Canon RF 75-300mm F4-5.6 Review: An Affordable Classic, But Not a Breakthrough
Canon’s latest telephoto zoom lens, the RF 75-300mm F4-5.6, enters the market not as a groundbreaking innovation but rather as a cautious refresh of a classic, budget-friendly design. In fact, its optical construction closely mirrors Canon’s EF 75-300mm F4-5.6 III, originally released in April 1999. More than two decades later, Canon has reintroduced this venerable lens for RF mount cameras, targeting beginner photographers and hobbyists who desire an affordable option for wildlife and sports photography without breaking the bank.
The RF 75-300mm F4-5.6 positions itself as an accessible gateway into the telephoto zoom world. The lens provides ample versatility, offering a full-frame focal length range that is well-suited to capturing distant subjects such as wildlife, sports action, and even portraiture. On APS-C bodies like the EOS R100, the focal length translates to an impressive equivalent of 120-480mm, allowing users to significantly close the gap between themselves and distant scenes. At its maximum zoom, the lens can focus as close as 1.5 meters, providing sufficient magnification for compelling portraits or detailed close-ups.
Physically, Canon has retained a traditional DC motor autofocus system, a cost-effective and proven choice that ensures affordability but sacrifices some performance aspects. Users familiar with the old EF lens will find similar focusing behavior—relatively accurate but noticeably slower and louder than more modern STM or Nano USM autofocus mechanisms. While this may not severely impact stationary photography, it can become an inconvenience when attempting to track fast-moving sports subjects or fleeting wildlife moments. Furthermore, videographers seeking silent, seamless focusing transitions might find this DC motor implementation disappointing.
Despite its age-old internal architecture, the RF 75-300mm F4-5.6 boasts contemporary physical dimensions: compact and notably lightweight, weighing only 507 grams with a length of 146.1mm. Its ease of transport makes it convenient to carry on hikes, trips, or long days at sporting events. The large zoom ring requires just over a quarter turn from one end of the zoom range to the other, simplifying operation and enabling quick responses to changing situations.
Canon has added its modern Super Spectra coating to reduce ghosting and flare—a welcome update enhancing image contrast and clarity in challenging lighting conditions. The lens’s seven-blade aperture design provides decent, though not outstanding, background blur. While bokeh quality remains acceptable, it does not achieve the creamy, refined look characteristic of higher-end lenses, particularly at its narrower maximum apertures of F4-5.6.
In practical use, the RF 75-300mm F4-5.6 meets expectations as a serviceable, entry-level zoom lens rather than exceeding them. Image quality remains acceptable at shorter focal lengths, but performance visibly deteriorates as the lens approaches 300mm. Photographers seeking critical sharpness and corner-to-corner clarity at telephoto extremes may find themselves frustrated by softness, chromatic aberration, and reduced contrast. While this level of optical performance was commonplace and acceptable in 1999, expectations have evolved considerably over the past two decades.
Ultimately, the Canon RF 75-300mm F4-5.6 represents a pragmatic update rather than a significant leap forward. For budget-conscious photographers or beginners making their first steps into telephoto photography, this lens is undoubtedly appealing—offering simplicity, ease of use, and affordability. Yet, for photographers hoping for significant optical advancements, fast and quiet autofocus performance, or substantial image quality improvements over its decades-old predecessor, this lens does not deliver. It is a lens best suited for newcomers exploring telephoto photography rather than seasoned photographers demanding refined optics and advanced features.