Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs Sony - FE 50mm f/1.4 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 50mm f/1.4 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1530 g | 516 g |
| Optical stabilization | true | false |
| Min focal | 100 mm | 50 mm |
| Max focal | 500 mm | 50 mm |
Between the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM and FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM comes out ahead in optical stabilization / min focal, while the FE 50mm f/1.4 GM wins on weight. Overall, the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM scores 74.1 and the FE 50mm f/1.4 GM scores 69.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM edges ahead on the Mars Score (74.1 vs 69.5), but the 4.6-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM if you care most about optical stabilization / min focal. The biggest gaps in its favor are optical stabilization, min focal, max focal. The single most decisive one: Has Optical stabilization.
Pick the FE 50mm f/1.4 GM if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. Its strongest claims are weight. The single most decisive one: Weight — 1014.00 g less. 516 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 50mm f/1.4 GM?
Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM leads the current Mars Score by 4.6 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 min mm, focal max mm.
Choose Sony - FE 50mm f/1.4 GM if…
Sony - FE 50mm f/1.4 GM has the measurable edge on weight g.
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.
- ▲Min focal: 100 (vs 50).
- ▲Max focal: 500 (vs 50).
Why Sony - FE 50mm f/1.4 GM wins
- ▲Weight — 1014.00 g less. 516 vs 1530.
Spec comparison
Optics
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Sony - FE 50mm f/1.4 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Min focal | 100 mmlead | 50 mm |
| Max focal | 500 mmlead | 50 mm |
| Max aperture | f/4.5 | f/1.4 |
| Min aperture | f/51 | f/16 |
Build
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Sony - FE 50mm f/1.4 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1530 g | 516 glead |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Optical stabilizationⓘ | truelead | false |
Mount
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Sony - FE 50mm f/1.4 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Lens mount | Canon RFlead | Sony E |