Canon SLY500 500-1000mm
The constant f/8 aperture across a 500-1000mm zoom range, combined with a 2X teleconverter, delivers extreme reach for distant subjects in a relatively lightweight 1320g full-metal body. Its manual focus design and dust-resistant construction offer precise control and durability at a budget-friendly price point. This lens is best for hobbyist wildlife and astrophotography shooters using Canon DSLRs who need massive magnification without the cost of professional super-telephoto glass.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong stabilization (81th percentile) 81th
- Strong versatility (73th percentile) 73th
Cons
- Below average optical (5th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (6th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)
- Below average build (33th percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews — so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q1 202460/100
Mixed reviews: one buyer praises value and manual focus learning, another reports a lens defect, and a third has an adapter compatibility issue.
- Excellent value for price compared to expensive alternatives; teaches manual lens use.
- White blur/defect in center of lens, making lens unusable for wildlife photography.
- Included adapter does not fit buyer's camera, requiring assistance.
- Q3 202380/100
Buyers praised value and image quality for the price, but noted manual focus challenges and compatibility issues.
- Great value for the price, delivering excellent results for night and moon photography.
- Manual focus requires practice; blurry photos often due to user error, not lens defect.
- Incompatible with some cameras, leading to returns; specific compatibility check needed.
- Positive seller experience; easy returns and willingness to buy again.
- Q1 202233/100
Buyers reported usability issues with the lens not being recognized by the camera, manual focus shake, and loose adapter attachment.
- Camera does not recognize lens; must use manual mode, no auto functionality.
- Manual focus causes camera shake unless using a solid tripod.
- Adapter and lens do not fit tightly together, causing setup difficulty.
- After company support, learning manual settings enabled picture capture.
Based on 22 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 500 |
| Focal Length Max | 1000 |
| Elements | 4 |
| Groups | 4 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Coating | multi-coated |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/8 |
| Min Aperture | 8 |
| Constant | Yes |
Build
| Mount | Canon RF |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 1.1 kg / 2.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 500 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Canon SLY500 500-1000mm | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Nikon Nikkor 2166 | Sony E SELP1650 | Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime | Panasonic LUMIX G Vario H-FS12060 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 500-1000mm | 18-300mm | 55-200mm | 16-50mm | 50mm | 12-60mm |
| Max Aperture | f/8 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/3.5 | f/1.8 | 22 |
| Mount | Canon RF | Fuji X | Nikon F | Sony E | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | false | false | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 1080 | 92 | 255 | 116 | 369 | 210 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor | Silent Wave Motor | Stepping motor | STM | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | telephoto | zoom | telephoto | zoom | Wide-Angle | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon SLY500 500-1000mm | 14.6 | 60.1 | 32.9 | 50.9 | 4.7 | 62 | 5.5 | 72.9 | 62.1 | 81.1 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.2 | 75.5 | 96.4 | 87.8 | 74.3 | 77.5 | 30.3 | 99.2 | 83.1 | 81.1 |
| Nikon Nikkor 2166 Compare | 54.9 | 70.3 | 76.8 | 81.2 | 66.4 | 71.8 | 91.7 | 85.3 | 83.1 | 92.5 |
| Sony E SELP1650 Compare | 86.6 | 75.5 | 93.6 | 35.1 | 64.4 | 77.5 | 63.6 | 83.5 | 74.1 | 92.5 |
| Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime Compare | 86.6 | 96.1 | 62.8 | 95.7 | 38.6 | 93 | 86.1 | 34.1 | 50.2 | 81.1 |
| Panasonic LUMIX G Vario H-FS12060 Compare | 54.9 | 15.8 | 89.8 | 81.2 | 73.1 | 24.5 | 91.7 | 93.3 | 87.9 | 96.3 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Amazon.ca 1 offers From CA$204
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
