Canon Adds the 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM to its RF Lens Lineup
Canon has announced a new RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens which it says is designed to support professional users with a specific emphasis on photojournalists.
The company says that the 300mm f/2.8 has been an industry standard for professionals due to a unique combination of image quality, speed, and relatively light weight that is suitable for hand-holding. Canon says that it has maintained that in the new 100-300mm f/2.8 but added the flexibility of a zoom 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,” the company says.
Despite having a wide zoom range and a maximum reach of 300mm, Canon says that it is “unusually lightweight” and is “barely heavier” than the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II, a lens designed for DSLRs.
The 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM features a constant wide aperture of f/2.8 and a construction of 23 elements arranged in 18 groups, including one fluorite element, four UD elements, and one aspherical element. It features an aperture range of f/2.8 through f/22 via a nine-bladed diaphragm. It has a minimum focusing distance of 5.9 feet at all focal lengths.
“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,” Canon says.
“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 those working in low-light settings and seeking a hand-holdable solution, this lens provides the total answer.”
Inside the barrel is an optical stabilization system that the company says offers up to 5.5 stops of correction that can be increased to six stops when used in coordination with a Canon lens with in-body image stabilization. The lens is weather and dust resistant in “various environmental conditions.” The autofocus is driven by a dual nano ultrasonic motor system.
Canon’s RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens will retail for $9,499 and is expected to be available starting in May. Sample images captured with the lens can be seen on Canon’s website.
Image credits: Canon
