Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM
Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1530 g | 950 g |
| Optical stabilization | true | false |
| Max focal | 500 mm | 135 mm |
| Min focal | 100 mm | 135 mm |
Between the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM and FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM comes out ahead in optical stabilization / max focal, while the FE 135mm f/1.8 GM wins on weight / min focal. Overall, the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM scores 74.1 and the FE 135mm f/1.8 GM scores 74.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (74.1 vs 74.3). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM if you care most about optical stabilization / max focal. The biggest gaps in its favor are optical stabilization, max focal. The single most decisive one: Has Optical stabilization.
Pick the FE 135mm f/1.8 GM if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. Its strongest claims are weight, min focal. The single most decisive one: Weight — 580.00 g less. 950 vs 1530.
Both ship with comparable weather sealed, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM or Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM?
Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM leads the current Mars Score by 0.2 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare min focal, max focal, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM if…
Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM has the measurable edge on has stabilization, focal max mm.
Choose Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM if…
Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM has the measurable edge on weight g, focal min mm.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM wins
- ▲Has Optical stabilization.
- ▲Max focal: 500 (vs 135).
Why Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM wins
- ▲Weight — 580.00 g less. 950 vs 1530.
- ▲Min focal: 135 (vs 100).
Spec comparison
Optics
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Min focal | 100 mm | 135 mmlead |
| Max focal | 500 mmlead | 135 mm |
| Max aperture | f/4.5 | f/1.8 |
| Min aperture | f/51 | f/22 |
Build
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1530 g | 950 glead |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Optical stabilizationⓘ | truelead | false |
Mount
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Lens mount | Canon RFlead | Sony E |