Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 Announced – Budget Telephoto Zoom for the RF System

13 days ago

Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 Announced - Budget Telephoto Zoom for the RF System

Canon recently revealed their latest RF mount lens offering – the Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6. This affordable telephoto zoom aims to provide a budget-friendly entry point for EOS R shooters looking to extend their reach without breaking the bank.

It’s nice to see Canon realizing that they have been lacking budget-friendly options in the RF ecosystem, which is surely essential to get more RF cameras into the hands of more people.

The Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 follows in the footsteps of Canon’s EF mount budget telephoto zooms, bringing the concept to the mirrorless RF ecosystem. With a total weight of 507g/1.1 lb and measuring 146.1mm/5.75in when retracted, it’s a relatively compact option considering its substantial zoom range.

The optical formula consists of 13 elements arranged in 9 groups, with Canon’s Super Spectra coating applied to combat flare and ghosting. The lens features a modest 7-blade circular aperture design, which should provide acceptable bokeh characteristics when shooting wide open, yet you shouldn’t expect wonders for an entry-level lens like this.

Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 in use. Image credit: Canon

Video performance considerations for the Canon RF 75-300mm

While Canon hasn’t positioned this explicitly as a dedicated cine lens, there are several aspects that might appeal to video shooters:

The lens employs a DC motor for autofocus, not Canon’s premium USM or STM systems, which raises questions about focus breathing and noise during video operation. The quarter-turn zoom ring design, however, could prove useful for creating smoother zooms during video recording, but it’s impossible to tell for sure without using this lens.

The lack of built-in optical image stabilization is a notable omission for handheld video work. Filmmakers will need to rely on in-body stabilization from compatible EOS R bodies or external stabilization solutions when shooting on the move.

One potential advantage for video creators is the lens’s respectable close-focusing capabilities – it can focus down to 1.5m/4.9ft at the 300mm end, providing a maximum magnification of 0.25x, which isn’t bad for such a long telephoto lens.

Practical field use

The lens features some weather sealing – a welcome addition at this price point, though Canon hasn’t specified the extent of this protection. Given its positioning, it’s likely to offer basic protection rather than the robust sealing found on L-series glass.

Filter-based ND solutions remain practical with the lens’s standard 58mm thread size, and Canon notes compatibility with their 58mm Protect filter as well as 250D and 500D close-up attachments.

For those using APS-C cameras like the EOS R100, R10, or R7, the lens provides an even more impressive 120-480mm equivalent reach, potentially making it an attractive option for budget-conscious wildlife videographers and sports coverage.

Because of its relatively slow aperture, the Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 is a compact lens. Image credit: Canon

Pricing and availability

This release clearly aims to fill the entry-level telephoto gap in Canon’s RF lineup. While specifications suggest modest optical performance compared to Canon’s premium offerings, the combination of reach, portability, and affordability will likely appeal to enthusiasts and content creators working with limited budgets.

The Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 will cost €299 in Europe, but we don’t have pricing for the US yet, probably because of the tariffs issue. The lens is expected to hit shelves in the coming months.

Final thoughts on the Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6

The Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 won’t compete with Canon’s professional telephoto glass, but it wasn’t designed to. This lens appears to serve as an accessible entry point for telephoto work in the RF system, providing substantial reach in a relatively compact package.

For filmmakers and content creators on tight budgets who need occasional telephoto reach, this lens might prove to be a practical addition to their kit, though serious video professionals will likely continue to favor more video-optimized options with constant apertures, superior focus motors, and built-in stabilization.

What do you think about this new entry-level zoom lens for the RF ecosystem? Let us know in the comments below.