Canon, Give Us the Wildlife Edition
On my recent safari in Africa, one lens dominated my shooting: the Canon RF100–300mm f/2.8L IS USM. Paired with the R1, it was nothing short of amazing as always. Looking back, around 90% of my images came from that setup—sometimes bare, sometimes with the 1.4x converter attached.
In those early mornings when the light was soft but scarce, I shot it wide open without the converter, pulling in every detail of the waking bush. By mid-morning, the 1.4x was on, stretching the lens to 140–420mm. The flexibility was unmatched. But here’s the catch: swapping the converter mid-safari isn’t always practical—especially when a cheetah slips into the thicket or a pride of lions suddenly shifts.
That’s why I have one bold wish for Canon: a Wildlife Edition of the RF100–300mm with a built-in 1.4x converter.
It wouldn’t be a new idea. The EF200–400mm with its integrated extender was once considered the ultimate safari lens. It wasn’t as razor-sharp as a 400mm f/2.8 prime, but the convenience was king. I still own mine—too heavy by today’s standards, and mostly a relic now—but it set the bar for what a true wildlife lens should be.
The RF100–300mm is already a masterpiece: stunning sharpness, versatile zoom, 5.5-stop stabilization, and lightning autofocus. With a built-in converter, it could become the definitive wildlife lens of this generation—modern tech meeting the spirit of the EF200–400mm. Yes, it would add weight. But for serious field use, the trade-off is worth it.
This lens is also the reason I never left Canon for Sony. Don’t get me wrong—the Sony A1 II with the new Sigma 300–600mm f/4 is phenomenal, especially for birds. But when it came to versatility and handling, the R1 with the 100–300mm was glued to my hands for almost every shot.
So Canon—when you’re listening, and taking my great advice for free—don’t stop at the Wildlife Edition. Give us an Canon R1X too. Trade a slightly slower burst speed (say, 30 fps instead of 40) for higher resolution—at least 36 megapixels—and you’d make me, and thousands of other wildlife shooters, very happy. Back in a time far, far away (but still in this galaxy), Canon used to split the 1-series: a fast sports body, and a high-resolution body for studio work. You’ve done it before. You can do it again.
Canon, the ball’s in your court. Weather-sealed, rugged, ready for the wild—that’s the future we’re waiting for.
Fellow photographers—would you carry the extra load for a built-in extender? Would you welcome an R1X? I know I would.