The Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8L IS USM is a telephoto extension to Canon’s RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM, RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM and RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM ‘trinity’ zoom lenses. We’re very much accustomed to trinity wide-angle, standard and telephoto lenses, which maintain a maximum f/2.8 aperture throughout their zoom ranges, from all major camera manufacturers but this lens is more like a D’Artagnan to Canon’s existing Three RF Musketeers.
There’s not been anything quite like this lens before, at least not from Canon. There was a relatively tiny, low-budget Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM hailing from the 35mm film era but that had a slower, variable aperture, lacked image stabilization and definitely didn’t class as an L-series lens. The RF lens is more akin to the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM prime, but with the added versatility of being a zoom, and billed as having ‘prime lens’ performance and image quality. Both of the EF lenses have since been discontinued.
