Canon RF 200-800: First Impressions
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2024
- I had two hours to try out the highly anticipated Canon RF 200-800 lens. Join me as I take it for a test drive!
With the Canon RF 200-800, photographers can enjoy an incredible focal range, allowing you to capture subjects with fantastic clarity and flexibility.
Canon RF 200-800mm Lens: amzn.to/3uqsKdu
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Regarding the heat haze from the vehicle. Steve Perry found the problem was the lens hood, when hew as photographing wildlife from a vehicle, and it was cold outside. Simply take the lens hood off, and you get sharp photos. What happens is the lens in your car is warmer than outside. This traps warm air in the lens hood, and there is a sharp transition in air heat, between the end of the lens hood and the outside cold air, causing the shimmer. He later tried it out with 3 different systems in controlled conditions and found the same effect.
Thanks for sharing! I'm familiar with that concept, but it seemed to be happening even after walking outside for an extended period of time. I'm pretty sure in this case that it actually was atmospheric conditions. Your tip is a great one to keep in mind though. Since this was a brand new lens I think I was a extra nervous to remove the hood to shoot! :)
I have had this lens since December 14th. I have used it on my R7 and my R5. I have shot thousands of pictures in that time. I love it but it has some limitations, all lenses do. The coatings aren't as good as an L series lens like the RF 100-500 so chromatic aberrations occur quite easily toward the edges on a bright sunning day with a white object, like a Trumpeter Swan.
I had the RF 800F11 and this is a much better lens. It is sharper and faster to focus. With half the minimum focus distance it a far superior lens for my use.
I found your impressions to be accurate and I agree, I like that the collar doesn't come off. One coming off accidentally is not something I want to experience and why I am constantly checking on my RF 100-500 to make sure it is secure. I mounted a long ARCA-Swiss plate on the foot that I modified a few ago to have a Cotton Carrier puck on it. I do this on my RF 100-500 also. I secure the camera to the vest by the foot, not the camera body.
I use a strap with quick release ends, PGYTECH, on my cameras. I put a set orange set of "beads" on the lens and black on my camera bodies. When I attach this lens to the camera I move the strap to the orange beads. My thinking is that this points less stress on the camera mount.
I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on the lens. It's great to hear that you've been enjoying it overall, despite the limitations. In my short time with it, the chromatic aberrations were noticeable in my only shot with bright light on lighter subjects. This will definitely be something that I watch moving forward.
Thanks for the tip on the strap with quick release ends. I'm going to look into going that direction!
Thank you Mathew :) I just got mine (unfortunately just a rental) 2 days ago. So far I have only been testing it from the back yard blind. I have been killing it.... but then again, I've been killing it for 18 months with the 800 F11 :) As for image quality, I think its right on par with the excellent, sharp 800 F11, which IMPO, says a LOT.
Now, my use of these long lenses, is mostly to fill the frame with small birds. Of course shooting from the back yard blind, I've always shot with the 800 F11 from about 21ft, using my crop body R7 for a 1280mm equivalent. I've shot with this combo so much, it feels completely normal to me.
So yesterday, I moved my blind up to about 13ft from the perches, I did get some Nat Geo shots, but I also found out how ridiculous thin the DOF is from 13ft at F9 ! It was super cool though, when a "long tailed" Phoebe popped up, and I was actually able to back off to 500mm (800mm eq.) and get the whole bird, with tail, in the shot :)
And THAT I believe is the biggest plus of this lens, vs. my beloved 800 F11 > versatility ! Oh, the WAY shorter MFD is a plus too, but again, the DOF is SO shallow, I missed a lot of shots because of it. I want to get out and try more shooting from 13ft, stopped down to F13, to see how much this helps.
Now I just need to get it out in the field, for some real world shooting. But even still, I usually try to get 20-30ft from the birds I'm chasing. And I ALWAYS use a tripod.
If you want to see a few of the shots I've taken with it, I'll post a couple of those on my Flickr page now :) Link on my channel....
The versatility of this lens was the big draw for me. In my limited time with it, I really enjoyed the experience, but I'm really excited to get out and really give it a test. Your Phoebe shots look great! Really sharp!
@@matthewgehly thank you 🙂 I think I did even better today stopped down to F13 😉👍
The new lense looks really good. Great shots 👍. Greets Stefan
Thank you so much, Stefan! I'm really glad you liked the shots with the new lens.
Thanks for the video! Looking forward to seeing more of your work with the 200-800. I shoot with a RF 100-400 and a RF 800 on a R7. Having just one lens with the variable reach instead of the two is very appealing.
> RF 800 on a R7 < 😉👍 ...but I hear you on the versatility.
Ah, the joys of having a versatile lens! Shooting with the RF 100-400 and RF 800 sounds amazing too. The versatility with a single lens is really cool. I'm excited to get out and shoot with it again.
by the time they come back in stock I might not even own canon by then anymore lol
Haha! These stock issues are crazy!
For the strap, I use a black rapids crossbody strap. I don’t let the l lens swing, but it does allow me to carry my 100-500 by the foot and know it’s secured. Your comments of close shots of close subjects is interesting. I would love the reach for faraway subjects, like ducks. But I don’t think this is the solution there. I’m waiting for an R7 ii. For now the weight on this lens is a dealbreaker for me. The 100-500 is light and versatile. Nice review!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience with the strap! It's always interesting to hear how different photographers find solutions for carrying their gear. The 100-500 remains my absolute favorite lens. No doubt, lighter is better! :)
Regarding the strap: I used to always have a strap on the camera, which I mainly wrapped around my wrist. I simply can't put it around my neck and actually feel like I have freedom of movement. When I got my R5, I went for quite a while without putting any type of strap on it. I finally put on a wrist strap that I had gotten as a "bonus" with a lens purchase and quickly found that I really like it. It gives me a greater sense of security but doesn't hinder my movement. It also has a quick release clip so that I can take it off if needed, such as when putting the camera on the tripod.
As for the lens, I'd love it, but definitely can't justify it, especially with already having the Tamron 150-600.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the strap! It's always helpful to hear different perspectives and find what works best for each person. It's been getting in my way quite a bit and I've even had it get caught...almost causing a drop!
Just bought my 200-800mm via ebay yesterday and cant wait to get it 👍
Ill definitely get more excited when i get a shipping notification though....
The excitement of waiting for that shipping notification is like waiting for Christmas morning! Hope it comes soon! :)
Luckly I went and bought/picked mine up Christmas eve ;)@@matthewgehly
Matthew. Take a look at the iFoote Cobra 3 monopod as a weight solution. (I think I spelled iFoote right. It's close enough.) The Cobra 3 is the one that works well. I use it. It has a mini tripod like base with a foot lever. The foot lever pops it into a freely lean and swivel mode that gives you a gimbal feel. The Cobra 3 comes with a fixture that you screw into your camera base. There are many good reviews of it on line.
I use a monopod or tripod quite often. Using one with this lens is definitely a good idea. I had a product like the iFoote Cobra, but I wasn't happy with it. Thanks for the suggestion! I look into that product...I might like it more. :)
I’ve heard more and more people comment on heat, distortion, atmospheric conditions, etc. with this lens. No one presented those excuses for the 800 F11. It’s very sharp. I do not own the lens and I have not held the lens, but to me, it does not seem as sharp as the 100-500. it does not seem as sharp as the 800 F 11.
It has some annoying characteristics such as bulk, weight, length, lens collar, that won’t remove that becomes a handle.
For me, the alternative is to use the 100-500, with a 1.4 extender, in crop mode, if necessary for more distance, better metering, and better focus. I’ll wait on the R5 mii to see if it justifies switching bodies.
Thank you for your review.
Atmospheric distortion isn't an excuse. It's a fact of life at long telephoto lengths and increasing distances. You get it even with a prime f4 lens.
Yes, the 100-500 with a a 1.4 will get you to 700mm at f10, but it's not going to eliminate heat waves. There are conditions where your choice of lens will be limited, no matter what lens you are using. There are some conditions where you should simply not be photographing. The trick is knowing them.
It will never be as sharp as the 100-500L. The build and glass quality is totally different. The atmospheric conditions that I had to deal with would have been there with any lens. I had a very short window to shoot. I'm not writing this lens off at all. I'm really looking forward to getting out again next week, hopefully in more favorable conditions, and really putting this lens to the test. In my limited experience, it's just as sharp as the f/11. We'll see though! :)
@@matthewgehly Ty.
I disagree. I own both 100-500 and 200-800. They are the same in sharpness.
My Canon EF 300mm F2.8 L lens (original version) weighs 6.3 pounds by itself. I add the 2x for even more weight and extension to get me to 600mm F5.6. I pair it on either my R7 or R8, and originally on my 5D MKIV (which I still have). I also have the RF 600mm F11 lens, with the jury still being out on it. I was debating on either the 200-800 or the 800 F11. This video helps in my decision but nothing definitive yet. Thanks!
It sounds like you have quite an arsenal already! Thanks for watching! :)
Compared to my 200-400mm I've recently bought for 1/3 price, this lens is a feather 😂 In my case, with R5+grip+1.4x external + R adapter = 5.3kg 😩😄 Nice channel btw, just subscriber!
Looks like you're getting quite the workout with that setup! Maybe you should start a weightlifting! Thanks for the sub! :)
You nailed the purpose of this lens at around 8' - a lens like this isn't really meant for capturing beautiful images of very far-off subjects. Sure, it will get you into the scene and it's useful if you need a "record" shot of a bird or animal. But if you need 800mm to get enough pixels on a subject, then you probably need to move closer if you can, especially if you're limited to f9 anyway. I haven't got this lens because I have a 600mm f4 prime which works well with a 1.4 extender. I'm considering it though, for a lightweight walk around. As with my 600mm, I doubt I'd use it for distant subjects very often, unless I'm around water. I imagine it'll be excellent at close range though, especially for small birds with decent background separation in the scene.
Man the 600 f/4 is a serious lens! Personally, I think you'd be better off going with the 100-500 as a complimentary walkaround lens.
@@matthewgehly I think you're right - and the 100-500 is also on my list of potential walk arounds. I think they'd both have their strengths and weaknesses...
Great video and information. I don’t think I could handle the added 1.5lbs over my RF 100-500. I would love to see a comparison tho of the 100-500 with an extender compared to the 200-800…like with image quality.
Haha, I totally get it! Sometimes camera gear can feel like a workout on its own. I've never been a fan of extenders...just haven't had much luck with them. I've heard good things about the RF extenders though.
@@matthewgehly well I have the rf1.4x - it's a total love-hate relationship - rarely do I use it - HAS to be bright light IF I use it.
Great review, thanks for the comparison. Debating between this and the sigma 60-600, wonder how much of a difference between the 600 and the 800 maximum focal length.
Er 200 😂
Depending on what you plan to shoot, being able to be a bit wider at 60mm might be a nice option. If you're shooting small birds, you may be happier with this lens.
600 does not compare to 800.
Upgrade to Peak design strap with two points of contact, walking around in the countryside you are chancing it just using the handle/grip, Peak design are a love/hate I love mine
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely consider upgrading to the Peak design strap.
Nice video. I agree with you on the foot, but I wonder if Canon would have to pay license fees to use the arca swiss foot (I've never heard anyone comment on that). I notice that Nikon doesn't provide them either. As for the size of the 200-800, I think it is really unfair to criticize Canon on that point. First, they gave us the 200-800, a big deal (no one else has quite the same lens, yet). Also, do you really expect them to break the laws of physics to make the lens smaller? And you mentioned using the R7, so that can be added to the 100-500 for reach 800 mm, so that is your small size solution that doesn't break physics. Finally, Canon makes two lenses that can be referred to as an RF 800, one is the inexpensive RF 800 F11 prime, and the other is the ungodly expensive RF 800 F5.6L prime, so newbie shooters may not be aware of this point. Finally, any lens can suffer from atmospheric distortion, especially at large distance. I've had it happen in both winter and summer.
Thanks for the great comment, Roger. I agree with you on all points. Not really a criticism on the size of the lens...just a wish! :) That's a great point about the arca swiss, that seems like a good explanation as to why it wouldn't have one built in.
Another point is that, as hard as it is for many of us to believe, even though it is the "standard" of sorts, not everyone uses Arca Swiss. Attaching a permanent Arca Swiss foot would be a detriment to some. This way you can attach the plate that works for you. Also, I'm curious, do any lens manufacturers provide and Arca Swiss foot out of the factory? Not sure I have ever seen this, and wonder why it is all of a sudden a criticism of this partcular lens?
I'm looking to upgrade from a Sigma 150-600 to the Canon 200-800. Would you feel that it's enough of an improvement to justify the jump from the $800 Sigma lens to a nearly $2,000 Canon lens?
In general, I’m not a fan of third party lenses. I’ve never used the 150-600, but I’m really impressed with the 200-800. Using a mirrorless lens with a mirrorless camera is advantageous as well. Thanks for watching! 👍📷
I have a user of Canon R8 paired with Sigma 150-600 for almost a year. I got fantastic results, sharpness and low light images. Recently I bought Canon 200-800 and now I am selling my 150-600 Sigma. There is notable difference, I used to miss some shots because the sigma used to miss many crucial action moments because of "not so great" and "not so fast" auto focus. 200-800 solved the problem completely.
I add peak design anchors to my cameras and switch between a wrist strap and a neckstrap depending on the situation. And I never use the stock strap which has the “Expensive, steal me!” lettering on it.
Haha, I totally get it! The "Expensive, steal me!" lettering on the stock strap is like an invitation to thieves. Good call on using the peak design anchors and custom straps!
You should use a strap that connects to the tripod foot.
I plan to make that one of my next purchases. 👍 Thanks for watching! 😁
i picked up a new R7 some days ago and paired it with the cheaper RF100-400 first to see if this is something i wanna put a ton of money in. i am a canon guy. that being said i stopped shooting long ago and sold my EOS 7D. a year ago i got a new nikon p950 and suddenly found my love for phototgraphy again. sensor is terrible and the focus is slow. but boi i am spoiled with the 2000mm lens. living in china as expat i realize that i need a higher zoom because wildlife is so skiddish and scared here. walking in ninja mode helps nothing. everytime i come closer than 50 meters everything suddenly shuts up and disappears. 😢
thanks for this review. i am thinking about this lens. i even think about the 1.4x to get more reach. but thankfully you pointed out that this will create more problems. i would love to habe something at least around 1400-1800mm.
so my R7 is APSC right? means 800mm x 1,6 = 1280mm?
with the 1,4x it will be 1800mm and very close to what i am used to and where i am sure i can get close enough. but that also means f9 will end up being close to f13 right?
do you think its possible to get decent photos with that combo or will it probably end up in a iso party?😅
i am checking your channel now to see if there are more videos. 2 hours isnt enough with a new lens mate! cheers😊
Thanks for watching and for the great comment. Using the 800 on your crop sensor R7 will give you about 1120mm of reach. You’ll be able to crop to gain a little more. I really try to avoid cropping when shooting my R7 to maintain image quality. So glad that you have found your love of photography again. I’ve never experienced the p950, but I would think that the image quality will be much better with the R7 and any lens that you choose.
@@matthewgehly oh it is. nikons sendor is like a fingernail. super tiny. its a fun cam to use because you get 24mm all the ways up to 2000mm. but the R7 is of couse boat load better. too my first videos yesterday and try to learn color grading in davinci with clog3. not easy...
im still waiting for my 200-800mm 😅
It took forever to get mine. Waiting for gear can be frustrating, but trust me, it'll be worth it when you finally get your hands on that lens!
nah there's none available wonder how it compares too the Nikon 800 f6.3 at least that's in stock!
The stock issues are crazy. So thankful I was able to get mine. It’s such a fun lens!
would you like to join us in a livestream some time this month ?
Really appreciate the invite! Right now my availability is very limited, but I might be able to join you down the road. :)
I don’t think it’s that great of a lens , I use it with my canon r6 mii. I think people are trying to justify it due to the lack of RF super tele lenses available. I used my buddy’s Sony 200-600mm on a A7IV last weekend and man for the same price point I felt that Sony blew mine out of the water, I had a bit of buyers remorse lol.
Sorry you haven’t had a good experience. I love mine. 😁
I’d rather have a 150-600mm f/6.3 from canon. Even a 100-500 f/5.6 would be better than what they’ve given us.
It will be interesting to see what future prosumer megazooms Canon has planned after this one. Thanks for watching! 👍
i have had this lens for 3 weeks. i live in the uk. I have had nothing but super pictures .some 3000 pictures so far. I used a sigma f/6.3 150-600mm and still have the lens . i have used both on the same day and changeing several times.this lens is awsome far better then my sigma.. the turning for the zoom. has not given me any problems it turns smooth and is not a problem for me. nothing is perfect .if you can't get on with it.just stop moaning about it. oh the bag thing is nothing but getting something that will fit it.