Returned the RF100-500, bought an EF100-400 II again...

Good afternoon,

related topic: "MORE AFFORDABLE AND REASONABLE FAST CANON RF TELE LENSES PLEASE..."

After a couple of days with the RF 100-500 I returned it and bought an EF 100-400 vII again.
I used the EF 100-400 II already with a fringer adapter when I was still a Nikon Z user and I found it one of the finest tele zoom lenses I ever used.

and a 100% crop of the above:

Super sharp, very fast focusing, very close focusing, very well build and more, and taking TC's over the whole focal ().
For the same reason(), I keep my EF 70-200 F2.8 III rather than go for the RF version.

Since I had my R5, the 100-400 II really shined...

...but I found it too heavy for long hikes and sold it to go for the fantastic RF 100-400... A great lens in good light but F8 @ 400 mm and no pro-lens-AF speed...

Conclusion:
So after a couple of days with the RF 100-500 I found it not sharper than my RF 100-400, I expected faster AF speed and I dislike F7.1 @ 500mm.
A day's session with swallows in flight gave me too few keepers...
For what it is, I find the RF 100-500 very overpriced ( The nikon 200-500 provides F5.6 @ 500mm for 40% of the price...).

So, back to my beloved EF 100-400 II and I'll keep the RF 100-400 for long, sunny hikes.

This is just my personal opinion and experience, no statement whatsoever...

Thanks for reading,
Kindest regards,
Stany
www.fotografie.cafe

Nice shots, thank you for sharing. This "lens feel", hard to explain, I have preferences too, and I agree with your "conclusion". Sometimes, some stuff just doesn´t work for us. Happy shooting!

Interesting - and yes the EF 100-400 II is now a bargain on used prices - and the 100-500 steep. Thinking again now Canon have $450 / $ 500ish US dollars of on cashback - but still a lot and I wont get much for my 100-400II.

How do you find the IQ between the RF 100-400 and EF 100-400? There is also cashback on the RF 100-400 too now and tempting as light option to add...

Thanks for posting

RF 100-400 IQ is excellent overall, and stunning @ close distances (near to macro lens sharpness level).
Many samples on my website: RF 100-400/5.6-8.0 IS review

I rented an RF 100-500 and finally bought my second EF 100-400 II(sold my first one after I got the RF 100-400) @ audiophil in Aachen-Germany. A shop I frequently visit since 2008 (Nikon D3) despite the 350km one-way drive, because of its huge stock, good communication, expertise, hospitality, great service and sometimes interesting second-hand opportunities...
I find the EF 100-400 focusing significantly faster while tracking than the RF 100-500 and it delivers slightly sharper images but MUCH more "keepers" after multiple days of swallow-in-flight photography with both lenses. Probably because I am used to the EF 100-400 II for 4-5 years... But this is only an opinion, no result of scientific testing.
What I am sure though is that the EF 100-400 provides F5.6 @ 400mm and takes my TC 1.4 and tc 2x over the whole focal range, which the RF 100-500 does not.
And last but not least, the EF 100-400II is € 800 cheaper than the RF 100-500

After a couple of days with my new EF 100-400 II I can only say how pleased I am.
Tack sharp and VERY fast AF.

From yesterday, in stormy weather with birds coming and going at very high speeds...

Taken with my R7, cropped:

Thanks for your attention and kindest regards,
Stany
www.fotografie.cafe

Fantastic images - really tempted by this lens!