Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM

After years of carrying heavy 500mm primes, the Canon RF 100-500mm has been a revelation. At 1.37kg, it's genuinely handheld-friendly, yet the image quality competes with lenses twice its weight and price.

The zoom range is incredibly practical for wildlife—I can frame a distant raptor at 500mm, then quickly zoom out to 100mm when a curious robin lands nearby. This flexibility means fewer missed opportunities.

Sharpness is excellent throughout the range, with peak performance around f/8. Yes, f/7.1 at 500mm is slower than a prime, but the 5-stop IS and the R5's excellent high ISO capability more than compensate in most conditions.

The lens handles beautifully, with smooth zoom action and fast, quiet autofocus. The 77mm filter thread keeps filter costs reasonable.

My only real complaint is that it's slightly soft in the extreme corners at 500mm wide open—but for wildlife photography where the subject is typically centered, this is rarely an issue.