Today, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens, answering calls from photojournalists and professional level customers for a modern 300mm f/2.8 equivalent lens.

I will be testing this new lens next week and have more to say about it on my blog soon. The retail price has not yet been announced in Australia, but I expect it to be well north of AUD 14,000 based on its USD MSRP of $9,450.

For decades, the 300mm f/2.8 telephoto lens has been an industry standard for photojournalists, professionals, and aspiring enthusiast photographers due to its outstanding image quality, excellent speed for indoor shooting, and relatively lightweight for hand-holding. With the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM, Canon delivers the flexibility of a zoom lens design with the truly outstanding quality of a 300mm f/2.8 L-series telephoto lens. Exceeding the reach and potential of traditional 70-200mm lenses and adding zoom flexibility to its Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS predecessor, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens brings new value to customers with the following features:

Wide Focal Range — 100-300mm range

Extended Zoom — Optional RF1.4x and 2x extenders are supported with this lens, enabling a zoom range of up to 600mm

Spectacular Image Quality — f/2.8 constant wide aperture; Fluorite Aspherical and UD-glass design

Reliable Stabilization — Up to 5.5 stops correction with in-lens Optical Image Stabilization and up to 6.0 stops correction with in-body coordinated Image Stabilization (CIPA standard)

Weather and Dust Resistant — Durable in various environmental conditions

Compact and Lightweight Design — Despite capabilities to zoom over 300mm, this lens is unusually lightweight, just barely heavier than the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II

Earlier today, I wrapped up my 2023 Svalbard Spring light expedition up here in the high Arctic. An expedition that had one of the most incredible Polar Bear encounters of any trip I have done, along with many Walrus on ice in superb light and conditions and absolutely stunning landscapes draped in Winter armour. Delighted clients below after our Polar Bear shoot. More to come soon, including a full trip report! For now, I have a few days travel to get back home to Australia.

We are soon departing Longyearbyen on our sold-out 2023 Svalbard Spring Light expedition. We are hoping for some incredible wildlife encounters and landscapes bathed in soft Arctic light. I will be offline from today, the 7th of April, until our return on the 15th of April. If you are contacting me during this time, please be patient, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

I have just published Episode #69 of my Wild Nature Photography Podcast. In this episode, I discuss the I.T Infrastructure and hardware I use for editing and processing my photography and the storage and backup strategy I am presently employing to ensure fast access to my images when editing and processing and protection in the case of hardware failure. Please remember that my selections are based on my needs and requirements and may differ from yours. 

The photograph of the month for April 2023 comes from my recent winter expedition to the Steppe region of Mongolia to find and photograph the stunningly beautiful Pallas Cat. 2023 was a fantastic year for snow conditions and Pallas Cats in Mongolia, and this photograph is one of my favourites from the year so far. With the cat coming directly toward the camera with one paw slightly raised, suggesting movement, and the cat’s gaze firmly fixed on my position, there is a perfect symmetry to the shot with the cat centred in the frame. The soft grasses in the background help give environmental context, while the fresh snow in front of the cat keeps the scene clean and uncluttered. The photograph was taken with the Canon EOS R3 with the Canon RF 600mm f4L IS lens. It was a deliberate creative decision to send the background grasses soft with a shallow depth of field to help isolate the cat from the background.

I will guide a small group of photographers again next January and July to Mongolia to photograph this magnificent wild cat. Only a few places are now available before both trips are sold out. Please contact me to register your interest or for additional information.