 140-420mm at f/4 with the Extender RF 1.4x, or to 200-600mm at f/5.6 with the Extender RF 2x, providing users with more versatility.

Overall, the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is an excellent addition to the RF line-up, and it promises to be a useful tool for professional photojournalists, sports, and wildlife photographers. While it might be financially out of reach for many photographers, the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is worth the investment for photographers who demand the best performance from their equipment.

Press Release:

Canon Introduces the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM to Its Lens Lineup

The new lens combines the flexibility of a zoom lens with the quality of a telephoto lens

MELVILLE, NY, April 20, 2023 – Today, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens, answering calls from photojournalists and professional level customers for a modern 300mm f/2.8 equivalent lens.

“This lens is an absolute game changer! It gives you the most incredible range, but without sacrificing the f/2.8 aperture. To have this kind of performance at your fingertips is incredible!”

Roberto Valenzuela, fashion and wedding photographer

For decades, the 300mm f/2.8 telephoto lens has been an industry standard for photojournalists, professionals, and aspiring enthusiast photographers due to its outstanding image quality, excellent speed for indoor shooting, and relatively light weight for hand-holding. Now, with the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM, Canon delivers the flexibility of a zoom lens design with the truly outstanding quality of a 300mm f/2.8 L-series telephoto lens. Exceeding the reach and potential of traditional 70-200mm lenses, and adding zoom flexibility to its Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS predecessor, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens brings new value to customers with the following features:

• Wide Focal Range — 100-300mm range
• Extended Zoom — Optional RF1.4x and 2x extenders are supported with this lens, enabling a zoom range of up to 600mm
• Spectacular Image Quality — f/2.8 constant wide aperture; Fluorite Aspherical and UD-glass design
• Reliable Stabilization — Up to 5.5 stops correction with in-lens Optical Image Stabilization and up to 6.0 stops correction with in-body coordinated Image Stabilization (CIPA standard)
• Weather and Dust Resistant — Durable in various environmental conditions
• Compact and Lightweight Design — Despite capabilities to zoom over 300mm, this lens is unusually lightweight, just barely heavier than the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II

“I love this lens! It’s incredibly lightweight, versatile, and sharp. Toss on the 2x extender and you can snipe gorgeous frames at a distance, especially with the built in image stabilizer. This lens is going to change the game for live concerts, weddings, and so much more.”

Ben Hagarty, Grammy award-winning cinematographer

This telephoto zoom lens is ideal for professionals who use a Canon EOS R3, EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II full-frame mirrorless camera, but can also be a catalyst for users who have developed into serious, aspirational enthusiasts and are looking to step beyond their traditional telephoto lens experience. Best use cases include, but are not limited to, indoor sports, motorsports, outdoor fashion, video and cinema, photojournalism and theater work. For high-level shooters and videographers particularly working in low-light settings and seeking a hand-holdable solution, this lens provides the total answer.

​​​Price & Availability

​​​​​​​The Canon RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens is expected to be available in May for an estimated retail price of $9,499.00*. For more information, please visit usa.canon.com.