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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
Buy
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Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Giovanni Ciceri

sent on January 13, 2026

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

Cons: 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. 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 my opinion almost always useless for naturalistic. In addition, the image quality is almost identical. At open apertures it is sharp and the blur is really gorgeous. This lens is more than 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 August 04, 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 March 20, 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 December 14, 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 December 21, 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 »

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

Hunter and prey

by Marcello Calandrini
114 comments, 30593 views [editors pick]

Dances on the summer solstice

by Maurizio Berni
69 comments, 3041 views [editors pick]

HI RES 3.8 MP

Tender Killers

by Marcello Calandrini
56 comments, 25168 views [editors pick]

Sea jays in love

by Maurizio Berni
57 comments, 3961 views [editors pick]

HI RES 3.8 MP

Winter dream

by Fabio Gnoni
71 comments, 9092 views [editors pick]

Shhhhhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmm!

by Prof Chaos
85 comments, 16540 views [editors pick]

Movement ... slow

by Maurizio Berni
63 comments, 4344 views

HI RES 3.6 MP

Very very arrabiata

by Mancini Massimo
95 comments, 9887 views

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The conductor

by Fingolfin75
82 comments, 6748 views

HI RES 3.8 MP

White Tailed Eagle

by Robertodp
63 comments, 7516 views

Nuthatch (Sitta European)

by Mancini Massimo
100 comments, 5089 views

Blackcap female

by Giordano52
87 comments, 9163 views

HI RES 4.2 MP

The end of the knight ......

by Nicola Vender Wondo
79 comments, 9281 views

Juv Sparrowhawk

by Prof Chaos
80 comments, 12221 views

Good March 8

by Mancini Massimo
69 comments, 5430 views

Squacco heron

by Loris Polidori
59 comments, 1779 views

Coirosso fireplace sweep

by Carlo Tavallini
58 comments, 2428 views

HI RES 10.7 MP

Hawk in flight

by Claudio Cortesi
113 comments, 8018 views

White Tailed Eagle

by Robertodp
34 comments, 5431 views

New Life, Green Woodpecker.

by Maurizio Berni
43 comments, 3368 views

HI RES 3.8 MP

Kingfisher

by Eos1
47 comments, 3538 views

Cuckoo, cleaning in the rain

by Carlo Tavallini
45 comments, 2430 views

HI RES 8.2 MP

Svalbard

by Photoexplorer
32 comments, 8126 views

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

by Mancini Massimo
51 comments, 3866 views

Good Morning "Bearded Reedling"

by Fabio Gnoni
68 comments, 7108 views

Senior Red Woodpeckers

by Carlo Tavallini
45 comments, 2607 views

HI RES 6.0 MP

M Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

by Mancini Massimo
60 comments, 4209 views

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

by Mancini Massimo
56 comments, 3688 views

When there's love, it's a whole different story

by Maurizio Berni
34 comments, 1218 views

HI RES 3.8 MP

The Knight

by Eos1
36 comments, 2549 views

Saltimpalo - European Stonechat (f)

by Carlo Tavallini
41 comments, 2087 views

HI RES 10.7 MP

Clarifications in the family

by Carlo Tavallini
42 comments, 1588 views

HI RES 10.7 MP

Codirossone (Monticila saxatilis)

by Mancini Massimo
60 comments, 3748 views

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Fanello under drizzle

by Carlo Tavallini
38 comments, 2001 views

HI RES 16.7 MP

Jay marine

by Mariofoto
72 comments, 3381 views

Cormorant 2

by Prof Chaos
35 comments, 5763 views

F Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

by Mancini Massimo
65 comments, 3751 views

The sample photos are selected automatically between all photos posted by JuzaPhoto members, using the camera and the lens selected in the techs. If you find evident errors (e.g. photos taken with cameras and lenses that are not available yet), you can contribute to improve the page by sending a private message to the user that has entered incorrect values in the photo caption.

Reviews » Lenses » Lenses Canon » Canon EF 500mm f/4.5 L USM

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

Buy

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Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

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