Best low-light lenses for the Canon EOS R100
17 low-light lenses that fit the Canon EOS R100 (Canon RF mount) — fast apertures (f/1.8 and brighter) for dim conditions. Sorted brightest-aperture first; every spec from the manufacturer's catalog.
Start with the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM. At f/1.2 it is the brightest of the 17 low-light Canon RF lenses that fit the Canon EOS R100 — the full comparison is below.
It is a full-frame lens. It fits and shoots at full resolution, and the glass often carries over if you move to a full-frame body later — but for the same framing it is larger, heavier and dearer than a lens built for this sensor. The brightest APS-C option here is Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary at f/1.4.
Check the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM price on Amazon →
One limit of this table: it lists only Canon RF lenses that mount natively on the Canon EOS R100 — lenses fitted through an adapter are not included here. See which mounts adapt to which.
What these focal lengths actually give you on the Canon EOS R100
The Canon EOS R100 has an APS-C sensor, so it sees a 1.6× crop of what each lens projects (Canon's APS-C is 1.6×, not the 1.5× used by Sony, Nikon and Fujifilm). Every focal length below therefore frames 1.6× tighter than its marked number. A 50mm on the Canon EOS R100 frames like 80mm, not the "normal" view its marked number implies.
| Lens | Marked | Frames like, on the Canon EOS R100 |
|---|---|---|
| Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM | 45mm | 72mm |
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM | 50mm | 80mm |
| Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM | 85mm | 136mm |
| Canon RF 14mm f/1.4 L VCM | 14mm | 22mm |
| Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | 16mm | 26mm |
| Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM | 20mm | 32mm |
| Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | 23mm | 37mm |
| Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM | 24mm | 38mm |
| Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | 30mm | 48mm |
| Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM | 35mm | 56mm |
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.4 L VCM | 50mm | 80mm |
| Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | 56mm | 90mm |
| Canon RF 85mm f/1.4 L VCM | 85mm | 136mm |
| Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art | 17-40mm | 27–64mm |
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM | 50mm | 80mm |
| Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM | 135mm | 216mm |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM | 28-70mm | 45–112mm |
Weight & weather sealing on the Canon EOS R100
On long approaches the decision is often made by weight, not aperture. Published weights for 17 of the 17 lenses above:
| Lens | Weight | Weather sealing |
|---|---|---|
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM | 160g | None claimed |
| Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | 280g | Mount gasket only |
| Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | 285g | Mount gasket only (Sigma publishes 285g for the RF mount (265g E / 275g X) — RF figure used) |
| Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | 345g | Mount gasket only |
| Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM | 346g | Not verified (weight from the Canon RF lens-mount list table; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | 415g | Mount gasket only |
| Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM | 515g | Weather-sealed |
| Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM | 519g | Not verified (weight from the Canon RF lens-mount list table; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM | 555g | Weather-sealed |
| Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art | 560g | Weather-sealed |
| Canon RF 14mm f/1.4 L VCM | 578g | Weather-sealed |
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.4 L VCM | 580g | Weather-sealed |
| Canon RF 85mm f/1.4 L VCM | 636g | Weather-sealed |
| Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM | 935g | Weather-sealed |
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM | 950g | Weather-sealed |
| Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM | 1195g | Weather-sealed |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM | 1430g | Weather-sealed |
Packing light? The lightest here is the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM at 160g. The lightest weather-sealed option is the Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM at 515g.
Complete the kit for the Canon EOS R100
- The Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM takes 67mm front filters. One 67mm set (polariser, ND) also fits every other 67mm lens you add later — see which ones. 67mm filters on Amazon →
- Batteries, cards, a strap and a bag are specific to the Canon EOS R100 rather than to the lens. Canon EOS R100 accessories on Amazon →
FAQ
What is the best low-light lens for the Canon EOS R100?
Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM (45mm f/1.2) is the standout low-light option that fits the Canon EOS R100. 17 low-light Canon RF lenses fit in total — compare them below.
Do these low-light lenses fit the Canon EOS R100?
Yes — every lens here is a Canon RF mount lens, so it fits the Canon EOS R100 and covers its APS-C sensor.
What is the lightest low-light lens for the Canon EOS R100?
The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM at 160g (manufacturer-published weight). The lightest weather-sealed option is the Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM at 515g. Weights for 17 of the 17 lenses on this page are in the weight table above.
Already own the Canon EOS R100, shopping for a spare or an upgrade? Canon EOS R100 on Amazon →
All lenses for the Canon EOS R100 · the same use across mounts: Low-light lenses for Canon RF · all cameras