Best Landscape Telephoto Lens

I am currently planning my upgrade towards the RF mount (R6) and wanted to get some opinions on the telephoto lens. Right now, I am thinking of the following:

- RF 70-200mm f/4 (super love the compact size, weather sealing a good bonus, very expensive, not a lot of reach)

- RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8.0 (there is a lot of extra reach, bigger and heavier, affordable)

- EF 70-200mm f/4.0 Non-IS (not exactly compact, has weather sealing, very affordable, compatible with my legacy DSLR's but requires an adapter to the R6)

The use will exclusively be for telephoto landscape images. I have a 135 2.0 for outdoor portraits, and do not really shoot sports, wildlife and birds as I am a landscape and travel photographer.

Any thoughts or perhaps other options that I may have missed? Thanks!

My primary landscape lenses are 8mm to 55mm.  I do use my original Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L for landscapes when the opportunity arises.  A couple of times a year I will use my 300/2.8 L.  So, I don't think a longer lens will be all that necessary.

The 70-200 is extremely sharp from 70 to 135mm, and still very good at 200mm.  For landscapes you should be able to stop down to f8 which will help a lot.  I know it is not as light as the RF, but it is still very light.  If you buy used it is an incredible bargain.  It would leave money for another lens!

This is the only zoom lens that I have and it is handy.  However, since you already have the awesome 135/2, I just wanted to mention the Canon EF 200mm f2.8 L.  Likely as sharp, or sharper, as the bigger super expensive RF 70-200/2.8 L, and again, very light and compact.

Many thanks everyone for the responses, your insights and time are much appreciated and are very helpful .

I'll digest your feedback some more but I have picked up some additional considerations that weren't on the original menu. This would have been a lot easier if I was filthy rich (buy em all) but as with any middle class hobbyist photographer who can only carry a certain amount of gear while going on shoots...I need to prioritize.

Thanks again and happy shooting!

Thanks CameraCarl for the suggestion on the 70-300mm, didn't think  of that. Will look into it as I finalize my plans.

Kabalyero wrote:

Thanks CameraCarl for the suggestion on the 70-300mm, didn't think of that. Will look into it as I finalize my plans.

I agree with the EF 70-300L but the newest EF 70-300 II NanoUSM is a nice lens for about $550 new.  I have been happy with the images from it on my R6

Kabalyero wrote:

Thanks CameraCarl for the suggestion on the 70-300mm, didn't think of that. Will look into it as I finalize my plans.

I used the EF70-300 for one outing, and it was on Craigs list the next day.
The problem was the size and WEIGHT it was to damn heavy for a long walk on a hot day I had no problem with the EF 70-300 L IQ wise.

I now use the RF24-240, it also works great with the RF14-35/EF 16-35.

The RF24-240 is a very good lens 122mm & 750g @ $799

The E70-300 + adapter is 168mm & 1150g @ $1349

Thank you Dave for sharing your insights on the lens during your usage, this is well noted and will be considered when I make my decision in the future.

The glass that Canon is coming out with recently are all good...if only I could catch them all. Alas, there are other priorities for my middle class salary so I need to prioritize and I guess that makes the game more interesting.

Happy shooting bro! Keep safe!