Canon has announced a new telephoto zoom lens, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM, which builds on the legacy of the popular EF300mm f/2.8 lens. This lens is aimed at professional and high-end video and still-image users who want great background bokeh that makes imagery “pop”. The RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens is aimed at theater work, event candids at a distance, and indoor sports like swimming, gymnastics, and basketball. With an incredible f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range, this lens offers great low-light performance, incredible bokeh, and fast shutter speeds.
The RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM offers excellent optical quality, edge-to-edge. Its optical design includes one flourite lens, 4 UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass elements, flourine coating, and Canon SSC (Super Spectra Coating) to minimize ghosting and flare. For consistently sharp results, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM features built-in optical Image Stabilization, providing enhanced shake reduction for up to 5.5 stops of shake correction. When paired with an EOS R-series camera that has In Body Image Stabilization (IBIS), the Coordinated IS allows for up to 6 stops of correction.
The lens offers incredible focus speed and accuracy throughout the entire focus range thanks to dual Nano USMs that are independently actuated. This design even helps make the weight of the lens more balanced reducing fatigue when held by hand. The RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens incorporates a control ring on the lens barrel that can directly adjust numerous settings including shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and more. There are also function preset buttons on the front of the lens so you can program a specific function to occur at the press of one of the buttons.
Coming in at just under 6 lbs, the Canon RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens is the lightest f/2.8 300mm zoom lens on the market, making it light enough to hand-hold for short periods of time. Additionally, the lens features a focus preset button near the back of the lens for easy reach with a finger on your right hand during use. There is a sliding switch on the barrel that allows you to program the AF preset, and recall it, or you can slide the switch to “L-Fn” to utilize that button as a programmable function button instead.
The Canon RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens incorporates a 9-blade circular aperture for beautiful bokeh and has a dust and weather-resistant design, with a fluorine coating on the front element for easy cleaning. The estimated arrival date for this lens is Wednesday, May 31, and it carries a price tag of $9,499.
In other camera-related news, see the Leica M11 Monochrom.