Absolutely happy with my RF800. I use it primarily for plane spotting around airports, but I tried some birds in flight as well. Didn't realize how quick birds can fly, have to learn a lot yet. Enjoyed your video Jan. Keep 'em comin'.
I have the 800mm Rf and love it. I use it to shoot Eagles in the wild and have gotten some incredible shots that rival my 100-400ii l lens. The more I use it, the better I get.
Curiosity got the best of me so I got the 600mm f/11 lens. I’ve been involved with photography for fifty years, but never used a lens longer than 200mm. I was surprised at the sharpness of the lens. I think catching birds in flight with the 600mm is a bit easier than than 800. For the money and the practicality I have no complaints. Also I learned to appreciate the skills of bird photographers very quickly.
Great video man! I've been pretty happy with the 800 overall, and I probably would have picked up the 600 too, if I didn't already have the 100-500. I get a fair bit of ugly or just naïve/ignorant comments about the 800 on my videos. Seems like a lot of people just like to be negative towards these lenses out of spite, or just to be negative in general, but I think they're great for what they are. Your images with them were really great! (But then, you also know what you're doing, and most importantly, how to edit) :P
Haters gonna hate! It's a pretty fun lens to have around with you for sure. Most people just read F11 and draw their own conclusions without ever looking into the let, let alone using one. Overall these lenses have quite surprised me! For sub 1k, the quality is nuts. I got the 100-500 as well now for a video. That's one sharp lens
Same here, ever since posting up my video of getting the RF 800 I've had such polarizing comments. So many people hate on this lens with never even using it while others like myself are excited that there's an affordable native RF glass for us wildlife shooters. Great video!
Great review of the two lenses Jan. Thanks. You said it correctly, sometimes the 600/4 is just too heavy for me for long distances. Don't get any younger either. Or the risk of polluting the 600/4 on the beach or close to the water from a low point of view is high. You just made the decision easier for me to put the 800mm F11 in the photo backpack. :-) For this price it is worth to buying. Sorry for my bad english!! Greetings from Switzerland!
Thanks Jan for another great comparison video. I really appreciate your style, allowing us to watch a real professional usage that can resonate with non-professionals to expand our skills and improve photos. Your previous video helped me decide on buying a R6 and I paired it with the 600mm just for fun and was amazed with the results. Even birds in flight turned out great, but as you say, there are some AF issues. Despite that, I had a lot of fun for $700, which I would never have if the tag was $10K for a prime. Thanks and keep publishing because your videos are worth more views...
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, for 700$ you basically cannot go wrong with these and will have a lot of fun! Make sure to hit the like button that helps to spread the video around :)
I have the RF 800 and have found it to be a great lens for plane spotting. And while you have to always be aware of its limitations, if you keep those in mind you can get some great shots.
I have been using the 800mm exclusively for 6 months...your review nailed it wrt my experience. I am a run and gun hiking bird photographer and consider it an essential piece of kit now...
Like you I laughed when they announced them but they seem pretty good. They are a great way to get new people into the RF mount. I can see lots of people who are just interested in photographing birds visiting their back yard feeders buying one of these.
I had a lot of fun with the lens. They're so light that you sometimes just grab them to walk around. I would never do that with my bigger lenses. I agree, that many people will be quite happy with them. Especially when usability is the key factor
I have the RF800 f/11 lens and the more I use it the more I like it. It as you've said can be a bit of hit and miss, but lately, I've been getting some really good results with flight shots as well as shots of birds perched or on the ground. I use my RF1.4X extender with my RF800 and I've been amazed at the quality of shots I've been able to capture. I can't afford the 600 f/4 lens, but I'm extremely happy with the results I'm getting from both the RF 100-500MM and RF800 lenses. I use the RF1.4X extender most of the time on the RF 100-500mm lens to give me the equivalent of 700mm with the flexibility to go down to 420mm. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the RF800mm lens for a walk-around lens. I've mounted an old L-bracket on the lens and I use it on my monopod with the Wimberley MH-100 Monogimbal head. It's great for added stability and taking the weight off your arms when waiting for a bird to fly from a perch. Having gone through your Master Class on editing images and having your Presets has made a dramatic difference to the quality of my images.
Great review and comparisons! I used to have a EF 400mm F5.6 but sold it last year to get the RF 800mm F11 and I love carrying it around for bird photography.
Probably the best review on this lens. I like that you focused on filed tests. Most reviewers spend too much time on lab tests. I think that most users who are buying this lens will shoot outdoors and not in the studio. Great explanation and comparison on why you might prefer the more expensive lenses. I was very curious to see some results with the teleconverter, which this video provided as well. Thanks for this video!
Thanks again mate for a wonderful few days, such a wonderful review of these lenses with so much valuable information. I am sure it will be extremely helpful for people considering purchasing these lenses. Cheers, Duade
Thanks Jan. Another great video. I watched Duade’s also and they were great too. I’ve been on the fence for a while about these lenses but I think this has persuaded me to grab the 800. I shoot an R5 with the EF 100-400 and it’s always a bit too short!
Thanks Jan for the time and effort you put in to producing these informative videos. I have the R6 and initially bought the 800mm f11 as there was no way I could ever afford an expensive prime- it has it’s limitations of course but I have been more than happy with the results and applaud canon for giving us a cheaper, good quality alternative. The 100-500 is next on the bucket list.
Thanks Jan, I’ve had the 800mm f11 now for 7 months, the R5 for 8 months, It was only three weeks ago that the Lens hood finally showed up thou I had ordered it with the lens so a bit of a back log on the lens hoods at present, I use if for Birding so same used case as you've shown. Loving the lens so far coming from a 7dmkII and Sigma 150-600mm sports lens. I found pretty much the same thing you have mentioned there, certainly had to back up a few times to get a bird in shot and also to get the minimum focus distance. That was a fast-learning curve. I've mangled some really creamy backgrounds with this now once you manage to get a decent ratio of camera to subject and subject to background, so looking good. Low light and handheld with the stabilisation works well thou a few misses at times as you mentioned. I have found birds in flight when the contract is low i.e. light bird on a light background a bit hit and miss but if I drop the exposure the camera acquires the bird and tracks it and I can then adjust the exposure back and it keeps tracking it. So a few tricks to learn. But overall happy with it, I've printed a fair few images from it now and all come up great sharpness wise in print. I original bought this because of the price as a step gap measure while saving for the 100-500mm but so far I really haven't found it wanting on to many occasions so will probably hold off on the 100-500 and see what the native RF 600 f4 looks like later in the year. But all up I've had it now for seven month and no regrets it’s not as weather sealed, but a micro fibre cloth over it in light rain and not an issue so far. Certainly, loving the reduced weight and hand held image stabilisation of the set up. The extra reach of the 800mm is great compared to the 150-600mm. All up really happy I got this one, when I did there were a lot of comments about you could only shoot in on a sunny day etc and no chance of getting a decent background etc, but I've shoot in dark rainforest environments and got clean backgrounds, so Im happy. Of cause a 600 f4 would always be welcome but the price difference well a little more saving to do and the learning for the 800mm won't go astray when changing to a 600mm f4 later. the 800mm being so light and so compact will make a great travel lens as well for anyone that flies (When we can again) and don’t want to travel with the larger lenses. So a family holiday with some added birding seams a lot more possible with this set up. Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like it has served you well. The 100-500 is a pretty good lens, too. Will be making a video about it soon. And I cannot wait for a 600/4 RF. That should be one sweet lens.
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I have had many Birding lenses. I have these 2 and was amazed at their performance. The 800 is harder to use close In because of the narrow field of view. Like you the keeper rate wasn’t as good as my 400 f5.5 or 100-400. That ok because I always shoot burst. For the price it is a no brainer. I love the 800 for shorebirds because of the reach. For the money if you aren’t getting paid for images these will look good after editing.
I have both lenses. Great buy. The 600 when I’ll be close. 800 for shorebirds or longer shots. I have shot with almost all the lenses from 400 prime to 150-600. These provide very good quality especially if you have a good noise reduction plugin. Stabilized lens and body makes lower shutter speeds OK for stationary birds.
Many thanks . Very nice review. The point about minimum focal distance for the 2 lens are spot on. Despite the F11 limitations ,I ended buying a used 600mm. It suited me because it's light (both for shooting handheld -actually developed tendinitis from using a heavier lens for birds in flight- and easier to carry around). Also the shorter minimum focus distance was more acceptable than the F11 800mm. Food for thought about using the 800 for shore birds. My 600mm is a pleasure to use when hiking/birding. If it's a sunny day it often wins out over using my heavier lens or the shorter reach rf100-400. Cheers
Hi Jan I enjoyed your Blog on these lenses I have the 800mm and also was frustrated by the inconsistency you made me feel much better when you also stated that you also had those inconsistency's I use it with a R6 and a R7 most of my problem's occur with the R7 Thanks For The Great Video
I am owning a R7 and a R3 and just bought the 800 F11 Lense. On the other hand i am still using my EF 100-400 mm and therefore I am quite happy with the setting. As I am taking pictures of birds (small ones and bigger ones) :-) my setup is the R3 with 800 mm and the R7 with the 100-400 with the crop factor of 1.6 fo me perfect.
I have had these lenses for some years beside my heavy gear. Two yers ago I tested 800m f11 against EF 400mm DO ll +2xext lll and I was amazed because 800mm stm was sharper. I repeated the test with similar results. After that I have read many rewiews of it and they confirm that 800mm f11 is really sharp and I have same experience with 600mm f11. Wih my R8 AF area box in the image is much larger making BIF photos easier. The same applies R6 markll
I just got the 600 and really enjoy it. I too was surprised at the sharpness. I also will get the 800, but it's currently not in stock in the USA. Great video comapison. Thsnks.
Really fantastic review of the RF 600/800mm Lenses! I liked hoe you compared the massive and expensive 600mm F4 lens. It's just so impressive how well you describe the various use cases for those like me trying to navigate the super telephoto options. For me, and my application, the 800mm F11 is going to work really well, and be easily more enjoyable, given my bushwalking ventures where the "big bertha" would be just too damned bulky. Thanks for the excellent review!
Great info, Jan! If you ever do a video about shooting BIF with R5/6 and RF100-500 mm could you also touch on what memory cards you use for stills. Thank you!
I will make a video about the 100-500 very soon. I have been using Sandisk CFexpress Extreme Pro 512 GB and some Sandisk Extreme Pro and Prograde SD cards
I find your videos so helpful - as well as an expert photographer you are a great teacher - I very much appreciate you sharing your expertise - it is helping me to improve my photography.
I own the RF 600mm F11 which I use with the R5. I'm a long time Canon user and recently sold off most of my EF based kit which included 5D3, 5D4, EF 70-200 F2.8 II, EF 16-35 F4 L IS, EF 50mmm F1.8, leaving me with an R5, an EF 100-400mm L IS II an EF 24-105mm F4 L IS, a Sigma 105 F2.8 Macro and a EOS-R control ring adapter. My plan was to migrate completely to Mirrorless but lack of availability of RF lenses caused a pause in the plan. To fill the void I decided to experiment with the RF 600mm lens as it was priced so favourably compared to other lenses and reviews said it produced good results. So far I've been pleased with the results but with a few caveats. I take a lot of bird photos and also commercial aviation photos and have found that it's so easy to hand hold given it's light weight, however you can't just throw a 600mm lens around and hope that image stabilisation will deal with impact of the extreme magnification. With a rapidly moving target I was getting too many misses. For my Aviation photos there were two issues to overcome. My own stability when trying to track a moving object at 600mm and the fact that the lens is noticeably slower to focus than my EF L series lenses. I fixed both of these by mounting the camera/lens on a tripod/gimbal mount and limited my photos to either slow moving/static images or for faster moving aircraft only taking shots where I was panning from side to side so I didn't require the lens to focus/refocus very quickly. Anything coming towards or away from me at speed frequently overwhelmed the ability of the lens to stay focused on the subject, increasing the failure rate. I subsequently found that the same characteristics were true of bird photography. Image quality is very very good for such an inexpensive lens, although lighting is now a major consideration due to the fixed aperture. During the winter (UK) months when light levels struggle a bit I've been pushing the ISO quite high at times but have been saved by the R5 which is very tolerant to higher ISO settings. All things considered, I'm pleased with the 600mm. Would the 800mm have been a better choice ? Well for the moment probably not for my circumstances but when RF lens availability improves and I swap my EF 100-400mm II for an RF 100-500 which I almost certainly will do at some point then perhaps I'll sell the 600 and buy the 800. For now I'm happy.
I agree with Dominic. I love the light weight and fabulous quality of the images. I have the lens hood for the 800mm. Terrific analysis regarding the more expensive lens. Thanks
What an interesting pair of lenses. Having used a 5d MkII for over a decade now, I really had no clue how good high ISO image quality (and AF tech and IS) have become, opening the possibility for lenses like this.
Absolutely, I really enjoy the R7 & RF600/11 along with all the EF glass from my older bodies. Also the new features that mirrorless brings such as low light focusing and IBIS. I got the 600 purely for fun and moon photography and it’s great
I had 5D MKII and loved it! I paid top dollar because I bought it right when it was released, but the in-body image quality was amazing and I wish I still had that camera! Not sure how well this lens will work with that body though? This is aimed Moore for the mirrorless bodies, which require far less light. Hopefully it works out?
Hi Jan! It took me some time, but I finally got your MasterClass! Love your videos, your explanations! My R5 is also setup as you recommended and i absolutely love it. Surely the MClass will be great ! Cannot wait to see it ! Cheers🙏
I have seen many reviews on the RF 600mm and 800mm f/11, this has to be the best and by far the most thorough to date. Great job, Jan! I have been told the RF 800mm f/11 is pretty sharp for what it is. I wasn't really sure at first, but you have proven it. I think other than rain forest shots, as long as you have enough light on bright days it is surprisingly sharp. If I were to get this lens, what I have in mind is to put it on a tripod and shoot BIF (mainly overhead eagles type shots). While you did mention BIF will be challenging, my thinking is to shoot it with the coming R5S in APS-C crop mode. Don't even think about the 2x teleconverter, f/22 is really pushing it. Just use the 1.4x. So, basically shooting at 1792mm wide open. Given the AF area is significantly reduced at f/11 and above, do you think it might help with the aiming by using a dot sight?
Thanks, glad to hear that! I think a tripod with these lenses is more hinderance than help. I wouldn't do any BIF with a converter on these. I would expect the R5s , if it comes out indeed, to be pretty slow. Overall the quality of the lenses was good considering it costs around 1k. BIF at such long focal lengths will always be a challenge. Not sure what's the best way to find the bird fast. Good hand - eye - coordination helps for sure.
@@jan_wegener Using a 800mm prime hand-held for BIF is insane in my opinion. The bird could get out of frame very easily. If the frame rate of the R5S is going to be slow in your estimation, then may be the R7 could work. At the end of the day is all about reach when it comes to overhead circling raptors. The good news is they are relatively slow and the tripod helps so much. I do that everyday. I think may be I can do it without the need of using a dot sight. I am using an APS-C body now with the Signa 150-600mm which makes it 960mm wide open. I think if I can manage 960mm, may be I can just about handle 1280mm (RF 800mm + the 1.6x crop factor of the R7 if you say TC is totally out of the question even for the 1.4x). But, the tripod is an absolute must.
@@Rascallucci I felt like it was much harder to follow on a tripod with that much length. Many tripod heads won't really let you turn fully overhead. What head are you using? Yes, you might not need a super high frame rate.
@@jan_wegener I am really surprised to hear that. I thought that's what most folks do, well over here they do, doesn't matter whether it is a 600mm f/4 with a 1.4x or 2x TC or a 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 or a 150-600mm f/5.6-6.3 or the RF 800mm f/11. The current head that I am using is a small fluid head (Leofoto BV-10). I much prefer it over my gimbal head (Leofoto PG-1). I find that with my 90D, the mirror slap produces too much vibrations and gives me motion blur on the gimbal head. But, on the fluid head, the block itself is much more solid and it damps the vibrations quite well and gives me much sharper shots. But, I think once I upgrade to a mirrorless body and shoot with the electronic shutter, that should resolve the vibrations issue. Another fluid head I might upgrade to is the Sachtler Ace XL. Another option is the Flex Shooter (which is kind of like a ball head in a ball head design) which is gaining traction. I find that you don't need to shoot 90 degrees directly overhead, but the tracking provided by the fluid head offers such a steady and stable platform. It beats hand-holding hands down. Is not like I haven't tried hand-holding shooting eagles which is much more chaotic plus is bad for my spine since I have injured my back before. The good thing about the fluid head is the resistance it offers which keeps your tracking so much smoother and well under control. And some people will add on a dot sight to help with the aiming.
The lenses both look decent for their specs and price. How would you compare them to the RF 100-500? The zoom is much less expensive than the white primes but triple the cost of the 800 F/11. I'm leaning towards the zoom and am saving up.
I purchased the 600mm for a bit of fun during restrictions here in Sydney. I was one of the lucky ones in that being restricted to my LGA for recreation was no real bother. I live in the Sutherland Shire and as such have beaches and The Royal National Park to shoot in. Paired to my R6 I entered into two new forms of photography, Birds and Surfing. I have to say the 600mm was worth every cent I paid and will continue to have it in my bag whether I'm heading out to specifically use it or not. For the price it is a winner.
Thanks for another excellent review. I have both the RF600 and the RF100-500. I got the RF600 almost a year before the 100-500 was available. That said, I still use both. RF600 weight is excellent. I also use it with the extenders - they don't affect the minimum focus distance. Downside is one stop to F16. Many times LightRoom takes care of the bokeh, if it gets too busy. For birds in flight, I will sometimes use crop mode, that creates a larger autofocus/tracking area in the view finder. I know it's not really larger, but it seems easier to keep the target inside the "box".
What a great video. I've been considering getting one of these for a while and thanks to your video I'm gonna go for the 600. I feel it provides a bit more flexibility and the focus distance is more convenient. Thanks
I keep considering them and then change my mind. The reason is that with the ability to focus at F11 with the R5, my 100-400ii with the 2x converter gives me the zoom reach from 200 to 800. Any of these RF lenses would not be able to zoom out of course. Moreover, the MFD of the zoom lens is amazing. Finally, all the focus points are active and I am not restricted to that box in the middle. I however keep thinking how amazing would a 1600mm reach be even at F22. The problem, as you indicated in your video, is that the high cost of the RF 2x extender. Thank you for your fair and extensive review of these two lenses. I keep considering them like I said but most likely I will wait for Canon to release an RF 600 F4 in order to pick up a used EF 600 F4. If you are selling yours let me know hahahah :-)
Thanks for this vid Jan. I have got my 600mm recently and yes it's my dream lens as a new birder. For the past few days I have shot thousands of pics of birds around my house and at the beach and I am thrilled at the results. although many of which are not usable. I can well live with that, otherwise I wouldn't have have gotten to have any of those surprisingly good ones either. I may consider to upgrade to more expensive ones like the 100-500mm. Big super-teles are out of the question for me at my age and for my handholding style.
I thought surely I replied to this vid way back, as I own both these lenses, but not seeing my response so.... The 800 F11 has been a HUGE breakthrough for my bird photography. Almost as big as mirrorless with AEF. Rarely do I find myself too close, but in reality, more often, I'm still not close enough. AND, this considering I'm using it on a crop sensor R7, for an equivalent of 1280mm. Completely agree it's not "as good" in tough light as the huge, very expensive F4's. But then I always shoot on a tripod, using a Kirk plate made for these two lenses, which not only stiffens up the connection, but also allows for spinning the combo into a vertical position. Would I like to have a $16,000 RF 800 F5 6 ? Well sure. But I really wouldn't enjoy lugging that thing around. Still, I'd use it where "I had too". I will always dream of an "upgraded version" of this lens.... like a DO 800 F8... which could be a little heavier, and maybe $2500-3K.... but it doesn't seem like most folks want / need reach as much as I do, so it will probably never happen ☹️ For all its faults, their just isn't anything else on the market, which meets my needs as well as this lens.
Got the 600mm f/11 and very happy. As long as you know the limitations, it’s a great lens. FYI - the further the background is from the subject you’re focusing on, the better the bokeh :)
i love this video, the autofocus of ef 100-400 L mark i isn't working anymore. What is your opnion, shoot I go voor a 600 of 800 prime or for the rf 100-400. Something I can use for the next 5 years. I do a lot of bird photography mostly in the woods or nearby ponds
@@jan_wegener at the moment a 5dmark iv, i'm considering to buy a r5. I'v got ef 100-400 but it cost about €400 to fixe it and then it's not certain that it will without problems
Great insights! Thanks. I have been having a great time with my 800mm on a R5 and am anxiously awaiting delivery of the RF100-500 to get my complete birding package .
Hi, thanks for a great video. I’m from Melbourne too (and a new subscriber to your channel) and I’m wondering if there are some good birding spots you can recommend around town, especially in the inner south area?
Picked up the 800mm for wildlife. As you said, there are different ways to get to 600mm with my existing lenses. It's lightweight which makes the activity more enjoyable.
Definitely awesome lenses, I now tested it since three months, and I will keep it with me - it´s worth it! For easy walk-arounds, definitly worth carrying it in a light backback, e.g. into high mountain hikes! For more equipment, and preparation, I can still use the 600mm f/4 lens :-) I only was a little bit struggling due to lighting conditions, getting ISO above 8000 to keep shutter speed above 1/800s.
Have the 800mm for about 6 weeks and would buy it again. Have same experience with focusing as u describe. Besides walked hours and felt comfortable with it.
Great video, very informative and concise. I am currently planning on purchasing the R7 and RF100-400mm lens as a budget/starter kit for mirrorless bird photography. The F11 600mm is actually starting to draw me in a bit, as it has more focal length and is the same price as the 100-400 second hand. The 1.6 crop factor of the R7 knocks the max focal lengths to 640 and 960 mm (I think?), but 960mm is quite intimidating, stacked on top of the 4.5m min focusing distance and aperture as well. Which lens would you recommend for someone new to photography who wants to get good images? Any help is really appreciated, love all your content.
Thanks for a great review and for sharing your lovely photos. I also enjoyed Duade's review from your trip, and I'm getting close to making the leap. I'd be very curious to know what you thought of the 800 mm prime on a crop sensor, though I don't think the R7 was available when you shot this. Though the RF 100-500 is my primary lens for birds and wildlife, I'm seriously debating the 800 mm F11 prime for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Yellowstone in the fall. For staying away from the grizzlies :)
@@jan_wegener Thanks for your reply. I am liking the idea of the 1.4x teleconverter, given how well the the RF 100-500 performs natively. Add the flexibility of carrying only 225g in my pocket! Much appreciated.
Great informative video Jan! I´ve really been looking for this kind of information as I have ordered the R5 and the rf 800 f11. Some image examples on the internet have made me daught my choice, but you vent through all different scenarios important for a bird photographer to know. What about IBIS and IS on the lens, do you ever turn these off, when for example shooting birds in flight?
Thanks! I have yet to find a reason to turn off IS/IBIS other than long exposures on a tripod. You have to have good technique and exposures to get the most out of these lenses
I am making a video about the 100-500 now. Which is in a whole different league in terms of IQ and AF. Can't really compare them, as it also costs 2-4x as much. I bought a 100-500 because it was so good.
I have the 600 mm f11 but I am a total novice. I like to take wildlife photos and birds. The one thing I struggle with is setting up my r100 camera knowing what iso to use in what situation. I have had some really good images but just need more knowledge.
many thanks for the review! If you had the 100 - 400mm on an R7, would you be better off with one of these primes, or better to buy either the 1.4x or 2x converter for the 100-400?
I ordered the 600mm and should receive it in a couple days. I want to applaud Canon for being the FIRST to utilize the fact that mirrorless camera's don't require nearly the same amount of light as a regular dslr and even with an f/11 lens they can perform incredibly well! I could never afford thirteen grand for the 600 mm f/4, so this lens grabbed my attention immediately and the reviews have all been impressive so far! Thank you for this very informative video.
Thank You Jan! Great Review! 👍🏻 Lately I’ve been out in the field, literally for one, shooting Snowy Owls & the other one was across the water from me on a dock. I’m using my R6 & 100-500 & I was very displeased with the one on the dock especially. Photos were very soft, not as detailed as I would’ve wanted ☹️ Sounds like this 800 would’ve been ideal for that one. It was a bright sunny day also. The one I got good shots of was up on top of a roof but the next time I went it was pretty far out in a farmers field. 👎🏼 I did get good video of the one on the Dock, waddling a short distance across the pier 😊 I just checked Best Buy & they can order the 800 for me. Fingers Crossed it works out for me.. Thanks Again Jan!
Lovely video. I have the 800 - its so fabulous when there is sufficient light. It’s literally tiny for an 800 thats the charm. When i used to own a big white lens i hardly took it out because of the size and attention it draws. This one i don’t have to think twice to take with me. Also like you mentioned i don’t worry if it gets scratched 😁
@@MaherIbrahim the 100-500 is hardly budget! Not were i'm from anyway. The point to this great vid is buying a long tele on a budget, the 600mm/800mm f11 and are they worth buying. The RF 100-500 is much higher end.
Im a Nikon shooter and I almost want to get the 800mm setup for a on the move kit. I’m a birder and it would work perfect for IDing birds. I have a 600mm f4 prime but I use it about half the time. I find myself grabbing my 200mm-500mm zoom because it’s light and if I’m walking long distances it so much easier to pack around. Great video
Great video, thank you for your work. I thought those lenses were a weird joke as well. You changed my view on this completly. Might consider one of these once I get myself the R6.
Excellent video, Jan. Love your channel - always informative and in depth and very high production value. My initial thoughts about this lens mirrored yours: “whaaaaaa? Are they kidding??” But I took a flyer on it after reading some more. Took it with me to test it on a trip - I also had the 600mm f/4. Agree 100% with your analysis. In good light, often when you would not be shooting 600 f/4 because light was too harsh, this lens rocks. I was shocked by the background rendering in most conditions (as you pointed out, BR must be relatively far from the subject) - quite good. Also agree that burst shooting is much more hit or miss with the 800 - but I expected that at this price point. The only thing that surprised me the most was the FUN factor of shooting this lens. Hand holding it was a dream. Light weight, with R5 I could shoot it for hours. And as you noted getting low was no problem. Overall I’m happy with the lens and as long as people understand the limitations and the use case, I would recommend it. Next is shooting video with it. Packing size is a plus as we need to go light and our video gear is already heavy. Will try both hand held and on tripod (not shooting vertical video - we’re not cool enough for that IG trend LOL). Thanks for sharing your insights on this.
I’ve purchased the 600 & 800 to use on the newly released Canon C70 cine camera - just got to be careful with the backgrounds, but from a video point of view I think they may be a great addition - great content as usual Jan 👏👏
How has the fixed F11 been working for you? I suppose with filters it's not a problem. It was problematic for me in the field when I wanted to do stills and photos
@@jan_wegener The native iso for the C70 is 800 so even at f11 I’m using the built in ND’s. Up to now I’ve been doing both photography & video with the same mirrorless body which is great apart from having to use ND’s for the video - on that system I use a variable but have a magnetic step ring on the lens for quick changes. I think when you use one body for both disciplines you have to be so switched on to achieve the results at your level, it’s not like we work with inanimate objects! Really enjoy your’s & Duades work! 👍
@@andyobrien6263 Thanks for the insight. I have set up my R5 in a way that I can start filming with the correct settings with the click of one button. So that has been working quite well. I'm usually out on cloudy days, so I can just stop down a little and still get low SS. On brighter days it becomes tricky without filters. I suppose if I used one of these just for filming I wouldn't;t actually need to switch to photo fast
Absolutely happy with my RF800. I use it primarily for plane spotting around airports, but I tried some birds in flight as well. Didn't realize how quick birds can fly, have to learn a lot yet. Enjoyed your video Jan. Keep 'em comin'.
Thanks for sharing. Birds are very fast!
I have the 800mm Rf and love it. I use it to shoot Eagles in the wild and have gotten some incredible shots that rival my 100-400ii l lens. The more I use it, the better I get.
Yes, it's quite the fun lens!
Hi Dominic, could you please share some of the photos?
@@almirhukic8755 Check out my instagram page called The eaglewhisperer
@@mmpllc77 loved seeing your work ! Followed ya
@@dychui 👍
Curiosity got the best of me so I got the 600mm f/11 lens. I’ve been involved with photography for fifty years, but never used a lens longer than 200mm. I was surprised at the sharpness of the lens. I think catching birds in flight with the 600mm is a bit easier than than 800. For the money and the practicality I have no complaints. Also I learned to appreciate the skills of bird photographers very quickly.
Thanks for sharing your experience! They are fantastic lenses for the price for sure
Nice clear-headed, logical and pretty comprehensive test / video. Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Another quality review from you. Full of bottomline recommendations and approaching the questions from different angles!
Great to hear you liked it
Great video man! I've been pretty happy with the 800 overall, and I probably would have picked up the 600 too, if I didn't already have the 100-500. I get a fair bit of ugly or just naïve/ignorant comments about the 800 on my videos. Seems like a lot of people just like to be negative towards these lenses out of spite, or just to be negative in general, but I think they're great for what they are. Your images with them were really great! (But then, you also know what you're doing, and most importantly, how to edit) :P
Haters gonna hate! It's a pretty fun lens to have around with you for sure. Most people just read F11 and draw their own conclusions without ever looking into the let, let alone using one. Overall these lenses have quite surprised me! For sub 1k, the quality is nuts.
I got the 100-500 as well now for a video. That's one sharp lens
Same here, ever since posting up my video of getting the RF 800 I've had such polarizing comments. So many people hate on this lens with never even using it while others like myself are excited that there's an affordable native RF glass for us wildlife shooters. Great video!
7:21 Or you can use short extension tube to shorten the focusing distance.
true, but they take some light away
Great review of the two lenses Jan. Thanks. You said it correctly, sometimes the 600/4 is just too heavy for me for long distances. Don't get any younger either. Or the risk of polluting the 600/4 on the beach or close to the water from a low point of view is high. You just made the decision easier for me to put the 800mm F11 in the photo backpack. :-) For this price it is worth to buying. Sorry for my bad english!! Greetings from Switzerland!
Thanks for sharing! Yes, I think for certain situations the 800 can be a fun lens to have.
Your in-depth review of gear is so appreciated. Thank you.
My pleasure!
Thanks Jan for another great comparison video. I really appreciate your style, allowing us to watch a real professional usage that can resonate with non-professionals to expand our skills and improve photos. Your previous video helped me decide on buying a R6 and I paired it with the 600mm just for fun and was amazed with the results. Even birds in flight turned out great, but as you say, there are some AF issues. Despite that, I had a lot of fun for $700, which I would never have if the tag was $10K for a prime. Thanks and keep publishing because your videos are worth more views...
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, for 700$ you basically cannot go wrong with these and will have a lot of fun!
Make sure to hit the like button that helps to spread the video around :)
I have the RF 800 and have found it to be a great lens for plane spotting. And while you have to always be aware of its limitations, if you keep those in mind you can get some great shots.
Totally agree!
I have been using the 800mm exclusively for 6 months...your review nailed it wrt my experience. I am a run and gun hiking bird photographer and consider it an essential piece of kit now...
Yes, it's ideal for those sort of use cases!
Like you I laughed when they announced them but they seem pretty good. They are a great way to get new people into the RF mount. I can see lots of people who are just interested in photographing birds visiting their back yard feeders buying one of these.
I had a lot of fun with the lens. They're so light that you sometimes just grab them to walk around. I would never do that with my bigger lenses. I agree, that many people will be quite happy with them. Especially when usability is the key factor
@M Tech What aperture would you typically shoot a 24-105?
@M Tech It can be, but it depends what you use it for. I hardly shoot any of my lenses wider than F8
Thank you so much for an unbiased review. And I truly enjoy your R5 settings they really help me with my new R5
Great to hear! Thank you!
I have the RF800 f/11 lens and the more I use it the more I like it. It as you've said can be a bit of hit and miss, but lately, I've been getting some really good results with flight shots as well as shots of birds perched or on the ground. I use my RF1.4X extender with my RF800 and I've been amazed at the quality of shots I've been able to capture. I can't afford the 600 f/4 lens, but I'm extremely happy with the results I'm getting from both the RF 100-500MM and RF800 lenses. I use the RF1.4X extender most of the time on the RF 100-500mm lens to give me the equivalent of 700mm with the flexibility to go down to 420mm. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the RF800mm lens for a walk-around lens. I've mounted an old L-bracket on the lens and I use it on my monopod with the Wimberley MH-100 Monogimbal head. It's great for added stability and taking the weight off your arms when waiting for a bird to fly from a perch.
Having gone through your Master Class on editing images and having your Presets has made a dramatic difference to the quality of my images.
Hi Dean, yes it's an excellent combo and so lightweight!
Glad my class and Prosets helped you a lot!
Great review and comparisons! I used to have a EF 400mm F5.6 but sold it last year to get the RF 800mm F11 and I love carrying it around for bird photography.
Yes, the weight of it is amazing
are u still happy with your RF800 f11? Im still torn between a EF400 F5.6 ( possibly with teleconverter) and RF600 f11 ..
Probably the best review on this lens. I like that you focused on filed tests. Most reviewers spend too much time on lab tests. I think that most users who are buying this lens will shoot outdoors and not in the studio. Great explanation and comparison on why you might prefer the more expensive lenses. I was very curious to see some results with the teleconverter, which this video provided as well. Thanks for this video!
Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Hey Jan I curious for a comparison of the rf 800 to the rf 100-500 with the 1.4x tc.
Thanks again mate for a wonderful few days, such a wonderful review of these lenses with so much valuable information. I am sure it will be extremely helpful for people considering purchasing these lenses. Cheers, Duade
Thanks mate. Really appreciated your help as well. Much easier not having to use all these lenses by myself! We got some nice comparisons side by side
Thanks Jan. Another great video. I watched Duade’s also and they were great too. I’ve been on the fence for a while about these lenses but I think this has persuaded me to grab the 800. I shoot an R5 with the EF 100-400 and it’s always a bit too short!
It's a great piece of lens at a great price point. The 100-400 is great, but as you say, can be a bit short and extenders don't work as well on zooms
Thanks Jan for the time and effort you put in to producing these informative videos. I have the R6 and initially bought the 800mm f11 as there was no way I could ever afford an expensive prime- it has it’s limitations of course but I have been more than happy with the results and applaud canon for giving us a cheaper, good quality alternative. The 100-500 is next on the bucket list.
Yes, I think it's a fantastic opportunity to get an affordable prime lens look
100-500 will be one of my next videos. It's a great lens
We w me up for week so we do need that and still need 🕸️ for a few w natand ital I have to get
Thanks Jan, I’ve had the 800mm f11 now for 7 months, the R5 for 8 months, It was only three weeks ago that the Lens hood finally showed up thou I had ordered it with the lens so a bit of a back log on the lens hoods at present, I use if for Birding so same used case as you've shown. Loving the lens so far coming from a 7dmkII and Sigma 150-600mm sports lens. I found pretty much the same thing you have mentioned there, certainly had to back up a few times to get a bird in shot and also to get the minimum focus distance. That was a fast-learning curve. I've mangled some really creamy backgrounds with this now once you manage to get a decent ratio of camera to subject and subject to background, so looking good. Low light and handheld with the stabilisation works well thou a few misses at times as you mentioned. I have found birds in flight when the contract is low i.e. light bird on a light background a bit hit and miss but if I drop the exposure the camera acquires the bird and tracks it and I can then adjust the exposure back and it keeps tracking it. So a few tricks to learn. But overall happy with it, I've printed a fair few images from it now and all come up great sharpness wise in print. I original bought this because of the price as a step gap measure while saving for the 100-500mm but so far I really haven't found it wanting on to many occasions so will probably hold off on the 100-500 and see what the native RF 600 f4 looks like later in the year. But all up I've had it now for seven month and no regrets it’s not as weather sealed, but a micro fibre cloth over it in light rain and not an issue so far. Certainly, loving the reduced weight and hand held image stabilisation of the set up. The extra reach of the 800mm is great compared to the 150-600mm. All up really happy I got this one, when I did there were a lot of comments about you could only shoot in on a sunny day etc and no chance of getting a decent background etc, but I've shoot in dark rainforest environments and got clean backgrounds, so Im happy. Of cause a 600 f4 would always be welcome but the price difference well a little more saving to do and the learning for the 800mm won't go astray when changing to a 600mm f4 later. the 800mm being so light and so compact will make a great travel lens as well for anyone that flies (When we can again) and don’t want to travel with the larger lenses. So a family holiday with some added birding seams a lot more possible with this set up. Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like it has served you well. The 100-500 is a pretty good lens, too. Will be making a video about it soon. And I cannot wait for a 600/4 RF. That should be one sweet lens.
i know Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know a way to log back into an instagram account?
I stupidly forgot my account password. I love any help you can offer me.
@Luca Khari instablaster =)
@Adriel Pablo I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Adriel Pablo HOLY **** IT REALLY WORKED :O Just got access to my ig password within ~ 40 minutes of using the site.
I had to pay 15 bucks but definitely worth it =)
Thank you so much, you saved my account !
I have had many Birding lenses. I have these 2 and was amazed at their performance. The 800 is harder to use close In because of the narrow field of view. Like you the keeper rate wasn’t as good as my 400 f5.5 or 100-400. That ok because I always shoot burst. For the price it is a no brainer. I love the 800 for shorebirds because of the reach. For the money if you aren’t getting paid for images these will look good after editing.
A very nice story Jan, I really enjoyed the gentle & friendly manner you presented your review.
Glad you enjoyed it
I have both lenses. Great buy. The 600 when I’ll be close. 800 for shorebirds or longer shots. I have shot with almost all the lenses from 400 prime to 150-600. These provide very good quality especially if you have a good noise reduction plugin. Stabilized lens and body makes lower shutter speeds OK for stationary birds.
You are using with which camera?
Many thanks . Very nice review. The point about minimum focal distance for the 2 lens are spot on. Despite the F11 limitations ,I ended buying a used 600mm. It suited me because it's light (both for shooting handheld -actually developed tendinitis from using a heavier lens for birds in flight- and easier to carry around). Also the shorter minimum focus distance was more acceptable than the F11 800mm. Food for thought about using the 800 for shore birds. My 600mm is a pleasure to use when hiking/birding. If it's a sunny day it often wins out over using my heavier lens or the shorter reach rf100-400. Cheers
Really helpful video, thanks Jan! Masterclass ist awesome too!
Great to hear and happy to help,
Thanks :)
Thanks Jan, I live on Phillip island, and am looking at purchasing the R5 & 800mm , so it was very informative to get your review. cheers Gary.
Awesome! Ioved going there
Muchas gracias, piensonir por el 600mm soy aficionado
Thanks Jan, the 600mm is very tempting to couple with my new R7... 😀
Hi Jan I enjoyed your Blog on these lenses I have the 800mm and also was frustrated by the inconsistency you made me feel much better when you also stated that you also had those inconsistency's I use it with a R6 and a R7 most of my problem's occur with the R7 Thanks For The Great Video
That’s to be expected, since the AF of the R7 tends to be a little bit inconsistent itself, so it may increase the issue
Always the best reviews. Wonderful birds, too. Thank you very much.
Many thanks!
I am owning a R7 and a R3 and just bought the 800 F11 Lense. On the other hand i am still using my EF 100-400 mm and therefore I am quite happy with the setting. As I am taking pictures of birds (small ones and bigger ones) :-) my setup is the R3 with 800 mm and the R7 with the 100-400 with the crop factor of 1.6 fo me perfect.
Thanks Jan! Great review as usual!
My pleasure!
Great review Jan, i have Canon R6 and recently got the 800mm which i am very happy with.
Great to hear!
I have had these lenses for some years beside my heavy gear. Two yers ago I tested 800m f11 against EF 400mm DO ll +2xext lll and I was amazed because 800mm stm was sharper. I repeated the test with similar results. After that I have read many rewiews of it and they confirm that 800mm f11 is really sharp and I have same experience with 600mm f11. Wih my R8 AF area box in the image is much larger making BIF photos easier. The same applies R6 markll
Goosebumps when i get ur notification
:)
Excellent review! Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I just got the 600 and really enjoy it. I too was surprised at the sharpness. I also will get the 800, but it's currently not in stock in the USA. Great video comapison. Thsnks.
Great to hear!
Really fantastic review of the RF 600/800mm Lenses! I liked hoe you compared the massive and expensive 600mm F4 lens. It's just so impressive how well you describe the various use cases for those like me trying to navigate the super telephoto options.
For me, and my application, the 800mm F11 is going to work really well, and be easily more enjoyable, given my bushwalking ventures where the "big bertha" would be just too damned bulky. Thanks for the excellent review!
Very good review. Thanks
Great info, Jan! If you ever do a video about shooting BIF with R5/6 and RF100-500 mm could you also touch on what memory cards you use for stills. Thank you!
I will make a video about the 100-500 very soon. I have been using Sandisk CFexpress Extreme Pro 512 GB and some Sandisk Extreme Pro and Prograde SD cards
I find your videos so helpful - as well as an expert photographer you are a great teacher - I very much appreciate you sharing your expertise - it is helping me to improve my photography.
You're very welcome! Great to hear you are enjoying my work
I own the RF 600mm F11 which I use with the R5. I'm a long time Canon user and recently sold off most of my EF based kit which included 5D3, 5D4, EF 70-200 F2.8 II, EF 16-35 F4 L IS, EF 50mmm F1.8, leaving me with an R5, an EF 100-400mm L IS II an EF 24-105mm F4 L IS, a Sigma 105 F2.8 Macro and a EOS-R control ring adapter. My plan was to migrate completely to Mirrorless but lack of availability of RF lenses caused a pause in the plan. To fill the void I decided to experiment with the RF 600mm lens as it was priced so favourably compared to other lenses and reviews said it produced good results. So far I've been pleased with the results but with a few caveats. I take a lot of bird photos and also commercial aviation photos and have found that it's so easy to hand hold given it's light weight, however you can't just throw a 600mm lens around and hope that image stabilisation will deal with impact of the extreme magnification. With a rapidly moving target I was getting too many misses. For my Aviation photos there were two issues to overcome. My own stability when trying to track a moving object at 600mm and the fact that the lens is noticeably slower to focus than my EF L series lenses. I fixed both of these by mounting the camera/lens on a tripod/gimbal mount and limited my photos to either slow moving/static images or for faster moving aircraft only taking shots where I was panning from side to side so I didn't require the lens to focus/refocus very quickly. Anything coming towards or away from me at speed frequently overwhelmed the ability of the lens to stay focused on the subject, increasing the failure rate. I subsequently found that the same characteristics were true of bird photography. Image quality is very very good for such an inexpensive lens, although lighting is now a major consideration due to the fixed aperture. During the winter (UK) months when light levels struggle a bit I've been pushing the ISO quite high at times but have been saved by the R5 which is very tolerant to higher ISO settings. All things considered, I'm pleased with the 600mm. Would the 800mm have been a better choice ? Well for the moment probably not for my circumstances but when RF lens availability improves and I swap my EF 100-400mm II for an RF 100-500 which I almost certainly will do at some point then perhaps I'll sell the 600 and buy the 800. For now I'm happy.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, the STM motor in it is definitely slower than the USM ones from the L lenses
Thank you! I waited for this this review from you!
Awesome, took a bit longer than expected, cause I had so much footage to go through and a 5 day lockdown!
Good analytic commentary and illustrative photos. On the basis of the video, I got the 800mm. Nice choice; nice piece of gear.
Hope you will enjoy it! It's a fun lens
I agree with Dominic. I love the light weight and fabulous quality of the images. I have the lens hood for the 800mm. Terrific analysis regarding the more expensive lens. Thanks
Awesome! Thanks :)
What an interesting pair of lenses. Having used a 5d MkII for over a decade now, I really had no clue how good high ISO image quality (and AF tech and IS) have become, opening the possibility for lenses like this.
Absolutely, I really enjoy the R7 & RF600/11 along with all the EF glass from my older bodies. Also the new features that mirrorless brings such as low light focusing and IBIS. I got the 600 purely for fun and moon photography and it’s great
Yes, the changes are crazy!
I had 5D MKII and loved it! I paid top dollar because I bought it right when it was released, but the in-body image quality was amazing and I wish I still had that camera! Not sure how well this lens will work with that body though? This is aimed Moore for the mirrorless bodies, which require far less light. Hopefully it works out?
@@Justentime77 the 800/11 will only work on mirrorless cameras
@@jan_wegener That's pretty much what I figured.
Hi Jan! It took me some time, but I finally got your MasterClass! Love your videos, your explanations! My R5 is also setup as you recommended and i absolutely love it. Surely the MClass will be great ! Cannot wait to see it !
Cheers🙏
Awesome, I hope it will help you a lot!
I have seen many reviews on the RF 600mm and 800mm f/11, this has to be the best and by far the most thorough to date. Great job, Jan! I have been told the RF 800mm f/11 is pretty sharp for what it is. I wasn't really sure at first, but you have proven it. I think other than rain forest shots, as long as you have enough light on bright days it is surprisingly sharp. If I were to get this lens, what I have in mind is to put it on a tripod and shoot BIF (mainly overhead eagles type shots). While you did mention BIF will be challenging, my thinking is to shoot it with the coming R5S in APS-C crop mode. Don't even think about the 2x teleconverter, f/22 is really pushing it. Just use the 1.4x. So, basically shooting at 1792mm wide open. Given the AF area is significantly reduced at f/11 and above, do you think it might help with the aiming by using a dot sight?
Thanks, glad to hear that! I think a tripod with these lenses is more hinderance than help. I wouldn't do any BIF with a converter on these.
I would expect the R5s , if it comes out indeed, to be pretty slow.
Overall the quality of the lenses was good considering it costs around 1k.
BIF at such long focal lengths will always be a challenge. Not sure what's the best way to find the bird fast. Good hand - eye - coordination helps for sure.
@@jan_wegener Using a 800mm prime hand-held for BIF is insane in my opinion. The bird could get out of frame very easily. If the frame rate of the R5S is going to be slow in your estimation, then may be the R7 could work. At the end of the day is all about reach when it comes to overhead circling raptors. The good news is they are relatively slow and the tripod helps so much. I do that everyday. I think may be I can do it without the need of using a dot sight. I am using an APS-C body now with the Signa 150-600mm which makes it 960mm wide open. I think if I can manage 960mm, may be I can just about handle 1280mm (RF 800mm + the 1.6x crop factor of the R7 if you say TC is totally out of the question even for the 1.4x). But, the tripod is an absolute must.
@@Rascallucci I felt like it was much harder to follow on a tripod with that much length. Many tripod heads won't really let you turn fully overhead. What head are you using? Yes, you might not need a super high frame rate.
@@jan_wegener I am really surprised to hear that. I thought that's what most folks do, well over here they do, doesn't matter whether it is a 600mm f/4 with a 1.4x or 2x TC or a 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 or a 150-600mm f/5.6-6.3 or the RF 800mm f/11. The current head that I am using is a small fluid head (Leofoto BV-10). I much prefer it over my gimbal head (Leofoto PG-1). I find that with my 90D, the mirror slap produces too much vibrations and gives me motion blur on the gimbal head. But, on the fluid head, the block itself is much more solid and it damps the vibrations quite well and gives me much sharper shots. But, I think once I upgrade to a mirrorless body and shoot with the electronic shutter, that should resolve the vibrations issue. Another fluid head I might upgrade to is the Sachtler Ace XL. Another option is the Flex Shooter (which is kind of like a ball head in a ball head design) which is gaining traction. I find that you don't need to shoot 90 degrees directly overhead, but the tracking provided by the fluid head offers such a steady and stable platform. It beats hand-holding hands down. Is not like I haven't tried hand-holding shooting eagles which is much more chaotic plus is bad for my spine since I have injured my back before. The good thing about the fluid head is the resistance it offers which keeps your tracking so much smoother and well under control. And some people will add on a dot sight to help with the aiming.
@@Rascallucci try flexshooter head. it’s awesome
The lenses both look decent for their specs and price. How would you compare them to the RF 100-500? The zoom is much less expensive than the white primes but triple the cost of the 800 F/11. I'm leaning towards the zoom and am saving up.
Hands down the 100-500 is better especially for birds in flight. The 800 simply cannot keep up with a moving bird.
@@MaherIbrahim Do extenders work with the 100-500?
@@sfink16 in theory yes, but you loose image quality. I will be getting one for moon photography
@@MaherIbrahim Thanks!
I am making a video about the 100-500 as we speak. The 100-500 is in a different class compared to these. But also costs like 3x as much
I have the RF 100-400 and am considering the RF 600 F11 for the extra reach. Love videoing wildlife.
I purchased the 600mm for a bit of fun during restrictions here in Sydney. I was one of the lucky ones in that being restricted to my LGA for recreation was no real bother. I live in the Sutherland Shire and as such have beaches and The Royal National Park to shoot in. Paired to my R6 I entered into two new forms of photography, Birds and Surfing. I have to say the 600mm was worth every cent I paid and will continue to have it in my bag whether I'm heading out to specifically use it or not. For the price it is a winner.
Yes, it's a great little lens
Great video, very thorough and some superb shots for such good value lenses. Very likely to pick up a 600 for use a few times a year.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent review! I always learn a lot from your videos. Thank you!😊
Awesome, thank you!
That's what I call a proper review video
Thanks :)
Thanks for another excellent review. I have both the RF600 and the RF100-500. I got the RF600 almost a year before the 100-500 was available. That said, I still use both. RF600 weight is excellent. I also use it with the extenders - they don't affect the minimum focus distance. Downside is one stop to F16. Many times LightRoom takes care of the bokeh, if it gets too busy. For birds in flight, I will sometimes use crop mode, that creates a larger autofocus/tracking area in the view finder. I know it's not really larger, but it seems easier to keep the target inside the "box".
Thanks for sharing
Just got the 800mm and am really anxious to try it out. Have taken a few basic shots and have been happy with the results so far.
awesome
What a great video. I've been considering getting one of these for a while and thanks to your video I'm gonna go for the 600. I feel it provides a bit more flexibility and the focus distance is more convenient. Thanks
Glad I could help!
I keep considering them and then change my mind. The reason is that with the ability to focus at F11 with the R5, my 100-400ii with the 2x converter gives me the zoom reach from 200 to 800. Any of these RF lenses would not be able to zoom out of course. Moreover, the MFD of the zoom lens is amazing. Finally, all the focus points are active and I am not restricted to that box in the middle. I however keep thinking how amazing would a 1600mm reach be even at F22. The problem, as you indicated in your video, is that the high cost of the RF 2x extender. Thank you for your fair and extensive review of these two lenses. I keep considering them like I said but most likely I will wait for Canon to release an RF 600 F4 in order to pick up a used EF 600 F4. If you are selling yours let me know hahahah :-)
Hehe, I will sell it at some point.
The 800/11 is better overall than the 100-400 and 2x. Always a toss up between flexibility and quality / size
@Jan Wegener are you able to do this test with R7? thanks
Thanks for this vid Jan. I have got my 600mm recently and yes it's my dream lens as a new birder. For the past few days I have shot thousands of pics of birds around my house and at the beach and I am thrilled at the results. although many of which are not usable. I can well live with that, otherwise I wouldn't have have gotten to have any of those surprisingly good ones either. I may consider to upgrade to more expensive ones like the 100-500mm. Big super-teles are out of the question for me at my age and for my handholding style.
Glad you are enjoying the lens! I will make a video about 100-500 very soon
@@jan_wegener Please do. Thanks.
I thought surely I replied to this vid way back, as I own both these lenses, but not seeing my response so....
The 800 F11 has been a HUGE breakthrough for my bird photography. Almost as big as mirrorless with AEF.
Rarely do I find myself too close, but in reality, more often, I'm still not close enough. AND, this considering I'm using it on a crop sensor R7, for an equivalent of 1280mm.
Completely agree it's not "as good" in tough light as the huge, very expensive F4's. But then I always shoot on a tripod, using a Kirk plate made for these two lenses, which not only stiffens up the connection, but also allows for spinning the combo into a vertical position.
Would I like to have a $16,000 RF 800 F5 6 ? Well sure. But I really wouldn't enjoy lugging that thing around. Still, I'd use it where "I had too".
I will always dream of an "upgraded version" of this lens.... like a DO 800 F8... which could be a little heavier, and maybe $2500-3K.... but it doesn't seem like most folks want / need reach as much as I do, so it will probably never happen ☹️
For all its faults, their just isn't anything else on the market, which meets my needs as well as this lens.
Please take pictures of mars and jupiter, just to see how well they will do at f22 on the astro.
Got the 600mm f/11 and very happy. As long as you know the limitations, it’s a great lens.
FYI - the further the background is from the subject you’re focusing on, the better the bokeh :)
That's correct
i love this video, the autofocus of ef 100-400 L mark i isn't working anymore. What is your opnion, shoot I go voor a 600 of 800 prime or for the rf 100-400. Something I can use for the next 5 years. I do a lot of bird photography mostly in the woods or nearby ponds
Either will be good, or would it be possible to go 100-400 and 800? That may be the ultimate lightweight and well priced combo
What cam are you using?
@@jan_wegener at the moment a 5dmark iv, i'm considering to buy a r5. I'v got ef 100-400 but it cost about €400 to fixe it and then it's not certain that it will without problems
@@BiermaRichard since it's version I, that seems like too much. The RF lenses won't work on the 5D, just to keep that in mind
Great insights! Thanks. I have been having a great time with my 800mm on a R5 and am anxiously awaiting delivery of the RF100-500 to get my complete birding package .
awesome. I am just making a video about the 100-500
Hi, thanks for a great video. I’m from Melbourne too (and a new subscriber to your channel) and I’m wondering if there are some good birding spots you can recommend around town, especially in the inner south area?
Great video Jan, you convinced me to buy this lens.
I hope you will enjoy it!
A 600 f8 RF and 800 f11 RF would have been a better choice by Canon. Great video, Jan!
Thanks for watching! Interesting thought. The F11 is what makes it so small, tho.
@Spearfast it would be way bigger and would cost at least 5-10 times as much if you are using the Nikon 5.6 as reference.
Picked up the 800mm for wildlife. As you said, there are different ways to get to 600mm with my existing lenses. It's lightweight which makes the activity more enjoyable.
Great presentation. are you shooting manual or AF priority?
always manual
Definitely awesome lenses, I now tested it since three months, and I will keep it with me - it´s worth it! For easy walk-arounds, definitly worth carrying it in a light backback, e.g. into high mountain hikes! For more equipment, and preparation, I can still use the 600mm f/4 lens :-) I only was a little bit struggling due to lighting conditions, getting ISO above 8000 to keep shutter speed above 1/800s.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. That's my sentiment about the lenses as well. They certain have a place in a light weight kit
Thank you for this so detailed video
You are so welcome!
Have the 800mm for about 6 weeks and would buy it again. Have same experience with focusing as u describe.
Besides walked hours and felt comfortable with it.
Yes, for walking around it's really good
Great video, very informative and concise. I am currently planning on purchasing the R7 and RF100-400mm lens as a budget/starter kit for mirrorless bird photography. The F11 600mm is actually starting to draw me in a bit, as it has more focal length and is the same price as the 100-400 second hand. The 1.6 crop factor of the R7 knocks the max focal lengths to 640 and 960 mm (I think?), but 960mm is quite intimidating, stacked on top of the 4.5m min focusing distance and aperture as well. Which lens would you recommend for someone new to photography who wants to get good images? Any help is really appreciated, love all your content.
I have R7 and I'm not sure which one to buy... ¿Some advice?
Thanks
Fantastic Video!
Well, do you need maximum focal length or not as much with the 600? The 800 on the R7 can be quite long
i was waiting for a review like this before i decided. thanks!
Glad I could help!
Thanks for a great review and for sharing your lovely photos. I also enjoyed Duade's review from your trip, and I'm getting close to making the leap. I'd be very curious to know what you thought of the 800 mm prime on a crop sensor, though I don't think the R7 was available when you shot this. Though the RF 100-500 is my primary lens for birds and wildlife, I'm seriously debating the 800 mm F11 prime for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Yellowstone in the fall. For staying away from the grizzlies :)
I made a recent video with the 800 and the R7.
You could also consider a 1.4x TC for the 100-500
@@jan_wegener Thanks for your reply. I am liking the idea of the 1.4x teleconverter, given how well the the RF 100-500 performs natively. Add the flexibility of carrying only 225g in my pocket! Much appreciated.
Great informative video Jan! I´ve really been looking for this kind of information as I have ordered the R5 and the rf 800 f11. Some image examples on the internet have made me daught my choice, but you vent through all different scenarios important for a bird photographer to know. What about IBIS and IS on the lens, do you ever turn these off, when for example shooting birds in flight?
Thanks! I have yet to find a reason to turn off IS/IBIS other than long exposures on a tripod. You have to have good technique and exposures to get the most out of these lenses
Thanks for the good comparison. how do you compare these both the lenses to RF 100-500 f/4.5-7.1 L lens. Which one do you recommend.
I am making a video about the 100-500 now. Which is in a whole different league in terms of IQ and AF. Can't really compare them, as it also costs 2-4x as much. I bought a 100-500 because it was so good.
@@jan_wegener ...can’t wait 2C your review....
@@jan_wegener so looking forward to your take on 100-500mm! I am on holding pattern until I watch this video from you :)
@@jan_wegener Thanks Jan, will look forward to that Video.
@@mxma101 I will do my best to get it out soon
I have the 600 mm f11 but I am a total novice. I like to take wildlife photos and birds. The one thing I struggle with is setting up my r100 camera knowing what iso to use in what situation. I have had some really good images but just need more knowledge.
many thanks for the review! If you had the 100 - 400mm on an R7, would you be better off with one of these primes, or better to buy either the 1.4x or 2x converter for the 100-400?
the crimes will do a bit better, even though the 1.4 will still be fine
I ordered the 600mm and should receive it in a couple days. I want to applaud Canon for being the FIRST to utilize the fact that mirrorless camera's don't require nearly the same amount of light as a regular dslr and even with an f/11 lens they can perform incredibly well! I could never afford thirteen grand for the 600 mm f/4, so this lens grabbed my attention immediately and the reviews have all been impressive so far! Thank you for this very informative video.
Nice, I hope you will enjoy the lens
Thank You Jan! Great Review! 👍🏻 Lately I’ve been out in the field, literally for one, shooting Snowy Owls & the other one was across the water from me on a dock. I’m using my R6 & 100-500 & I was very displeased with the one on the dock especially. Photos were very soft, not as detailed as I would’ve wanted ☹️ Sounds like this 800 would’ve been ideal for that one. It was a bright sunny day also. The one I got good shots of was up on top of a roof but the next time I went it was pretty far out in a farmers field. 👎🏼
I did get good video of the one on the Dock, waddling a short distance across the pier 😊 I just checked Best Buy & they can order the 800 for me. Fingers Crossed it works out for me.. Thanks Again Jan!
There can also be quite bad occurrences of heat haze near water, even in winter causing bad image distortion
Lovely video. I have the 800 - its so fabulous when there is sufficient light. It’s literally tiny for an 800 thats the charm. When i used to own a big white lens i hardly took it out because of the size and attention it draws. This one i don’t have to think twice to take with me. Also like you mentioned i don’t worry if it gets scratched 😁
Thanks for sharing
Ottimo video, grazie
I end up going with the Canon rf 100-500 and I’m in love! It’s the best combo with the R5
I am just making a video on that lens. It's VERY good, but also a lot more expensive than these
Glad to hear that. I'm considering the 100-500.
But it's not exactly budget though, so maybe you're missing the point to this video?
@@steveslack4750 they’re both a budget lenses obviously! The higher end means a Prime f4 or so
@@MaherIbrahim the 100-500 is hardly budget! Not were i'm from anyway. The point to this great vid is buying a long tele on a budget, the 600mm/800mm f11 and are they worth buying. The RF 100-500 is much higher end.
Im a Nikon shooter and I almost want to get the 800mm setup for a on the move kit. I’m a birder and it would work perfect for IDing birds. I have a 600mm f4 prime but I use it about half the time. I find myself grabbing my 200mm-500mm zoom because it’s light and if I’m walking long distances it so much easier to pack around. Great video
This lens is literally build for your purpose! 600/4 is no fun carrying around. This one goes everywhere
Great video, thank you for your work. I thought those lenses were a weird joke as well. You changed my view on this completly. Might consider one of these once I get myself the R6.
Yes, they are surprising. I enjoyed using them
Hi, it was great. I just have a question. I have a Canon 90D camera. Can I use this lens?
Unfortunately not
Excellent video, Jan. Love your channel - always informative and in depth and very high production value. My initial thoughts about this lens mirrored yours: “whaaaaaa? Are they kidding??” But I took a flyer on it after reading some more. Took it with me to test it on a trip - I also had the 600mm f/4. Agree 100% with your analysis. In good light, often when you would not be shooting 600 f/4 because light was too harsh, this lens rocks. I was shocked by the background rendering in most conditions (as you pointed out, BR must be relatively far from the subject) - quite good. Also agree that burst shooting is much more hit or miss with the 800 - but I expected that at this price point. The only thing that surprised me the most was the FUN factor of shooting this lens. Hand holding it was a dream. Light weight, with R5 I could shoot it for hours. And as you noted getting low was no problem. Overall I’m happy with the lens and as long as people understand the limitations and the use case, I would recommend it. Next is shooting video with it. Packing size is a plus as we need to go light and our video gear is already heavy. Will try both hand held and on tripod (not shooting vertical video - we’re not cool enough for that IG trend LOL). Thanks for sharing your insights on this.
Yes, that's how I described my experience as well, fun! Video will be interesting. Will need filters for sure with the fixed F11
@@jan_wegener Indeed, Jan. Especially re filters - luckily I have a 95mm variable ND! Cheers!
@@dglatz01 ah, that's great!
Dear Jan,
Do you expect that the RF800 will work just as well on the R7, or is that pushing things a bit with regards to light? Greetings!
What about Moon Photography? Would either 800/F11 or 600/F11 deliver good results?
Great review! Thx!
Thanks for watching!
Great Review and much appreciated.👍🏽..
Thanks for watching!
Video on RF 100-500mm vs prime lens on the horizon? Great review!
working on 100-500 at the moment
Thanks...
Thanks for the review. Can you please share the AF settings that you configured in both the camera's when making these images?
I talked about them here.
th-cam.com/video/-nnRqgXu7QI/w-d-xo.html
Electronic shutter gives the most sharp images the most reliably
I’ve purchased the 600 & 800 to use on the newly released Canon C70 cine camera - just got to be careful with the backgrounds, but from a video point of view I think they may be a great addition - great content as usual Jan 👏👏
How has the fixed F11 been working for you? I suppose with filters it's not a problem. It was problematic for me in the field when I wanted to do stills and photos
@@jan_wegener The native iso for the C70 is 800 so even at f11 I’m using the built in ND’s. Up to now I’ve been doing both photography & video with the same mirrorless body which is great apart from having to use ND’s for the video - on that system I use a variable but have a magnetic step ring on the lens for quick changes. I think when you use one body for both disciplines you have to be so switched on to achieve the results at your level, it’s not like we work with inanimate objects! Really enjoy your’s & Duades work! 👍
@@andyobrien6263 Thanks for the insight. I have set up my R5 in a way that I can start filming with the correct settings with the click of one button. So that has been working quite well. I'm usually out on cloudy days, so I can just stop down a little and still get low SS. On brighter days it becomes tricky without filters. I suppose if I used one of these just for filming I wouldn't;t actually need to switch to photo fast
@@jan_wegener Wouldn’t it be amazing to have an R5 with built in ND’s? Problem solved for the Hybrid shooter! Something for Canons R & D to work on! 😀
@@andyobrien6263 I wouldn't mind that at all. But that's likely cinema line only