I’ve watched a few other reviews of this lens in the past, yours conveyed the reality and details about this lens way better then those did. Another great review.
Can't comment on the 600 but the 800 blew me away for what it costs, very sharp and the ability to handhold with crazy low shutter speeds at this focal length is unreal. Blows my sigma 150-600 c with 1.4tc away. Autofocus is brilliant as well I find for an f11 lens. Also the weight....wow it's light for an 800 mm Highly recommended lens!
Having owned the 800mm version of lens for about a year, it is amazing for what it is. At $900 and at f11, it does have it's limitations with light and speed, but it is super sharp and produces amazing IQ if you have enough light. It's genius is in it's accessibility and I'm not talking about price, but that is a very nice factor. It is a brilliantly sharp 800mm lens that you can throw in the passenger seat of your car and carry around with you at all times since it weighs like 2 lbs and compacts. An epiphany!!!! I'm getting quite a kick at all the people downplaying it here, comparing it to 4-6 lbs behemoth lenses at smaller focal lengths even. Lol In reality, those lenses should be compared to their f4 brethren since they not only carry all of their negative attributes, but add to them. The best camera in the world is the one you have on you when the opportunity for a great picture arises. Good luck lugging around your 150-600 sigma wherever you go and it's only 600. These two lenses are specialized, uniquely designed for a specific purpose and are in a class of their own because of that. There's just nothing else like them!
@@DustinAbbottTWI Yes. It compliments my 600 F4 beautifully!!! In fact, I use it way more often because I have it on me way more often! Like I said it is the reason for these lens existing.
@@Canon1DMkII Yes, this is an extreme case. We're talking POUNDS of weight saving and FEET of space, not grams or cubic centimeters. Haha They're pretty crazy lenses.
Best review out there that addresses the main limitation of this lens: its F11 aperture. I think a 200-600 type lens would make a lot more sense, I'm willing to pay a bit more and carry a heavier lens but get the flexibility of the zoom range but most importantly F6.3 type apertures, which are almost 2 stops faster than F11.
I have the RF 800 and it is the lens I use for taking my shots of the moon. With the R6 body I can get sharp handheld shots each time the full moon pops around, cloud permitting, and every time I am very happy with the results. Sunny day wildlife shots are fun also. I wish you well and wonderful video as always sir.
Could you share settings to take photos of the moon? I am doing something wrong because the camera starts flashing a red light like is recording even though the camera is set on photo. Appreciate your help. Thanks. Maria
@@mariawhite6422 I find setting the camera to manual and iso 400 and shutter of 1/400 on my R6 to be a good start. Set the shots from single to multiple. Servo and tracking on. that should deliver great shots. On my R6 with the 800 I have stabilisation on both and shoot handheld. If you have a non IBIS R camera use a tripod. Hope that helps
This lens is a game changer for me because I can comfortably hold it for extended periods when taking videos of birds and the bird eye af on the r10 makes it easier to keep the subject in focus. Plus the stabilization is far better than the sigma 150-600 it replaced and I can shoot in 4k60p crop mode on the r10 to get more reach.
Nice thorough review looking at the lens from a photographer's perspective. I enjoyed your presentation, your professional insight as well as the beautiful photos. Thank you Dustin
Very underrated lens... it's sharp wide open! :) Jokes aside I'm very grateful for the informative review. I laughed at f11 after the announcement but I have used it out of curiosity and it really usable with great IS.
Worth mentioning that any noise and perhaps lack of sharpness can be mitigated with something like DxO Photolab Elite 4. Software is moving pretty fast in this area and getting better. Some of the "professional" photographers don't like it but for the amateur it's pretty useful and is leveling the playingfield a bit.
Very fair review. I've used mine for about 6months now, and I probably will want to trade-up, in a year or two? But the experience I've gained in shooting a long telephoto has been invaluable - being so portable I've shot soooooo many more pictures than I would have with a 'better', faster (and 2-3x heavier) lens. I think a lot of experienced photographers have forgotten what its like starting out!
Thank you for the great video Dustin. I cannot decide what to buy. 800 mm f11 or the 600mm f11. I recently tried holding them both attached to a R7. Though I prefer the reach of 800 mm lens, it was a bit too heavy for me. I felt more comfortable holding the 600 mm f11 lens.
I rented the 800mm from borrow lenses and fell in love. I placed an order shortly after renting it, and I waited two months for stock to replenish. Great lens for the rf bodies.
The RF800 is a slightly more compelling option mostly because of the extreme nature of the focal length. It makes you a bit more willing to tolerate its quirks.
Thanks for this in depth review, very well balanced and, as pointed out in other comments here, nice to see the real world approach. I read up on this and the 800mm version but opted for this as it would be easier to lug around along with my other lenses. As an entry level lens, and at a very affordable price point I’m looking forward to popping it on my R6 and seeing what I can do.
I only got into the r system because of the 800mm f11 STM lens. I bought an EOS R camera to go with the lens and I'm not disappointed, these lenses are brilliant! With the 600 and 800 STM lenses Canon have tapped into the budget wildlife photography market well. These lenses are great for the amateur wildlife photographer and maybe occasional use by pros where lugging around a big white is just not possible or practical.
There are no f11 lenses for reflex cameras because the image in the viewfinder will simply be too dark. You will be almost obliged to use Live View. Focusing is important but seeing what you are shooting too.
I wrote before at your RF 800mm F11 review this: A good review, but I do agree with some other good reviewers here on the internet that the F11 at 800mm with the modern camera's like the Canon R5 and modern software the high iso's are not that much of a issue anymore. I more and more belief this kind of comment is of an old era therefore. We are all getting old, me too being for decades a photographer. ;-) Grey hair etc. 🙂 This still counts for this lens also and I do think you are to negative about this lens about the diffraction also. I consider this issue to 'reviewer like' or not 'artistic' or open to 'suggestions'. 🙂 to much pixel peeping? Even with a bigger lens you'll have to go to F8.0 or even F11.0 to get a bird (... or lot's of other interesting subjects!) totally sharp and not only the eyes. Pictures like 'only sharp eyes' do get now a days even dull I think, far more of an Art it is to get a beautiful surroundings too in the image. You didn't mention practical issues like theft when you remain a 13.000 dollar of euro's :-) in your car is a BIG disadvantage. This lens you might do sometimes. And what about the kilo's and the number of times you would take a big lens with you on a walk? Friendly greetings from the Netherlands, Onno Nugteren photographer and filmmaker.
Fair enough, though I rarely if ever take any other lens to F11. F8, perhaps, but no further. Some people love this lens, but there are other options that I personally prefer.
Thank you Ferrari, thorough, well balanced, and overall excellent and very informative review of the 600 and 800 mm F 11 canon telephoto lenses-very helpful!
Have gotten some good shots of sea gulls bobbing away and leaves blowing in the wind with lots of sun light. I enjoy the lens very much as I am one of the masses that cannot afford the 600mm f4 options.
Hi Dustin, I do school photography - so it's a bit of everything, but mostly sport action photos. What lens would you suggest between the RF 100-400 and this 600mm? I'll be using the Canon R50. Many thanks!
I am using the 800 version, and the RF100-500 (together with 300 and 500 IS II EF lenses). As you mention in this video, this lens has not been designed to compete neither with the f4 supertele primes, neither maybe with the super tele zoom like 150-600 or the Sony 200-600. Its strength are compactness and lightness. For those who do birdwatching and wildlife not in a shelter, but walking, maybe with backpack during trekking, it gives unexpected chances to get the shot otherwise impossible to get carrying even a 150-600 (they are big). Yes, you can use a 100-400 with 2x teleconverter, and you get even more light gathering, but trust me, not the same sharpness and image quality, and also they are heavier. My big disappointment is the lack of a minimum of weather sealing, and as you mention the lack of lens hood (I found one for a third party supplier not original but designed for this lens, and I got it also to "punish" Canon for its short sighted commercial policy). The lens hood improve actually the sharpness of the lens. I used a lot for birds in Kenya during a couple of Safari where I tested both Canon R5/6 together with Sony A9II/A1. I got good results with the combination of RF 800 paired with R6 which has less megapixel and therefore less problems of diffraction compared with R5
Do you really need a tripod foot? Wouldn't a quick release plate be enough? That could even reduce vibrations compared to a tripod column unless the column is wide and heavy.
You can't rotate anything; it's in a fixed position, so your tripod head may not give you a very good vertical experience. There's a reason why tripod collars are rotatable.
Might be interesting to compare the RF800mm f11 with a EF400mm f5.6 and 2x tc? Especially the speed of the autofocus. I suspect that the 800 will outperform the 400 in autofocus by some way and weigh a lot less, more compact and the aperture won't ened up miles away either. For less money.......
The aperture would be equal (F11), and the autofocus would definitely not be as fast. Most importantly, though, the 400mm combo would have no image stabilization (except from the camera body, perhaps), which would make that a very difficult lens to handhold.
Hello, how would you compare the RF 600 mm to the RF 100-400 mm? I have found that the minimum focal distance in the 600 mm is quite limiting when wanting to shoot birds closer to you
Good review Dustin. You help me decide to change my mind about the Canon RF 600mm. I choose the Sigma 150-600mm sport instead. I should get it this weekend. Glad you force me to tip the balance towards the Sigma.
It’s not really my intent to convince anyone NOT to buy it, but rather to help them make an informed decision. The Sport has its own quirks, largely including being extremely heavy out at the end of the lens, which makes it harder to balance. It’s a good lens optically, though.
Great review Dustin! I have the canon EOS R6 MII and the RF600 mm you are reviewing. My question is what are the settings for taking moon photos. I tried to photo the moon last night but my screen wash flashing a red light and showing a red camera icon I think it was recording, even though the camera was set to photo. I am new to photography and I would love to photograph the moon. Your advice is much appreciated. Maria
You definitely can take moon photos (I did). What you are describing is that for some reason you weren't getting focus lock. If you can't get autofocus (I'm not sure why you wouldn't), just manually focus.
Two points, on another site, a review of the R5 1.4 firmware indicated that the R5 started focusing faster with big white glass, I wonder if that update would improve that initial pause in focusing. Second, with diffraction do you think the R6 may be a better option with these lenses? At the same time I bet printing the results would offer little difference.
My R5 has the most recent firmware, so I don’t think that’s the problem. The R5 is still going to give you more flexibility for printing than the R6, but at a pixel level your observation is probably accurate.
Don't lose hope Dustin, it may be that in the year 2035 Canon will begin to include the lens hood. Not even in my dreams I think I buy this lens, because it has no use for the photography I do, but it is always pleasant to listen to your relaxing presentation.
I don't get where he is talking about the lens not coming with a tripod foot. It works perfectly fine attaching a tripod to the lens without a "foot". Not sure he really understands this lens. Yes it has some limitations, but for the price this is significant. I use mine on the R7 giving me effectively 960mm and images are sharp and clear.
@@DustinAbbottTWI But not mentioned in the video. And you can go vertical with a tripod although not easily. When reviewing, talk about all of what a product has.
I think money would be better spent on a second hand 100-400mm mk2 if getting reach on the cheap is important so you also have option of a crop sensor. Although I do think the 800mm version might be interesting.
There is a 3rd party hood on Amazon for the 800 f11 that costs less than $20. Too bad Canon did not include it, but I’m sure not doing so is helping them turn a profit during times when most other camera makers are struggling to do so.
@@DustinAbbottTWI It definitely is cheap but when a lot of other camera makers are not making a profit, these things happen. Apple has been doing this for years and I think a lot more companies are following their lead these days. One thing is for sure, I'd never buy a Canon hood for a low-end lens if there is a 3rd party one available (the Canon lens is just going to be overpriced), so this opens up opportunities for smaller companies to get a piece of the pie.
Interesting theory, but I’m not sure you’re correct. The Canon EF 70-300 DO has an aperture iris and can be stopped down like a traditional lens. It’s not the DO optics that limit it to F11; it’s the lack of an aperture iris.
I find it hilarious that you complain about the lack of a tripod collar but then show the lens in horizontal orientation ignoring the presence of the horizontal only tripod socket on the lens that is balanced more properly. Verticals will benefit from an L bracket or even a third party rotating ring which would be no problem to design if the market were there. What would make sense to me is an L bracket specifically designed to lock on to the raised block with the tripod screw but eliminating slippage. No 'like' here. Although the overall review may be fine, your choice to ignore the tripod threads and use the on on the camera was a deal-breaker and brings into question any other statements you made. 😥
I completely admit that I had not encountered the threading on this lens before (to serve to balance things better). I should have picked up on that, but, alas, I'm human and don't get it right every time.
Finally! The very first honest review of this lens! Always knew there should a lot of limitations in real world using of these two f11 lenses which nobody almost nobody talks about here on TH-cam, at least not as loud and clear to shows the audience the real compromises of such a dark aperture and also the focus area limitation. I hope some manufacturers give us something rather practical like a 500mm f8 or a 400mm f6.3. Though as you mentioned the innovation the conservative Canon design team went for is so welcome!
@@aceflibble Yeah I'm well awared of that mighty old lens. But the fact is the main reason to grab such a prime lens over a 100-400 is the size and weight saving. Which doesn't justify itself to be considerably lighter. That's why I asked for a 400mm f6.3 instead of 5.6, infact I can live with a 400mm f7.1 too if it be cheap enough and more importantly light! Imagine if you can carry such a lens for only around 700-800g weight in a hike!
Every review I seen on this lens makes it very clear what its limitations are. The fact is no one who is serious about long-lens photography would rely on either of these lenses as a primary do everything lens. These are sunny day, weekend warrior lens for those who don’t want a deep investment in gear. Lots of people can afford them and the are super lightweight for hiking and punch way above their weight. One simply needs to be clear on how these lenses should be used.
I suggest you rely less on TH-cam for reviews. Do so and you’ll find plenty of the negativity your looking for regarding this lens. However, did it occur to you that many of the TH-camrs giving positive reviews about this lens, do so because they like it?
@@RogerZoul How many real wildlife photographers do you want me to name to see how they campared this lens to a 600m f4! Of course they all talked about the limitations but none said mehhhh like Dustin did, they all were with the hype and was too excited about these lenses. Also IMO these lenses are not light in comparson to canon rf 100-500 and sigma 100-400 dg dn considering the F difference, do F11 I expected them to be even ligher, price is their only real advantage to be honest
@@frankanderson5012 Probably they like it for some few more bucks through their affiliate links! But that's not true about all reviewers on TH-cam for sure.
I got the 800mm and used it for my Wildlife work. And I dont like it. It is slow and inconsistent in autofocus, especially in difficult lighting situations - what also includes bright daylight situations with a lot if hard light and hard shadows. I am also not convinced from the optical quality, especially as I am into feather perfection. No, I cannot recommend this lens, for me the compromise here is too much. This lens goes back on sale, no, thank you, Canon.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Yes. It depends on what you are used to and what your expectations are. I come from a Canon 600mm 4.0 III, I thought the Canon 800mm 11 could be acceptable for me in terms of AF and IQ as I was looking for a lightweight lens. But no, it’s not. I cannot accept the compromises here. Not mentioning the cheap build quality.
I gotta say (Not on Canon) this lens just doesn't make sense. You can adapted EF 150-600s and you can now get the Tamron 150-500. And once that 150-500 gets into the used market, more reasons not to buy this. Canon cheeping out sure hits the nail on the head. You're first clip about being into photography for awhile and seeing this lens throws you for a loop....glad i'm not alone lol.
Actually the Tamron isn’t available for Canon RF. For me, I agree on the alternative of adapting a 150-600, but those lenses weigh 3-4x as much, which is a real deal breaker for some photographers.
It's a very unique and limited lenes, I was fortunate enough to experence one of these in a camera store, it really reminded me of the 100$ toy telephoto lenses on Amazon. Of course it's better than a toy, but it's not something I would pay almost 1000$ for. It says more about the limited options in RF system, the only native lense that has this kind of reach is RF 100-500mm , which is outrageously expensive. At the mean time in Sony system we have Sony 200-600mm, Tamron 150-500mm, Sigma 150-600mm DN, all of them are far better lense with a resonable prices.
I didnt watch the entire video yet - But I have to mention this: 100-500 RF stays at that 5.6 up until 380-390mm. The last 100mm changes to 7.1 So compared to 100-400 , you gain 100mm for 1 stop that doesnt even really matter.
I don’t think that works as a blanket statement. “Something better” may be too large and heavy for some photographers. This is a niche lens, but there is a market for whom this is the best choice.
Just know that the Sigma 150-600 Sport is a very large, heavy lens that takes some muscle to use handheld. In that regard it is not very comparable. The new DN Sport for Sony mirrorless is the better choice, but that won’t work on Canon, unfortunately
I'm back! SMILE! try putting some personality into your vids. A robot could do a better job. You are VERY dry. I'll be watching for your next IMPROVED vids. :)
I’ve watched a few other reviews of this lens in the past, yours conveyed the reality and details about this lens way better then those did. Another great review.
I’ve never watched any reviews of this lens, so I’m not aware of how others handled it, but I have had a number of people give me feedback like yours.
Can't comment on the 600 but the 800 blew me away for what it costs, very sharp and the ability to handhold with crazy low shutter speeds at this focal length is unreal.
Blows my sigma 150-600 c with 1.4tc away.
Autofocus is brilliant as well I find for an f11 lens.
Also the weight....wow it's light for an 800 mm
Highly recommended lens!
In many ways I think the 800mm makes more sense as it is more unique. There are other ways to get to 600mm, but few viable ones to get to 800mm.
Having owned the 800mm version of lens for about a year, it is amazing for what it is. At $900 and at f11, it does have it's limitations with light and speed, but it is super sharp and produces amazing IQ if you have enough light. It's genius is in it's accessibility and I'm not talking about price, but that is a very nice factor. It is a brilliantly sharp 800mm lens that you can throw in the passenger seat of your car and carry around with you at all times since it weighs like 2 lbs and compacts. An epiphany!!!! I'm getting quite a kick at all the people downplaying it here, comparing it to 4-6 lbs behemoth lenses at smaller focal lengths even. Lol In reality, those lenses should be compared to their f4 brethren since they not only carry all of their negative attributes, but add to them. The best camera in the world is the one you have on you when the opportunity for a great picture arises. Good luck lugging around your 150-600 sigma wherever you go and it's only 600. These two lenses are specialized, uniquely designed for a specific purpose and are in a class of their own because of that. There's just nothing else like them!
Sounds you are the perfect target audience for the lens!
@@DustinAbbottTWI Yes. It compliments my 600 F4 beautifully!!! In fact, I use it way more often because I have it on me way more often! Like I said it is the reason for these lens existing.
@@derekv6479 Portability of a camera lens combo are so often discounted. It is the same reason why I use a DSLR and a m4/3 kit.
@@Canon1DMkII Yes, this is an extreme case. We're talking POUNDS of weight saving and FEET of space, not grams or cubic centimeters. Haha They're pretty crazy lenses.
Best review out there that addresses the main limitation of this lens: its F11 aperture. I think a 200-600 type lens would make a lot more sense, I'm willing to pay a bit more and carry a heavier lens but get the flexibility of the zoom range but most importantly F6.3 type apertures, which are almost 2 stops faster than F11.
I do think there is a market for this lens, obviously, but it's maximum aperture does limit the scenarios where it is a viable option.
I have the RF 800 and it is the lens I use for taking my shots of the moon. With the R6 body I can get sharp handheld shots each time the full moon pops around, cloud permitting, and every time I am very happy with the results. Sunny day wildlife shots are fun also. I wish you well and wonderful video as always sir.
That’s a great application
Could you share settings to take photos of the moon? I am doing something wrong because the camera starts flashing a red light like is recording even though the camera is set on photo. Appreciate your help. Thanks. Maria
@@mariawhite6422 I find setting the camera to manual and iso 400 and shutter of 1/400 on my R6 to be a good start.
Set the shots from single to multiple.
Servo and tracking on.
that should deliver great shots.
On my R6 with the 800 I have stabilisation on both and shoot handheld.
If you have a non IBIS R camera use a tripod.
Hope that helps
Even though I am a Sony user, even with your reviews on Canon lenses, I find enjoyable to watch. Great review as always!
Thank you!
This lens is a game changer for me because I can comfortably hold it for extended periods when taking videos of birds and the bird eye af on the r10 makes it easier to keep the subject in focus. Plus the stabilization is far better than the sigma 150-600 it replaced and I can shoot in 4k60p crop mode on the r10 to get more reach.
That's fair!
Nice thorough review looking at the lens from a photographer's perspective. I enjoyed your presentation, your professional insight as well as the beautiful photos. Thank you Dustin
Glad it was helpful!
Very underrated lens...
it's sharp wide open! :)
Jokes aside I'm very grateful for the informative review. I laughed at f11 after the announcement but I have used it out of curiosity and it really usable with great IS.
LOL - in fact, its just as sharp wide open as it is stopped down ;)
Worth mentioning that any noise and perhaps lack of sharpness can be mitigated with something like DxO Photolab Elite 4. Software is moving pretty fast in this area and getting better. Some of the "professional" photographers don't like it but for the amateur it's pretty useful and is leveling the playingfield a bit.
That’s a fair point, though it involves outside variables beyond just lens performance, which is really what I’m here to evaluate.
Very fair review. I've used mine for about 6months now, and I probably will want to trade-up, in a year or two? But the experience I've gained in shooting a long telephoto has been invaluable - being so portable I've shot soooooo many more pictures than I would have with a 'better', faster (and 2-3x heavier) lens. I think a lot of experienced photographers have forgotten what its like starting out!
That’s a fair point, for sure.
Thank you for the great video Dustin. I cannot decide what to buy. 800 mm f11 or the 600mm f11. I recently tried holding them both attached to a R7. Though I prefer the reach of 800 mm lens, it was a bit too heavy for me. I felt more comfortable holding the 600 mm f11 lens.
I rented the 800mm from borrow lenses and fell in love. I placed an order shortly after renting it, and I waited two months for stock to replenish.
Great lens for the rf bodies.
The RF800 is a slightly more compelling option mostly because of the extreme nature of the focal length. It makes you a bit more willing to tolerate its quirks.
You left the titles of your last video on the chapters so they are meaningless for this video. You can change them by editing them in the description
They have been updated. I was in a rush to leave on a trip and wanted to get the video out there.
Thanks for this in depth review, very well balanced and, as pointed out in other comments here, nice to see the real world approach.
I read up on this and the 800mm version but opted for this as it would be easier to lug around along with my other lenses.
As an entry level lens, and at a very affordable price point I’m looking forward to popping it on my R6 and seeing what I can do.
Enjoy!
I only got into the r system because of the 800mm f11 STM lens. I bought an EOS R camera to go with the lens and I'm not disappointed, these lenses are brilliant! With the 600 and 800 STM lenses Canon have tapped into the budget wildlife photography market well. These lenses are great for the amateur wildlife photographer and maybe occasional use by pros where lugging around a big white is just not possible or practical.
Sounds like you were the perfect audience.
Paired with the RF100-400 and it’s a great combo
There are no f11 lenses for reflex cameras because the image in the viewfinder will simply be too dark. You will be almost obliged to use Live View. Focusing is important but seeing what you are shooting too.
True enough.
I wrote before at your RF 800mm F11 review this:
A good review, but I do agree with some other good reviewers here on the internet that the F11 at 800mm with the modern camera's like the Canon R5 and modern software the high iso's are not that much of a issue anymore.
I more and more belief this kind of comment is of an old era therefore.
We are all getting old, me too being for decades a photographer. ;-)
Grey hair etc. 🙂
This still counts for this lens also and I do think you are to negative about this lens about the diffraction also.
I consider this issue to 'reviewer like' or not 'artistic' or open to 'suggestions'. 🙂 to much pixel peeping?
Even with a bigger lens you'll have to go to F8.0 or even F11.0 to get a bird (... or lot's of other interesting subjects!) totally sharp and not only the eyes.
Pictures like 'only sharp eyes' do get now a days even dull I think, far more of an Art it is to get a beautiful surroundings too in the image.
You didn't mention practical issues like theft when you remain a 13.000 dollar of euro's :-) in your car is a BIG disadvantage.
This lens you might do sometimes.
And what about the kilo's and the number of times you would take a big lens with you on a walk?
Friendly greetings from the Netherlands, Onno Nugteren photographer and filmmaker.
Fair enough, though I rarely if ever take any other lens to F11. F8, perhaps, but no further. Some people love this lens, but there are other options that I personally prefer.
Thank you Ferrari, thorough, well balanced, and overall excellent and very informative review of the 600 and 800 mm F 11 canon telephoto lenses-very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Current Sony user and ex canon user! I always enjoy your videos no matter the gear!!
Thank you!
Have gotten some good shots of sea gulls bobbing away and leaves blowing in the wind with lots of sun light. I enjoy the lens very much as I am one of the masses that cannot afford the 600mm f4 options.
That's a big group of people that can't afford that lens!
Hi Dustin, I do school photography - so it's a bit of everything, but mostly sport action photos. What lens would you suggest between the RF 100-400 and this 600mm? I'll be using the Canon R50. Many thanks!
I am using the 800 version, and the RF100-500 (together with 300 and 500 IS II EF lenses). As you mention in this video, this lens has not been designed to compete neither with the f4 supertele primes, neither maybe with the super tele zoom like 150-600 or the Sony 200-600. Its strength are compactness and lightness. For those who do birdwatching and wildlife not in a shelter, but walking, maybe with backpack during trekking, it gives unexpected chances to get the shot otherwise impossible to get carrying even a 150-600 (they are big). Yes, you can use a 100-400 with 2x teleconverter, and you get even more light gathering, but trust me, not the same sharpness and image quality, and also they are heavier.
My big disappointment is the lack of a minimum of weather sealing, and as you mention the lack of lens hood (I found one for a third party supplier not original but designed for this lens, and I got it also to "punish" Canon for its short sighted commercial policy). The lens hood improve actually the sharpness of the lens.
I used a lot for birds in Kenya during a couple of Safari where I tested both Canon R5/6 together with Sony A9II/A1. I got good results with the combination of RF 800 paired with R6 which has less megapixel and therefore less problems of diffraction compared with R5
Fair points all around. I actually think the 800mm is more enticing than the 600mm because it offers a unique focal length.
Do you really need a tripod foot? Wouldn't a quick release plate be enough? That could even reduce vibrations compared to a tripod column unless the column is wide and heavy.
Yes, you could use a QR plate so long as you didn't need to shot in vertical mode.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Why not in vertical mode? Would the forces on a lens with a plastic barrel be too great?
You can't rotate anything; it's in a fixed position, so your tripod head may not give you a very good vertical experience. There's a reason why tripod collars are rotatable.
Remind me of the mirror lens with singular aperture from the manual focus film days.
I had a similar thought.
Might be interesting to compare the RF800mm f11 with a EF400mm f5.6 and 2x tc? Especially the speed of the autofocus. I suspect that the 800 will outperform the 400 in autofocus by some way and weigh a lot less, more compact and the aperture won't ened up miles away either. For less money.......
The aperture would be equal (F11), and the autofocus would definitely not be as fast. Most importantly, though, the 400mm combo would have no image stabilization (except from the camera body, perhaps), which would make that a very difficult lens to handhold.
Thank you Mr Abbott. Have a super day.
My pleasure.
Hello, how would you compare the RF 600 mm to the RF 100-400 mm? I have found that the minimum focal distance in the 600 mm is quite limiting when wanting to shoot birds closer to you
There are pros and cons. The 600mm is probably the sharper lens.
Your chapters don't match the video. They seem to be still from your previous video.
They’ve been updated. I had to rush this video out as I was leaving on a trip.
Thanks for the review!
Glad it was helpful!
Good review Dustin. You help me decide to change my mind about the Canon RF 600mm. I choose the Sigma 150-600mm sport instead. I should get it this weekend. Glad you force me to tip the balance towards the Sigma.
This lens is awesome
It’s not really my intent to convince anyone NOT to buy it, but rather to help them make an informed decision. The Sport has its own quirks, largely including being extremely heavy out at the end of the lens, which makes it harder to balance. It’s a good lens optically, though.
Great review Dustin! I have the canon EOS R6 MII and the RF600 mm you are reviewing. My question is what are the settings for taking moon photos. I tried to photo the moon last night but my screen wash flashing a red light and showing a red camera icon I think it was recording, even though the camera was set to photo. I am new to photography and I would love to photograph the moon. Your advice is much appreciated. Maria
You definitely can take moon photos (I did). What you are describing is that for some reason you weren't getting focus lock. If you can't get autofocus (I'm not sure why you wouldn't), just manually focus.
Two points, on another site, a review of the R5 1.4 firmware indicated that the R5 started focusing faster with big white glass, I wonder if that update would improve that initial pause in focusing. Second, with diffraction do you think the R6 may be a better option with these lenses? At the same time I bet printing the results would offer little difference.
My R5 has the most recent firmware, so I don’t think that’s the problem. The R5 is still going to give you more flexibility for printing than the R6, but at a pixel level your observation is probably accurate.
For $600-700 usd that’s definitely a beautiful quirky unique design I kind of like it.
It’s a good value.
Don't lose hope Dustin, it may be that in the year 2035 Canon will begin to include the lens hood. Not even in my dreams I think I buy this lens, because it has no use for the photography I do, but it is always pleasant to listen to your relaxing presentation.
LOL - nice one, Peter!
I don't get where he is talking about the lens not coming with a tripod foot. It works perfectly fine attaching a tripod to the lens without a "foot". Not sure he really understands this lens. Yes it has some limitations, but for the price this is significant. I use mine on the R7 giving me effectively 960mm and images are sharp and clear.
You can attach the lens right to a tripod, yes, but you lose the ability to shoot in a vertical position, for example.
@@DustinAbbottTWI But not mentioned in the video. And you can go vertical with a tripod although not easily. When reviewing, talk about all of what a product has.
I dont get it. How could difraction play a role here when there is no apperute iris to diffract light waves?
In this case diffraction is related to pixel density, so moreso about the camera sensor and the limitations of smaller apeture.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank You :)
I am a Sony user,BUT ALWAYS LIKE YOUR VIDEOS ,THANK YOU
Thanks for the nice feedback.
Question: is it possible to take moon photos with this lense?
Yes! Great photos!
I think money would be better spent on a second hand 100-400mm mk2 if getting reach on the cheap is important so you also have option of a crop sensor. Although I do think the 800mm version might be interesting.
It’s true that the 800mm offers something more unique because of the extreme nature of its focal length.
How long distance this lense can take clear picture of bird?
There's no way to answer that question. That really depends on the conditions.
Imagine a camera company bringing a long-range telephoto within the price range of the majority of people........ that will never work :)
It will for some people (who ‘get” this lens), but it doesn’t come without significant challenges, too
There is a 3rd party hood on Amazon for the 800 f11 that costs less than $20. Too bad Canon did not include it, but I’m sure not doing so is helping them turn a profit during times when most other camera makers are struggling to do so.
Hi Anthony - I’m not sure saving $20 and losing good will is worth it. It just seems cheap to me and out of step with the evolving market.
@@DustinAbbottTWI It definitely is cheap but when a lot of other camera makers are not making a profit, these things happen. Apple has been doing this for years and I think a lot more companies are following their lead these days. One thing is for sure, I'd never buy a Canon hood for a low-end lens if there is a 3rd party one available (the Canon lens is just going to be overpriced), so this opens up opportunities for smaller companies to get a piece of the pie.
This is a diffractive optic DO lens - diffraction is a feature and how this lens works and is why it must have a fixed apeture.
It sounds like you are saying that this lens must have a fixed aperture because of the DO technology. Is that so or did i misunderstand you?
Interesting theory, but I’m not sure you’re correct. The Canon EF 70-300 DO has an aperture iris and can be stopped down like a traditional lens. It’s not the DO optics that limit it to F11; it’s the lack of an aperture iris.
I find it hilarious that you complain about the lack of a tripod collar but then show the lens in horizontal orientation ignoring the presence of the horizontal only tripod socket on the lens that is balanced more properly. Verticals will benefit from an L bracket or even a third party rotating ring which would be no problem to design if the market were there. What would make sense to me is an L bracket specifically designed to lock on to the raised block with the tripod screw but eliminating slippage. No 'like' here. Although the overall review may be fine, your choice to ignore the tripod threads and use the on on the camera was a deal-breaker and brings into question any other statements you made. 😥
I completely admit that I had not encountered the threading on this lens before (to serve to balance things better). I should have picked up on that, but, alas, I'm human and don't get it right every time.
Finally! The very first honest review of this lens! Always knew there should a lot of limitations in real world using of these two f11 lenses which nobody almost nobody talks about here on TH-cam, at least not as loud and clear to shows the audience the real compromises of such a dark aperture and also the focus area limitation. I hope some manufacturers give us something rather practical like a 500mm f8 or a 400mm f6.3. Though as you mentioned the innovation the conservative Canon design team went for is so welcome!
@@aceflibble Yeah I'm well awared of that mighty old lens. But the fact is the main reason to grab such a prime lens over a 100-400 is the size and weight saving. Which doesn't justify itself to be considerably lighter. That's why I asked for a 400mm f6.3 instead of 5.6, infact I can live with a 400mm f7.1 too if it be cheap enough and more importantly light! Imagine if you can carry such a lens for only around 700-800g weight in a hike!
Every review I seen on this lens makes it very clear what its limitations are. The fact is no one who is serious about long-lens photography would rely on either of these lenses as a primary do everything lens. These are sunny day, weekend warrior lens for those who don’t want a deep investment in gear. Lots of people can afford them and the are super lightweight for hiking and punch way above their weight. One simply needs to be clear on how these lenses should be used.
I suggest you rely less on TH-cam for reviews. Do so and you’ll find plenty of the negativity your looking for regarding this lens. However, did it occur to you that many of the TH-camrs giving positive reviews about this lens, do so because they like it?
@@RogerZoul How many real wildlife photographers do you want me to name to see how they campared this lens to a 600m f4! Of course they all talked about the limitations but none said mehhhh like Dustin did, they all were with the hype and was too excited about these lenses. Also IMO these lenses are not light in comparson to canon rf 100-500 and sigma 100-400 dg dn considering the F difference, do F11 I expected them to be even ligher, price is their only real advantage to be honest
@@frankanderson5012 Probably they like it for some few more bucks through their affiliate links! But that's not true about all reviewers on TH-cam for sure.
I got the 800mm and used it for my Wildlife work. And I dont like it. It is slow and inconsistent in autofocus, especially in difficult lighting situations - what also includes bright daylight situations with a lot if hard light and hard shadows. I am also not convinced from the optical quality, especially as I am into feather perfection. No, I cannot recommend this lens, for me the compromise here is too much. This lens goes back on sale, no, thank you, Canon.
I’ve read from other users who really like it, which shows again that this isn’t a lens for everyone.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Yes. It depends on what you are used to and what your expectations are. I come from a Canon 600mm 4.0 III, I thought the Canon 800mm 11 could be acceptable for me in terms of AF and IQ as I was looking for a lightweight lens. But no, it’s not. I cannot accept the compromises here. Not mentioning the cheap build quality.
Well, presumably those 12000 dollars and the 4.5 pounds of extra glass and electronics do make a bit of a difference beyond 3 stops.
The 800mm STM f11 is not a pro lens, it's very good for what it does but doesn't resolve the exquisite detail of the finest glass.
I gotta say (Not on Canon) this lens just doesn't make sense. You can adapted EF 150-600s and you can now get the Tamron 150-500. And once that 150-500 gets into the used market, more reasons not to buy this. Canon cheeping out sure hits the nail on the head.
You're first clip about being into photography for awhile and seeing this lens throws you for a loop....glad i'm not alone lol.
Actually the Tamron isn’t available for Canon RF. For me, I agree on the alternative of adapting a 150-600, but those lenses weigh 3-4x as much, which is a real deal breaker for some photographers.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I forget what third party is for what in 2021 😂
So strange there's no aperture 🤔
It's a very unique and limited lenes, I was fortunate enough to experence one of these in a camera store, it really reminded me of the 100$ toy telephoto lenses on Amazon. Of course it's better than a toy, but it's not something I would pay almost 1000$ for.
It says more about the limited options in RF system, the only native lense that has this kind of reach is RF 100-500mm , which is outrageously expensive. At the mean time in Sony system we have Sony 200-600mm, Tamron 150-500mm, Sigma 150-600mm DN, all of them are far better lense with a resonable prices.
This is the limitation of not having third party lenses on Canon RF, for sure.
I didnt watch the entire video yet - But I have to mention this:
100-500 RF stays at that 5.6 up until 380-390mm. The last 100mm changes to 7.1
So compared to 100-400 , you gain 100mm for 1 stop that doesnt even really matter.
Well it's 363mm when it changes from 5.6 to 6.3.
@@networm64 Yeah, but to be honest I felt no difference using it in real situations 5.6 to 7.1.
@@Jin.Sensei and I normally stop down to f10 anyhow
That’s true, but I’m not sure it’s relevant here. Using a TC with that lens to get to 600mm will still bring you into similar aperture territory.
well that was a fast performance review... let's see the lens at f11... DONE.
Exactly. It almost felt weird.
One is better off saving up for something better.
No, this lens is good
I don’t think that works as a blanket statement. “Something better” may be too large and heavy for some photographers. This is a niche lens, but there is a market for whom this is the best choice.
I'd much rather have even a sigma 150-600 with adapter over one of these
You should try it
@@Yupthereitism for my needs the f11 won't do
Just know that the Sigma 150-600 Sport is a very large, heavy lens that takes some muscle to use handheld. In that regard it is not very comparable. The new DN Sport for Sony mirrorless is the better choice, but that won’t work on Canon, unfortunately
Dustin change the time stamps
Done.
Seems like a hard lens to use you're stuck with that focal length
I don't disagree, though the are a number of people who love it.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I don't shoot wildlife or sports so a 70-200 would be more suitable for landscapes
If this lens was F8 I would buy it. F11 is just too narrow an aperture for me.
That's fair.
Zoom ?
Nope - fixed focal length.
F11😅
I normally shoot at f10 so most of the critter is in focus. So, what is your point ? Btw, this is a DO lens, so diffraction is actually a feature.
My point is it’s a terrible lens
That’s definitely a limiting principle of the lens in a number of ways.
I'm back! SMILE! try putting some personality into your vids. A robot could do a better job. You are VERY dry. I'll be watching for your next IMPROVED vids. :)
Hmmm, you must be a delight at parties.
Stop being poor :)
LOL
Any crackpot scheme available? 😂🤣😂🤣🤣🤣