The RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM transforms Canon’s classic 300mm f/2.8L prime lens into a first-of-its-kind super telephoto zoom lens. Achieving its zoom range, performance, and optical quality while keeping the lens lightweight was a feat. In this article, the lens developers share their stories.
1. Planning and concept: “Expanding shooting possibilities”
"With excellent mobility and image quality rivalling prime lenses, this lens can be used for various types of photography, such as indoor and outdoor sports, fashion shows, and film festival red carpet shots.
I believe the RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM will enable users to capture decisive moments that they previously wouldn’t dream of attempting, and provide what they need to further their creativity in visual expression."
- Yuriyo Asami
Product Planning
"The largest strength of the RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM is its provision of 100-300mm zoom capability and f/2.8 constant aperture within a lightweight body. We were always mindful of the importance of weight reduction, even as we strove to realise the highest level of performance and reliability. I believe this is how we achieved a lighter lens without compromising any other qualities."
- Makoto Hayakawa
Chief of Development/ Mechanical Design
The development team wanted to create a fast telephoto zoom lens that would complement the EOS R system cameras and “expand shooting possibilities”. Zoom range, performance, and optical quality were important, but they also recognised the significance of ensuring lens mobility.
Think of their work whenever: You realise that you are using the lens a lot
Their commitment to certain specific requirements is why the lens is as versatile as it is.
2. Optical design: A battle to reduce weight while delivering impeccable lens quality
"We gave the manufacturing department a challenging request in terms of lens processing, and they achieved a high level of precision. Also, in the process of finalising the design, we put any extra time we had into improving the performance of the telephoto end. With these efforts, we have achieved optical performance rivalling that of prime lenses.
We hope that users will try out the telephoto end for themselves."
- Masato Katayose
Optical Design
A high-performance zoom lens needs to be optimised for an entire focal range, unlike just one focal length on a prime lens. This usually requires additional optics, which adds to the weight. The RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM could have easily ended up as a heavy “monster lens”! The Optical Design team successfully optimised the lens configuration in a way that also reduced the size, weight, and number of lens elements. The manufacturing department helped to turn their design into reality.
Think of their work whenever: You’re happily shooting handheld while marvelling at the amazing image quality
You might be enjoying one but not the other otherwise.
3. Mechanical design: Innovating structures that ensure performance and reliability
"The team came together with the common goal of maintaining a high level of robustness and optical performance.
I am proud that we worked on design while paying attention to unseen factors such as ghosting reduction and ease of maintenance."
- Nobuyuki Nagaoka
Mechanical Design
A zoom lens contains more moving parts than a prime lens, and they all must be designed and built for performance and durability. One of the Mechanical Design team’s best-known innovations on the RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM is the Dual Nano USM-driven electronic floating focusing lens system, which has overlapping floating and focus lens drive ranges that reduce weight and improve image quality.
However, they also were behind other new and improved structures that enabled the lens to work seamlessly.
This includes:
- A new ball-holding structure that holds and stabilises the position of the zoom lens group when it moves, contributing to better optical performance.
- A powerful new actuator to responsively control the image stabilisation lens groups.
Think of their work whenever: You’re immersed in the feeling of operating the lens
The mechanical designers were also responsible for smooth zooming and the feeling of each button press.
4. Electronics and firmware design
4. Electronics and firmware design: Precise control algorithms for seamless performance
"The electronics/firmware design process takes the specifications created by the optical and mechanical design teams and incorporates them into a control algorithm to maximise performance. There was the pressure that performance could not be ensured if we were not able to do this.
There were many new optical and mechanical factors, but we worked together as a team to create a product that would deliver the highest performance."
- Yumi Toyoda
Electronics/ Firmware Design
The complex structures and parts that make up a lens need instructions to know when, where, and how much to move, and that’s where control algorithms come in.
The electronics/firmware design team’s precise algorithms improved AF and subject tracking performance even during high-speed continuous shooting, as well as Coordinated Control IS performance during handheld shooting.
Think of their work whenever: You’re amazed by the accurate and intelligent AF and subject tracking
The “brains” behind focusing lens movement are the control algorithms. The brains behind the algorithms are the electronics/firmware design team.
Learn more about the AF system in:
Canon Technology Explainer: What is Dual Pixel CMOS AF?
5. Design: Meticulous attention to detail with users in mind
"We worked hard to provide solid ease-of-use and operability that inherits our past achievements and trust while being a new RF mount large aperture telephoto L zoom lens.
I believe the design pursues the beauty of subtraction and will be loved by users for a long time to come."
- Masaaki Igarashi
Design
From ensuring ideal balance with the camera, to the shape and design of the zoom and control rings, the design team paid meticulous attention to ergonomics, ease of use, and operability. Weight balance was also considered to ensure better comfort and stability during handheld and monopod shooting.
The position of the tripod mount ring puts the centre of gravity closer to the user’s hands when shooting with a monopod.
Think of their work whenever: You realise that the lens button you need is right under your fingertips
Easily accessibility and handling don’t just feel good, they help you to respond faster so that you get good shots of those fleeting moments.
6. Manufacturing technology: Bringing the design to life
"The Utsunomiya Plant, where the RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM is manufactured, is one of Canon’s most technologically advanced lens production facilities. It also has one of the most skilled workforces.
We focused on simplifying processes, component shapes, and even the manufacturing line to reliably produce high-quality products."
- Ken Uraba
Manufacturing Technology
From high-precision processing of lenses and materials to meet specifications, to ensuring a stable supply of parts, the expertise of the manufacturing technology team was the crucial final step that brought the carefully engineered RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM to life.
Think of their work whenever: You see the lens
The manufacturing technology team is a huge reason why the lens doesn’t exist only on paper or as a prototype despite its demanding specifications.
7. Teamwork: The surprisingly positive impact of COVID-19
7. Teamwork: The surprisingly positive impact of COVID-19
As we’ve seen above, developing a lens requires close collaboration between different departments, each with a different area of expertise. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the development environment drastically, but the impact on teamwork was, surprisingly, positive.
“Previously it was challenging to coordinate our schedules so that all development members could gather in the conference room each time we had a meeting,” said Makoto Hayakawa, Chief of Development and Mechanical Design. COVID-19 encouraged online communication, which allowed team members to communicate immediately when issues arose. “I felt that it became easier to work and that each member worked on development with a sense of unity.”
The RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens developers. From left:
- Yuriyo Asami, Product Planning
- Masato Katayose, Optical Design
- Nobuyuki Nagaoka, Mechanical Design
- Makoto Hayakawa, Chief of Development/Mechanical Design
- Yumi Toyoda, Electronics/ Firmware Design
- Masaaki Igarashi, Design
- Ken Uraba, Manufacturing Technology
You may also be interested in:
Why Is a Super Telephoto Lens Necessary for Sports Photography?
More developers' stories for past products in:
Shaving 1000g Off the Big White Lenses: As Told by Canon's Developers
The Little-Known History of Canon’s f/2.8L and f/4L Zoom Lenses
