The perfect all-round zoom for wildlife photography? RF100-500 long term review

Fabian Fopp - Nature photography
26 Apr 202418:58

TLDRIn this review, the presenter shares their two-year experience with the Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens, which they initially doubted due to concerns about its f7.1 aperture at 500mm. Despite this, they found the lens to be compact, lightweight, and of high image quality, rivaling prime lenses. The autofocus is fast, and the image stabilizer performs well, especially for still subjects and filming. The versatility of the zoom range is praised for both photography and videography, allowing for a variety of shots from wide to close-ups. However, the presenter notes some drawbacks, such as the lens's front element being prone to scratches and the low-quality lens hood. They also discuss the use of teleconverters with the lens, noting a reduction in zoom range and increased size when attached. The review concludes by recommending the lens for its all-around capabilities, especially for those interested in wildlife, landscapes, and portraits, and suggests considering the RF 200-800mm for greater focal length without a converter.

Takeaways

  • 🔬 The Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1 is a compact and lightweight lens with excellent image quality, rivaling that of prime lenses.
  • 🐦 The lens offers a versatile zoom range and a maximum magnification of 0.33x, suitable for capturing smaller subjects from a distance.
  • 🌟 It features a fast autofocus with a dual Nano USM motor, making it one of the fastest telephoto lenses the reviewer has used.
  • 🌞 Despite the smaller aperture of f7.1 at 500mm, the lens's image stabilizer performs well, allowing for sharp images even at slower shutter speeds.
  • 🌿 The lens is built to withstand various conditions, including rain and beach use, though a rain cover is recommended for heavy downpours.
  • 📸 The zoom range from 100 to 500mm provides a lot of flexibility for different types of photography, including landscapes and wildlife.
  • 🚫 The front element of the lens is prone to scratches, which can be a concern for photographers who handle the lens carefully.
  • 👎 The included lens hood is considered low quality and susceptible to marks and scratches, though it serves its purpose of protecting the lens.
  • 🎥 The lens is very versatile for video work, with a smooth zoom range that allows for dynamic shots without the need for a tripod.
  • 🔧 The control ring's position may not be ideal for all photographers, and the reviewer prefers to deactivate it due to the camera's other control options.
  • 🌌 The f7.1 aperture can limit background separation in certain conditions, but the lens still performs well in backlit scenarios or when focusing on a subject.

Q & A

  • What was the initial concern the user had about the Canon RF 100-500mm lens?

    -The user was initially concerned about the f7.1 at 500mm, fearing it might be too slow for their needs.

  • How did the user find the image quality of the Canon RF 100-500mm lens?

    -The user was very satisfied with the image quality, stating it felt on par with a prime lens.

  • What is the maximum magnification of the Canon RF 100-500mm lens at 500mm?

    -The maximum magnification at 500mm is 0.33x.

  • How does the autofocus performance of the Canon RF 100-500mm lens compare to other telephoto lenses the user has used?

    -The user found it to be the fastest autofocus telephoto lens they have ever used.

  • What is the advantage of using the Canon RF 100-500mm lens for wildlife photography?

    -The lens allows for a greater distance between the photographer and the subject, which can be beneficial for animals that may be scared off by closer approaches.

  • How does the user feel about the image stabilizer in the Canon RF 100-500mm lens?

    -The user was very happy with the image stabilizer, finding it helpful for both photography and filming.

  • What is the user's opinion on the versatility of the 100-500mm zoom range?

    -The user appreciates the versatility of the zoom range, noting it provides a lot of different options for various shooting scenarios.

  • What issues did the user encounter with the front element of the lens?

    -The user found the front element to be prone to scratches, which was a bit annoying despite careful handling.

  • How does the user feel about the lens hood that comes with the Canon RF 100-500mm lens?

    -The user agrees with other photographers that the lens hood seems to be of low quality, as it easily gets marked and scratched.

  • What is the user's experience with the control ring on the Canon RF 100-500mm lens?

    -The user found the control ring position to be inconvenient and hard to reach with the left hand, and they ended up deactivating it on their lens.

  • How does the user perceive the f7.1 aperture in terms of low light performance and background rendering?

    -The user does not find the f7.1 aperture to be a significant issue due to good image stabilization and post-processing tools. However, for a clean background, especially in certain lighting conditions, it can be limiting.

  • What is the user's recommendation for those who need more focal length than the Canon RF 100-500mm lens provides?

    -The user suggests considering the RF 200-800mm lens for more focal length without the need for extenders.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Canon RF 100-500mm Lens Experience

The speaker discusses their initial uncertainty about purchasing the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, despite its high-quality performance in testing. They were concerned about its compatibility with their shooting style and the potential slow aperture of f7.1 at 500mm. After extensive use, they share their positive experiences, including the lens's compactness, lightweight design, excellent build quality, and remarkable image quality comparable to prime lenses. They also highlight the lens's fast autofocus, versatile zoom range, and effective image stabilization, making it suitable for both photography and videography. However, they mention some drawbacks, such as the lens's susceptibility to scratches and the quality of the lens hood.

05:00

🌟 Versatility and Limitations of the RF 100-500mm Lens

The speaker appreciates the lens's versatility, with a 100-500mm zoom range that offers numerous creative options for both photography and videography. They describe how the lens allows for capturing a variety of shots, from wide landscapes to close-up portraits. Despite their satisfaction, they point out some issues, including the lens's front element's tendency to scratch and the low-quality lens hood that easily marks and scratches. They also discuss the lens's control ring's inconvenient positioning and the smooth tight ring that unintentionally moves, causing the lens to extend. The speaker addresses the adequacy of the f7.1 aperture for their needs, emphasizing the role of image stabilization and post-processing tools in achieving clean images.

10:02

🔍 Background Rendering and Teleconverters

The speaker talks about the lens's performance in terms of background rendering and the use of teleconverters. They mention that while the f7.1 aperture might seem limiting, it's not a significant issue due to modern image stabilization and post-processing techniques. They also discuss the use of teleconverters with the lens, noting that while the image quality remains good with a 1.4x extender, the autofocus performance is slightly diminished. They highlight the practical considerations when using teleconverters, such as the reduced zoom range and the need to zoom to 300mm before attachment, which increases the size of the setup when stored. The speaker recommends the RF 200-800mm lens for those who plan to use teleconverters extensively.

15:20

🌄 Conclusion on the RF 100-500mm Lens and Recommendations

In conclusion, the speaker considers the RF 100-500mm lens a very good all-around lens, suitable for various types of photography, including landscapes, portraits of birds, and capturing amphibians and reptiles. They commend its compact and lightweight design. For those needing more focal length, they suggest considering the 200-800mm lens or the 800mm F11 lens for a more cost-effective option. The speaker also provides an affiliate link for those interested in purchasing the lens and invites viewers to share their experiences with the 100-500mm lens, or reasons for choosing the 200-800mm lens instead.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1 L IS USM

This is a specific model of a telephoto zoom lens manufactured by Canon. It is characterized by its ability to zoom from a focal length of 100mm to 500mm with a variable maximum aperture of f4.5 at 100mm and f7.1 at 500mm. In the video, the lens is praised for its compactness, image quality, and versatility, making it suitable for wildlife photography.

💡Image Quality

Image quality refers to the clarity, sharpness, and overall visual fidelity of a photograph or video. In the context of the video, the reviewer is impressed by the lens' ability to produce images that rival the quality of prime lenses, indicating that despite being a zoom lens, it maintains a high level of detail and clarity.

💡Maximum Magnification

Maximum magnification is the largest size that a subject can appear in the viewfinder or captured by the lens. The lens in question has a maximum magnification of 0.33x at 500mm, which allows for close-up shots of relatively small subjects without needing a macro lens. This feature is beneficial for wildlife photography where capturing details of small creatures is often desired.

💡Dual Nano USM

Dual Nano USM stands for Dual Nano Ultrasonic Motor, a technology used in Canon lenses that provides fast and precise autofocus. The video mentions that this lens has a 'crazy fast' autofocus performance, which is crucial for capturing moving subjects like wildlife in flight.

💡Image Stabilizer

An image stabilizer is a feature in lenses and cameras that compensates for the effects of camera shake, resulting in sharper images. The reviewer appreciates the image stabilizer in the lens for allowing lower shutter speeds without compromising image sharpness, which is particularly useful for both photography and videography.

💡Zoom Range

Zoom range refers to the span of focal lengths a zoom lens can cover. The lens has an extensive zoom range from 100mm to 500mm, offering a lot of flexibility for different types of shots. This range is highlighted as a key advantage for its use in various scenarios, from landscapes to close-ups of wildlife.

💡Lens Hood

A lens hood is a device attached to the front of a lens to block the sunlight and reduce lens flare. In the video, the reviewer mentions that the lens hood provided with the Canon RF 100-500mm is of lower quality, prone to scratches and marks, but still serves its purpose of protecting the lens and enhancing image contrast.

💡Tele Extenders

Tele extenders, also known as teleconverters, are accessories that increase the focal length of a lens. The video discusses the use of 1.4x and 2x extenders with the lens, noting that while they can extend the zoom range further, they may affect autofocus performance and require a larger zoomed-out position, which can be inconvenient for carrying.

💡F7.1 Aperture

The F7.1 aperture refers to the smallest f-number or the largest lens opening at the 500mm focal length. A larger f-number means less light enters the lens. The reviewer initially had concerns about the lens being too slow at F7.1, but found that with modern image stabilization and post-processing tools, this was not a significant issue for their photography.

💡Backlit Conditions

Backlit conditions occur when a subject is photographed with a light source, such as the sun, behind it. This can create a challenging lighting scenario. The video mentions that the lens performed well in backlit conditions, which is important for wildlife photography where the direction of light is often unpredictable.

💡Lens Scratches

Lens scratches refer to physical damage on the lens surface that can affect image quality. The reviewer notes that despite careful handling, the front element of the lens is prone to scratches, which can be annoying and potentially affect the resale value, but did not impact the image quality in their experience.

Highlights

The Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens is compact and lightweight for a 500mm zoom lens.

The lens has excellent build quality and is suitable for various shooting conditions, including beach, rain, and rainforest environments.

Image quality is topnotch, rivaling prime lenses, making it the first zoom lens to achieve this level of quality for the reviewer.

The lens offers a significant maximum magnification with a minimum focusing distance of 1.2m at 500mm, providing a magnification ratio of 0.33x.

The dual Nano USM autofocus motor is incredibly fast, making it the fastest telephoto lens the reviewer has used.

The autofocus performs well in various lighting conditions, including backlit situations and darker environments.

The image stabilizer is effective, allowing for sharp shots at slower shutter speeds and reducing the need for a higher ISO.

The 100-500mm zoom range offers versatility for both photography and videography, with the ability to capture a wide range of subjects and environments.

The front element is prone to scratches, which can be a concern for photographers who handle the lens carefully.

The lens hood is of lower quality and can easily pick up marks and scratches, though it still serves its protective purpose.

A polarizing filter window is included, which is useful for landscape photography and can enhance the appearance of certain subjects.

The smooth tight ring can accidentally move during transport, causing the lens to extend when not desired.

The control ring position is not easily reachable with the left hand, which may be a drawback for some photographers.

The f7.1 aperture at 500mm is not a significant issue due to good image stabilization and post-processing tools.

Background rendering at f7.1 is generally good for small birds but can be distracting when more of the habitat is included in the frame.

Tele extenders can be used with the lens, but they reduce the zoom range and increase the size when stored.

The RF 100-500mm lens is a good all-around lens for various types of photography, but for more focal length, the RF 200-800mm might be a better choice.

The reviewer provides affiliate links for purchasing the lens, supporting the channel.