Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM Review: A $10,500 Wildlife Zoom Tested
Canon's RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM promises prime-lens quality in a zoom. We tested whether it justifies its $10,500 price tag.
When it comes to the “silly money” category of lenses, they are typically those ridiculously long prime lenses that make your arms ache just by looking at them. They provide incredible image quality but lack the versatility of a zoom. Enter the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: with a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire 100-300mm focal range, this lens is a serious contender for wildlife pros and sports photographers.
Of course, at an eye-watering $10,500, it’s not for everyone. It’s not even for “many people”; it’s for a select few who either have serious money lying around or make serious money from photography, where a lens of this caliber would be a sensible investment. Still, we took it for a test drive to see just how much better the performance is compared to more reasonably priced wildlife zoom lenses.
(Image credits: Kimberley Lane)
The lens delivers on its promise of optical excellence, producing sharp, beautifully rendered images across its full focal range. For professional wildlife and sports photographers who need the flexibility of a zoom without sacrificing the light-gathering ability of a fast prime, the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM makes a compelling — if extraordinarily expensive — case for itself.