Side by side
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM vs Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
168 positive (77%) · 39 mixed (18%) · 12 negative (5%)
Trust + time weighted: +73%
AI summary — not a quote
The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM is widely considered the premier versatile telephoto zoom for the Canon RF system, particularly favored for wildlife and bird photography. Users consistently praise its 'razor sharp' optical performance, fast autofocus, and surprisingly manageable weight for a lens of its reach. While the f/7.1 aperture at the long end is a frequent point of discussion, most owners find the trade-off acceptable for the portability and image quality provided, though some find the high price tag difficult to justify compared to the much cheaper RF 100-400mm.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness and image clarity across the zoom range
- Fast and reliable autofocus that performs well even on crop-sensor bodies like the R7
- Lightweight and compact enough for handheld use and long hikes
- Superior build quality and weather sealing typical of the 'L' series
Cons
- Slow maximum aperture (f/7.1) at the 500mm end can limit performance in low light
- High price point, with some users questioning if it is worth the significant premium over the RF 100-400mm
- Ergonomic issues with the focus ring being placed too close to the camera body, making it difficult to balance when manual focusing
- Physical design prevents the lens from being fully retracted when a teleconverter is attached
Top excerpts
Both are heavy, expensive "L" lenses designed to offer great optical quality.
Razor sharp
I highly recommend the 100-500. Absolutely my fav birding lens and it’s the natural upgrade form the 100-400 when switching to the R system.
Once you use it, you notice the pictures look so much better, not just sharpness, but also rendition, clarity, color, etc… the keeper rated is also much higher than any lens worked with. Bottom line it just works and it always pleases, if that makes sense. I think it’s been optimized with the R cameras. ... the 100-500 is my fav birding lenses considering the weight, performance and value.
This is in contrast to e.g. the RF 100-500 where the TC offers noticeably more real detail increase than merely cropping.
Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
59 positive (76%) · 14 mixed (18%) · 5 negative (6%)
Trust + time weighted: +73%
AI summary — not a quote
The Canon RF-S 18-150mm is widely regarded as the premier 'all-in-one' travel lens for Canon's APS-C mirrorless system. It is frequently recommended as a significant upgrade over the basic 18-45mm kit lens, offering a versatile zoom range, surprising sharpness for its class, and a compact form factor that pairs well with smaller bodies like the R50.
Pros
- Highly versatile 'Jack of all trades' zoom range for travel and general use
- Significantly sharper and more capable than the 18-45mm kit lens
- Extremely lightweight (310g) and compact for the focal range provided
- Good performance for close-up photography
Cons
- Narrow maximum aperture (f/3.5-6.3) limits performance in very dark scenes
- Insufficient focal length and speed for dedicated sports photography
- Limited to APS-C (crop sensor) cameras
Top excerpts
The 18-150 is an RF-S lens which can only be mounted on crop sensor (APS-C) cameras; the 24-105 f/4L is a full-frame lens which can be mounted on any R-series camera.
What is recommend is the 18-150 if you can find a kit with that.
By contrast, 18-150 is surprisingly small, pretty much an ideal lens for travel/general use, and a near perfect match for R50.
Being able to put rf-s 18-150 on it for versatility is great
For me, 18-150 is R50’s natural companion lens. Small, light, sharp and amazingly flexible.