Canon EF 500mm f/4.5 L USM : Specifications and Opinions

Canon EF 500mm f/4.5 L USM

The Canon EF 500mm f/4.5 L USM is a supertele lens for FF and APS-C, manufactured from 1992 to 1999 (discontinued). The focus is done by Ultrasonic AF Motor (Ring-USM), it does not have image stabilization. The average price was 3000 €;

21 users have given it an average vote of 9.0 out of 10.

MOUNT

This lens is available with the following mounts:

Canon EF: this lens is compatible with reflex fullframe and APS-C Canon EF.

Specifications
Focal lenght	500 mm
Angle of view	5°
Format	FF, APS-C
Max. aperture	f/4.5
Aperture blades	9
Lenses/Groups	8 elements in 7 groups
Min. focus distance	5.00 meters
Reproduction ratio	0.11x
Features
Stabilization	No
Focus	Ultrasonic AF Motor (Ring-USM)
Internal Focus	Yes
Built and notes
Tripod ring	Yes
Extenders	Yes
Filters	48 mm
Lens hood	Yes, supplied
Weather sealing	No
Weight	3000 g
Dimensions	130 x 390 mm
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Reviews

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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Giovanni Ciceri

sent on 13 Gennaio 2026

Pros: Build quality, sharpness, colors, AF, weight (I use it completely handheld), extender compatible

Cons: AF in very dark situations. Weight lens hood, the question of spare parts if it breaks

Opinion: I state that I have been using it for 2 years, purchased by a user here on the forum. The images are gorgeous, the autofocus is fast even with extenders. On 5dsr the autofocus is very fast, I'm also using it with r6 Mark 2 and adapter and it's a rocket. Only in certain conditions, at first light, does the autofocus struggle to focus. Without a lens hood you can use it freehand (depending on the arms you have), I spend my days up and down the mountains with it. Which is impossible for the series 1 (which I have had the opportunity to try several times) which reaches almost 4kg for the stabilizer. In addition, the image quality is not very different. At open apertures it is sharp and the blur is really gorgeous. This lens is 30 years old and is even sharper, brighter and faster than many zooms used today in photographic hunting, If you have a low budget and need mm for your photos look for one! Oh and as for the lack of spare parts: has one of these guys ever really broken?

Wildlifeph

sent on 04 Agosto 2025

Pros: Not excessive weight when compared to other 500 more recent ones; f/4.5; Fast autofocus

Cons: It is not stabilized; bulky in use and transport

Opinion: Dated lens, but it has its reason: lighter than the stabilized models, it loses only half an aperture, for those who do photographic hunting the stabilizer is of little use. He accepts multipliers and in the middle he loses almost nothing by closing 1 stop. Used with 2x on FF it is better than smooth on APSC. With teleconverters it loses a little bit in AF speed, but it is still more than decent. If it is in good condition it is worth it. It won't be super sharp like the 500 f/4 IS II, but it defends itself well. And compared to RF zooms, this one has stratospheric color and light rendition.

Steeelo86

sent on 20 Marzo 2025

Pros: Relatively low weight (apart from the lens hood) Top build quality: fast and accurate AF Also remarkable on R series (R3, R7 and R6)

Cons: AF that if it breaks it is no longer repairable Lens hood that is a boulder Slightly soft and less crunchy than newly designed RF lenses

Opinion: Bought used here on juza this immortal lens After more than 30 years from its construction it still manages to churn out fantastic photos I'm using it on R bodies (R3 R7 and R6) and it behaves very well both in terms of AF and detail It is not as detailed as RF lenses but it can certainly have its say even in 2025 Relatively low weight that for a few shots also allows you to use it handheld Not having the work need of such a lens I have never gone so far as to buy one, but having found a perfect specimen both externally and internally at a modest price I decided to buy it Used for some test shots both on the ski slope and for fauna I think I made a deal. Hopefully nothing breaks as it is no longer repairable at official Canon. Also tried with 1.4x III and I must say that for close subjects it loses almost nothing, if you go to infinity it kneads a bit. If you want to treat yourself to a professional super telephoto at a modest price, I recommend it!!

Andre-3-89

sent on 14 Dicembre 2021

Pros: Weight (compared to stabilized models), overall quality, solid construction, incredibly nice to have.

Cons: Weight (in general terms), not stabilized, a bit dated and therefore softer than younger siblings

Opinion: I bought it as the first canvas from a dear friend, mounted on the 5D3 (let's talk about 2021) and then on the 1Dx mk ii (always in 2021) and I went to take naturalistic photos ... Well, what can I say, heavy, bulky, slow to swing because the hood is beautiful tough and not stabilized, but despite all this, the joy of having it with me in some workshops I have done is incomparable. I broke my back in the forest chasing deer, made 4k video of the ibex on the mountains (climbing the wall, kit in the backpack) and split the hair of the foxes on the meadows ... all this with the awareness of having with me a solid slightly nostalgic friend. I changed it with a 300 f2.8 Is, possibly to be multiplied, much lighter and many more recent, but sometimes I still miss the somewhat retro mode of returning current and expendable files in any circumstance. True that he is 20 years old on his back, but if you are lucky enough to find one put well at an acceptable price I would take it home, even if only to know to have it back there with me. Small note: Moving from 5Dmk3 (with BG) to 1D mk iii and 1Dx mk ii the AF has come back to life again.

Gazebo

sent on 21 Dicembre 2018

Pros: To be a 500mm is quite light weight, weighs less than the newer, very fast AF, excellent image quality and good resistance to flare

Cons: It is not stabilized, huge and heavy lens hood, we hope that there are no problems, because of spare parts repairs are very unlikely

Opinion: I found it used for about a month at a very good price, it was love at first sight, the first joy was discovering that I can shoot freehand with excellent results, the handle of transport helps not little in the movements, I have not yet managed to post photos Because of the fog and the various commitments, but as soon as possible I will. I conclude by saying that it is very good even with the multiplier 1.4 x, in short I recommend it to those who can not afford the new. Rated 9.5.

There are 7 more reviews. Show all »

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Canon EF 500mm f/4.5 L USM : Specifications and Opinions

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Reviews

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Photos taken with Canon EF 500mm f/4.5 L USM