Great video. Nice to hear from an adult that understands the limitations imposed by optic physics on lens design. Also you gave people practical advice about using these lens, rather than photographing charts on a wall. And you gave us a look at the quality of the images obtainable with these lens and body combinations. Once again exceptional video. Thank you.
Thanks for this Brent, and all your other vlogs regarding theCanon RF 800mm f/11. I watched this and ordered one which I took out for the first time with my R6 yesterday, and I have to say I was gobsacked at the quality of the images at ISO 6400 (it was a dull day), and I got 2 keepers of a Kingfisher the likes of which I never thought I could achieve. Love the simple honest reviews, keep em coming.
Hi Brent, I have to say what a brilliant video, kudos to you. I have never watched one of your videos before and I can happily say this won't be my last. Your points, views and information about the 800mm on a R body especially the R5 & R6 is great. I love the unbiased way you give the pros and cons about the 800mm, your video is one of the best photography videos on a lens I have watched for a long time, keep up the good work from a new subscriber.
on a sunny day your birds in flight are sharp. On a sunny day, r u able to get sharp photos of the elk running with the 800mm Fll and did it focus/tract their eye when their running?
Thanks for the video. I have this lens along with the 100-500. You will love the 100-500, its a great lens. I'm looking now to see if you have a video on the 70-200. F2
I got the 1-5 shortly after this video and have had it ever since. It is definitely my favorite lens! I don't have the rf 70-200 f/2.8, I only have the f4 version.
Hi Brent, I really love watching you video’s. I have a Canon R6 mirrorless camera. I am getting to retire and I am starting to build up my lenses. I love nature photography and plan on including it into my vacations. I have a limited budget so therefore was wondering, should I purchase the Canon RF 800 f/11 or the Tamron 150-600 g2. I already have the Tamron 100-400 and love it.
As a "re-beginning" photographer, I can really appreciate the very technical explanations in a very understandable layman fashion. I was on the fence with this Tamron as I have an SL1, but your advice has convinced me to step out! I am ordering today with high hopes when the Meadowlarks return in the Spring!! Thank you!
Hi, here is my comment I have written earlier about this to another forum - maybe you find it useful: One thing good to remember when using higher pixel density sensors, like the 45Mp in R5, is DLA effect. Like with the RF 600mm or 800mm f/11 lense on the R5 you don't get any more resolving power by adding a teleconverter. With R5 the DLA effect begins already at f/6,6 (airy disc 2x pixel diameter). But it's really hard to notice so the typical formula used gives a value of f/8,2 (airy disc 2,5x pixel diameter). It's typically considered that DLA takes "full effect" when the airy disc from the diffraction reach 3x pixel diameter - in the R5's case at f/9,8. Even though the "maximum" DLA value is f/9,8 there is no real harm in using f/11 lens. But for easier composition/viewing it's probably better to use the APS-C crop mode instead of adding a teleconverter. Please notice that these DLA numbers are totally different for R6. They are: f/9,8, f/12,4 and f/14,6. So with f/11 lens on R6 you could possibly get some additional resolving power by using a 1,4x TC. Here is a link to DLA calculator. You can use any camera model with correct sensor size and just type in the proper resolution. www.photopills.com/calculators/diffraction
I'll say though, the current Canon RF-lens line-up is quite fantastic. It is really the biggest draw of the R system for me: the lenses. The cameras themselves, despite their fantastic specs, don't appeal that much to me but the lenses -- the line-up as a whole and also the individual lenses -- look so much more appealing than the current Nikon Z offerings!
A most enjoyable, easy to watch video on the RF800. I, normally come away from most reviews with more questions than answers or solutions but you covered everything a viewer could want to know about this lens. Before I could finish the review, my finger was compelled to find and click the subscribe icon. Looking fwd to your other videos. Nicely done and much appreciated, Brent.
Well... i go since months anyways RF only (50mm 1.8) because of convenience. I have multiple usable EF lenses from 16-300mm in Zooms and 100mm macro/portrait lens as well as another 50mm 2.8 macro. Even a Meike EF RF filter adapter and V-ND as well as PL filter. But ANY of my EF lenses is only used if i really want to go photograph intentionally and then i pick the ones i really need. Just to compare - my 70-300mm with EF RF adapter is AS HEAVY as the RF 800 F11. And the IS in the RF 800 is superior to the one in the 70-300, as well as the AF. But if i use the EOS RP daily - compact size is a must have. the 50mm 1.8 STM is pretty much perfect (next to the 35mm IS STM which i will get some day). The 800 F11 just is a nice addition, the 1,2kg are not really noticable in the backpack, just waste a "big" amount of space if there isnt a properitary bag for it. Hiking and superteles were since ever a painful compromise, not so with the RF 800. In fact i love the adapter, especially because i dont have to care about dust as much anymore with the filter adapter and that you can use the filters at ANY EF LENS! This reason was the only one which led me partially to a 150-600mm sigma, but i dont need any filter at all at a super tele, i dont need the zoom really... i just want focal range and good, NON PULSING Autofocus, so "sadly" i have to go native RF mount when price is a huge concern next to mobility/weight. Edit: not the 70-300 is as heavy as the RF 800, a 28-135mm IS USM on EF RF adapter is! Just such a "small" basic zoom! Even this single lens is already annoying to carry, let alone a set of different zooms... I hope Canon release more lightweight stuff, this obviously affects price positively for us poor hobby photographers.
Brent, I'm not a pro like you, just an old lady skywatcher, but this was a really informative review, thanks so much for taking the time and effort to put this together. I love the RF 800mm lens even with the RF 2x extender on it. I use it for filming the planets and moon, and then getting even extra reach past the 1600mm by using an external recorder and the camera's magnify zoom of 5x-10x which can be recorded externally. I was surprised that at F/22 that the camera can still auto focus, which amazed me. Anyway, thanks again for doing this. :)
were you able to photograph jupiter with the rf 800 and the x2 extender? I've seen some of your videos as well i know you photographed and did videos of the moon but were you ever able to do jupiter? my current gear isn't powerful enough to capture it which was why i was wondering if you used this lens and 2x extender to photograph or video it
@@RandomGuy-qn2fr Hello there, yes, I do film Jupiter & Saturn with the RF800 & 2x extender but doing so in video and not photos. If you check my latest videos I do have both those planets along with the moon.
Great video! Some the best wildflower photos I’ve ever taken were with that 150-600. The photos out of the 800 are impressive. Your second breakfast is well deserved. 🤠
Hi Brent, I'm subscribing to your channel b/c I love the fact that you are using similar camera equipment as myself and your passion for wildlife. Looking forward to your future videos!
Hey thanks for the sub, and the kind words, I really appreciate that! Check out my wildlife playlist if you want to see more wildlife specific videos. I've got quite a few on there. :)
For astrophotography (if you can track/guide and get away with 5 minutes+ exposure times!) its definately good. But unguided, especially untracked i would not try anything except the moon, just said. But whats positive (and why im using the RF 800 somtimes to a "heavy" EQ mount adapted and guided via PC): The image quality of the RF 800 F11 is better than a 750mm (non photographic) newton with F5 which is more or less the cheapest entry in proper astrophotgraphy with 700mm+ The biggest joke of this setup... tripod, motorized mount, weights... add up to about 20-25kg, to mount 1,8kg of camera+lens. But its a huge advantage: my cheap EQ3-2 mount is very precise with the "non existing" weight! The stars are slightly sharper and in overall more detailed, especially on the edge, much less vignetting and idk.. i once thought im a fan of the X shaped halos with newtonians... refractors have another, different style but i also like it now! I have just a basic, older 750mm newton so i dont have any experience with "big boy" telescopes, but they are anyways much more expensive than the RF 800.
To me, those are two very very different lenses for very different things. Aside from the obvious, the price, the weight, and the aperture, I just know know why one would compare things like that. I think it would compliment any of the big whites very nicely, because it's so light and affordable, and quite sharp. The 800 will be much more limited in less-than ideal light, but much more versatile in carrying capabilities.
@@BrentHall Was just curious as I was out birding the other day and some guy came up to me and said his RF 100-500 was better than the EF 600 II I have because it's lighter and on native RF mount, and because he can use ISO to compensate for f7.1.
Well that guy is just silly. Those just aren't two directly comparable lenses. Maybe it's better for him personally, but that's just because of his needs and preferred shooting style.
Hi Brent, I am just not getting the sharpness with my 800 that I see in your amazing pics, the bird eyes are just a little blurry. My 100-500 gives me much sharper pics in the same setting. Any tips for me?
Well I'm pretty sure the RF 100-500 is a sharper lens all around, but it could be a number of things, including shutter speed, light, subject movement, heat haze, etc.
Torn between the RF 600, 800 and Tamron 150-600. I have several lenses and 1.4/2.0 TC so it seems logical for me to get the 800 which does not overlap with my existing setup. I can get 800mm by using my 100-400 with a 2x TC but I don't get good results with the 2x TC. Most of my photography is outdoors (hiking, camping, 4x4) so non-weather sealed is a major bummer. I also realize I need to start committing to RF. Canon IBIS is most utilized with RF IS. So far looks like RF 800mm with my EF 100-400 with optional 2x would be a great combo just like you described. Helpful video! Thanks!
My 100-400mm II. So I am making the move to mirrorless. I briefly considered Sony but have decided on an R6/100-500mm/RF800mm. I will wait to purchase the 100-500mm to see if the price come down, I forsee this lens being used later on an APS-C "R7" later. Thanks for your review here that backs up my thinking.
No, you shouldn't have to get any lenses calibrated on a mirrorless camera, unless the lens has a firmware update or something, in Tamron's case, then you would need their TAP console.
Brent, this is a really great video because you talk about reality more than specs. I'm so glad you went off on your 'tangent' because you made a point that we all need to think about more. That point is that if you are photographing birds, there is some distance at which a lens will not be able to resolve fine detail. Last year at Bosque is borrowed a 600mm Big White from the Canon table and shot it on my 5Dmiv with a 1.4x. It was amazing, but I still found that eagles atop the dead tree in the 1st pool were only ok. Why, because they were 1000' away. For me, I think I'll sell my 7Dmii, 100-400, and 1.4x and buy the RF 100-500. That extra 100mm feels necessary. I've shot 100k images with the 7d & 100-400 and I know how to make that work. But the 100-400 on full frame isn't enough. I'm in western PA so I shoot warblers and sparrows in darker forest so I can't get any closer than the birds will allow. I've only had my R5 for a week so I'm still learning. I want to use the amazing video functions but can't get my computer to play anything I shoot. I'm hoping you can do something on that subject showing how you've set the camera up and how you process the video. Sorry for the long winded comment but you really hit the nail on the head on so many points. Well done! Thanks again for the great content.
Hey thanks for the comment, and the kind words Dave! I definitely know the struggle of the eagles in pond 1, lol. I lead workshops there a lot in the winters and there's always someone in the group who tries to photograph them way out there and I always try to tell them to not even bother, and to wait until they come closer. I definitely want that RF100-500 too, and I'm saving up for it, but it'll be a while cause that thing expensive! I do plan on doing some more settings videos about the R5 and R6 and how I have them set up for wildlife. I was also toying with a video on how, why, and when I film in 8K with the R5. If you like more of the technical stuff, and want to see how I edit more images and set things up and the bts, I do more of that stuff with the green and chai tea member levels of the channel memberships. I am going to try to get on that R5 and R6 settings video here pretty soon though.
Thanks very much, Brent, for a very thorough evaluation. I'm looking forward to getting the R6 and the 800mm in late fall. Hope Canon has a Christmas special!
One thing that has suprised me just a lately is I’ve just got a old ef400mmf5.6L and with the ef 2xiii and that then becomes 800mm f11 but yet that will allow full frame animal eye af even if I wind the aperature right down f32 the af is still spot on so why can’t the rf800 with its newer technology st least allow full frame af😢
Great video. I have the Sigma 150-600. I use the Sigma 2x tele on it I have been pleasantly surprised by the great performance and image quality with the R5. I do get the sigh factor with the adapter plus the tele. It’s a lot.
Thanks Rocky! That's good to hear. I haven't ever tried the Sigma with their TCs, so it's good to know you're able to still get some decent results with that combo.
hi Brent , thx for your video ;) but did you ever think about an ext. Tube ? the large change the focusing distance from ca. 3m- 30ms (in feet its ca. 10-100feet) (no infinity but as you described if its to far away....
@@BrentHall thrd party ext. tube for rf( its also usefull with thr rf 85 f2 macro) i put it between the two extenders to have them faster if i need one, like a protection distance ring. So if you have your extenders with you , you have also the ext. tubes(2).with the 800 i use a 25mm ring the 12mm bring not realy a big difference
Sorry, a bit late to the party. I have the Tamron150-600mm for my canon 90d. I've just purchased the R5, and after watching this, I'm stoked to know it will work reasonably well. Do I need a specific converter for the Tamron or are they all the same? Thanks, and Happy New Year 🎉
Thank you very much for a thorough and honest review. I sold my Tamron 150-600 G2 and bought the Canon 100-400. Very happy with that decision. How does the RF 800 compare to the Tamron in terms of sharpness? Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words John! I think in good conditions they're both pretty sharp, though I might give a very unscientific slight edge to the 800mm (again, only in good conditions, with a decently close subject).
I don't know if there's an rf extension tube yet? I doubt I'd use it though, especially since I got the 100-500. I'll just use that lens for when I'm in places where the birds get closer than 20 ft.
I'm about to make the jump to mirrorless. Probably going to start with the R6, coming from the 90D. Never shot full frame before. Love how much better it will be in low light than the 90d. But I'm worried about losing that little bit of "focal length" from the 1.6 crop factor on the 90D, and I'm worried that the R6 is only 20 megapixels compared to the 32.5 on the 90D. Do you think that the Tamron at 600mm on the R6 with cropping will be better than the 90D at 600 with the additional 1.6 crop factor of the smaller sensor?
I think a lot of people get carried away with worrying about resolution. Don't get me wrong, I love my R5, but I won't hesitate to use my R6 for ANYTHING that I need to capture, whether it's for fun or for a paying gig/client. I think the upgrade to mirrorless and benefits will far outweigh the lower resolution. The R6 AF alone is worth it for me personally, not to mention the high iso performance. That's just my 2 cents though. also, I did another video recently about birding and wildlife photography with just the R6. It might help you get a better visual of my thoughts.
@@BrentHall hell yea! Do you know if this combination gets eight stops of stabilization? I don’t recall what you get when you combine these two pieces together Do you have the hand with a + next to it on your screen?
@@Thomasjcolbert82 I think it's theoretically supposed to be like 7-8 stops of IS combined or something like that, though I don't feel like my real world usage is that high, maybe like 5-6 stops on average, but I haven't done any real tests on that. And yes, I have the hand with the plus sign on my screen.
is there any video in your youtube canon 100-400 mark ii vs tamron 150-600 g2 at the zoom point 400mm or with 1.4x mark ii converter with canon 100-400markii lens ??
I always see the RF800 tested with the R5 or R6, but i cant afford to upgrade from my EOS R. I'm very tempted to buy this lens as i use a EF 400mm f/5.6L with 1.4 extender (the adapter makes this quite a handle). I'm always left wondering if Id be disappointed with the ISO performance with this lens and R camera.
The R5 and R6 are both a step up in terms of high iso performance from the R, but not drastically. The R still has a great sensor and I'd personally use the 800mm on if that's what I had. I've used it on my RP a couple times and it's been fine for most things, as long as you manage your expectations.
Brent, I have been shooting Nikon for 50 years. Really! I have lots of big glass like a 600f4, etc. I have played with Sony's new stuff and the Nikon Z series, but with these two new f11 lenses I had to buy my first Canon. I know, been shooting forever and never shot or held a Canon. So, I got an R6 and the 600m f11, The 800m is on the way. I live on the water in Florida. I shoot daily. Your video is so spot on. This combo is nothing short of amazing. I shot a wood stork today in the afternoon at ISO1250 at 1/1250. The results are incredible. The focusing system on the R6 is so easy. The combo is great. This morning I shot pelicans because that is what was around. The way the focus tracking hung on to the birds was fantastic. I used the mechanical shutter which is plenty fast enough. This 600 f11 prime is really good and fun.....but if you are used to carrying heavy SLR's or even Mirrorless with big glass, this this guy is very sharp, light and fun. Oh, and with a background that is a good distance from you subject, you get plenty of bokeh. Anyway, great video and your experience is just what I experienced today. Anyone shooting wildlife will love these lenses. Thanks.
Hey thanks for the kind words Ralph, I appreciate it! That's awesome to hear. You have such great birding in that area for sure! I definitely appreciate the AF system of the r5 /r6 and the weight savings of the 800. It makes a huge difference for me not to have to carry around big heavy setups all the time.
Hi Brent , awesome video and thanks for clarifying lot of things . Question about Tamron 150-600, do you miss lot of shots ? (Out of focus or blurry) ? Thanks
So, when I did this video, the lens performed okay, and while the af still wasn't as good as native lenses, it worked decently enough, but since then Canon has done a lot of firmware updates on their mirrorless bodies and the 3rd party lenses just don't work well enough to be trusted (at least for me), so unfortunately I don't use any 3rd party lenses anymore.
I'm a Nikon shooter so the review of the 800mm doesn't apply to me, but still such a helpful video! Walking through the pros and cons of these lenses in such a logical way was really great. I think the points you made are applicable to other lens and camera decisions and will really help me think through some of this stuff in the future. Thanks!
I mean, glass is almost always the better choice for upgrading. Glass is the first point at which light enters your camera and if it's poor quality, then there's no helping the image, so yeah, if you're serious about getting better at photography and have the money then investing that amount in a better lens is the way to go. As for which lenses at that price, I don't know. since I moved to mirrorless I've been out of touch with EF lens prices, so I couldn't say which one would be best for you a that price. I think Sigma also has a 150-600 that in the same ball park as the tamron. then there's the Canon 400mm f5.6L, which is super old, but still an L lens, small, light, and might be in that price point.
I don't know. That depends on what you want, what you feel like dealing with, and what you can afford. The 1-4 is lighter, faster, and sharper, but not as long, and more expensive.
I've been shoot film mostly in heavy wooded forests with my Canon T90 and 400mm f2.8 L FD and mostly with 1.4x and 2.0x sometimes combined. I use Kodak Portra 800 at ISO 2000. My Canon A2e serves my EOS lenses upto 100-400 w/1.4. I rented the Canon 400mm DO and liked that lens alot for weight savings. I've been on the fense for the 400mm 2.8 or the DO. WHen these leses came out I had another pause, but then there is the body for digital. EF adapter to my EOS A2e? Possible?
The only way you'll ever be able to use the 800 f11 is with a Canon mirrorless camera. They will never make adapters for the RF lenses to be used on anything else, because it's not physically possible.
I have a R5 with the Tamron 150-600g2 and I shoot birds.... how about using a Canon 300mm F4L with a 2x extender iii! instead of say the RF800 or RF600?? would dat be a more lfexible combination than the RF 600 /800 F11 limitations????
I used the 300 f4 for many years, and it was a mostly great little lens, but I personally never had any good results with a 2x on it, at least not to my standards anyway. Also, just my 2 cents, but I'd take my 800 f11 over that pretty much every time, even with it's limitations. that's just me though.
Excellent! For fast birds in flight it pretty difficult compared to the RF 100-400mm in terms of auto tracking and auto focus. 2024 I bought the RF 800m F/11 used in excellent condition for $600.
Hi Brett, love your videos, this one was super informative, i bought a tamron 150-600 g2, after your review and im very happy with it, i have a dslr and i want to purchase an R5. My first question is about the compatibility of the tamron with the R5, there is any issue with it? Did you need to update your lens through the tap in device??. And my second question is about you shimoda backpack, which one is? Im searching about the “Shimoda action x50”. thanks for all!!
Hey thanks! No, there's no compatibility issue b it works great on both my R5 and R6. I did not have to update the lens or anything. And yes, the bag I have is the action x50. It's the best bag I've ever had.
Hi sir. I borrowed my friend’s sigma 150-600mm and the auto focus is very very suck. I wonder do you have the same experience with Tamron G2 as well or it works fine for you ?
Quick question: would this 800mm lens (with or without 2x conv.) deliver an image of recognizable facial features during overcast winter dusk at, say 100-200m with Canon R6? We are not talking about art here, this is law enforcement related, so iso could go sky high. Manual cropping is also acceptable.
Idk, that's pretty far away. You'd have to crop a lot, and that wouldn't be optimal for either the r6 or the lack of light, which would hurt the iq even more. It might be possible though.
Brent, sorry to hit you up. Is there any cannon contact I can get in touch with USA based to receive a loaner copy ?? We can talk private as well. I want to do a small review and am more interested in seeing in hand what my compromises will be using the 800mm f11 and RP/R/R5 setup. Thanks again Stafford.
Heya, I noticed you hold your camera up towards the sun a lot when you talk to the other camera. I believe the R5/R6 can burn the sensor if you do that a lot. Just FYI!
Thanks for looking out. I appreciate the tip. I've been trying to form the habit of putting my lens caps back on when not in use, but it's a work in progress.
@@BrentHall Yeah I literals never put lens caps on.. I keep the camera in a good spot where it won't get scratched typically.. and I have some dust cloths. It's a new to me camera (the R6) so I will also need to get used to it. I am still torn about gettin the 600 or 800.. ugh.. there is also a nice L 400L 5.6 about the same price, and used even better. I've never shot with a lens that long ever. I want to double it up for moon/sun photography so I am thinking the stabilization in these new lens's will out perform that 400.. but with the 400 I can get less noise.. also the lightness of that 600/800 sound amazing. I have no idea what I would prefer tho the 600 or the 800. I think the 600 would due.. I just don't want to be disappointed I didn't go to 800. I could imagine 600 to be quite shocking though after only having 135mm. I think 600 is more realistic.. I've just not hit buy yet!
Another great video, but do have a couple of questions: A. How do the following setups compare to the tamron and the canon 800mm; especially for IQ: 1. R5 body coupled with the 100-400mm II and the 1.4x teleconverter for 560 mm f/8, and 2. canon 7d II with the 100-400mm II and 1.4x teleconverter for 896mm and f/8. B. IF canon releases an ASPC mirror less body (1.6x crop) - what affordable lense would you recommend?
Well I haven't done any scientific tests, or any tests really, that encompass those combos. I still prefer the 800 to the 100-400 with TC most of the time (unless maybe I needed the weather sealing). I personally wouldn't ever consider the 7D2 anymore (I sold mine a long time ago and never looked back), so that one's out for me. (I still think it's a great budget camera for entry level stuff though) If canon came out with an APS C mirrorless, personally I still wouldn't get it (can you tell I'm not a fan of crop bodies?) but that's just my personal tastes based on my experience, my current gear, and my shooting style. I wouldn't take anything over my R5 at this point. But if you were to get said APS C mirrorless, I'd still recommend the same lenses. The most versatile and budget friendly being the Tamron 150-600 g2. Again, these are all just my personal preferences, and everyone's different, for their needs and styles, etc. It just comes down to what you think would would for your budget, comfort, and style of shooting.
Thank you! I kind of figured the Canon RF 800mm might be better than the 100-400 II with the 2x Tele but wasn’t sure. Just got the 100-400 and experimenting with the 2x III using my Canon 6m Mark II with a speed booster giving me 200-800mm Zoom at F8. Would love an R7 with a Speed Booster, hopefully in the future! 😊
Trying also to find a Speed Booster for my R5 to use in crop mode for both videos and photos for extra light and shallower depth of field making my lens one stop faster.
Are you still happy? I also have "just" the R and consider to buy the RF 800mm F/11- thank you in advance. Do you have maybe instagram with some sample shots of this combination EOS R + RF 800mm?
@@tomkro9704 Hi Tom, yes still happy with the RF 800 mm. It is very light also. I do have an instagram (pierre.boulay) and a 500px account (boulayp). The majority of the photos in last 2-3 months are with the 800 mm. The only downside with an 800 mm, sometimes you end up to close to the subject. You will also find a few shots of the full moon taken without the use of a tripod and came out great.
Brent, great video as always…. I’ve to the 100-500 and looking at the 1.4x (even with it’s downside of 300 mm widest restrictions). I sold my 150-600 Tamron because of weight. Went directly to your web site and didn’t see the listing of new workshops (just 2021 balloon festival) but will check again. Thanks so much!
Hey thanks Steven, I'm glad you liked the video! Yeah, the 1-5 with the 1.4 is still a solid combo, even with the 300mm minimum issue. I haven't updated the website yet because I'm just not sure what I'm going to do about future workshops. I've been having a lot of cancelations lately due to people's travel restrictions and everything else related to the pandemic, so it's a bit difficult for me to commit to a full workshop right now. I am however, still running private workshops for individuals and/or small groups across the sw right now. I am doing places like Bosque del Apache, White sands, El Malpais, the Gila, and more (for wildlife, landscape, and/or astrophotography). These are great because they're much smaller, and I can do them more often and with much less hassle than a full workshop. So if you're interested in anything like that then just email me any time and we can make something happen.
Hi Brent, great video, really enjoyed watching it.. I live in London, Uk and I've just bought the R6 & 600mm F11. Used it on some squirrels in the park and owls so far, both on gloomy days and the results are decent enough for the lighting. Just wondering, where did you get your camo coat from please?
@@BrentHall Thanks for getting back to me. I had a crazy session with a barn owl again today. They came out for second breakfast. Ha! Could you link it for me please? Stay safe. Andy.
Technically, the longer the focal length, the more those issues show up, but I'd say they're both pretty close since they're both quite long focal lengths.
@@BrentHall yeah Tnx , I know from my experience that up to 400mm it is rarely a problem but in the same conditions if you use a 600 you may notice it that’s why I wonder since you are already out there at 600mm if the extra 200mm make any discernible difference. or if it is clear at 600mm it will be clear at 800 I appreciate that if there is haze at 600mm the 800 obviously will be hazy. And I’m asking you cause you’ve been shooting them side by side and it seems to me that the 600mm shots you shared with us didn’t have any (noticeable) haze and so did not the 800 either. But did you come across situations that the 600 didn’t have haze and the 800 did?
@@BrentHall haha. Maybe so. Had the tap in to them and think the update was for 150-600 and 70-200. They wrote that it was for the r5 and r6. But guess you havet had any problems with them on those camera then.
I dont mean to criticize but: Glacial shutter speeds and does the autofocus even work at f11? I'd be more likely looking at the old tiny 1000mm & 500mm reflex lenses...
I don't know what you mean by glacial shutter speeds, but the AF works incredibly well at f11 on both the R5 and the R6, and it did just fine on my RP as well.
Thanks for the video. I have a question for you. I am a Nikon APSC shooter with the Sigma 150 - 600 mm and love the combination. However, I am going to switch over and get the Canon R6 because of the much better autofocus system, especially for wildlife and BIF which is my favorite type of photography. With the Tamron 150 - 600 or the Sigma 150 - 600 on the R6 d you need to use the lens adaptor to make them compatible? If you use a 1.4xTC do you also need to use the lens adaptor as well? What do you think of the somewhat new RF 100 - 400 lens, it seems to have good reviews? I’m just afraid that the 100-400 mm length on a full frame R6 is too short, especially for me coming from the Sigma 150-600 on an APSC. Thanks!
Yes, you still need the adapter if you want the 1.4x tc on the 150-600. I actually did a review of the new RF 100-400 not too long ago. It will be much shorter than your 150-600 on your crop body camera, but it will be native RF with better AF, cheaper, and lighter. It's up to you weather any of that is more important than reach though.
Good review for me with R & R5 with 100-400 II, Sigma 150-60 at B&H to get one but whether to add any Expensive RF TCs to the mix for this lenses and wihich one (s)?
Thanks so much for this detailed video. You have touched on so many things that are key to me. I have an R6, just sold my Tamron 150-600 G2 for many of the same reasons you describe, and I bought the EF100-400mm II - Love it. But also considering to go RF800 for longer reach. Great content Brent - you have a new subscriber and IG follower. Keep up the good work
I picked up the RF 800mm F11 to get more reach with my R5 and I just can't afford the RF 100-500mm yet. But, I am struggling with this lens to get birds in flight. I don't know if it is me getting used to a 800 prime or if it is just to slow to get getting focus. I've gone back to my EF 100-400mm II for birds in flight as it seems to get focus much faster and doesn't hunt for focus as the 800mm did for me. I am using back button focus, but probably need to change my AF mode next time. What AF mode are you using for birds in flight and do you find it as challenging as I am coming from the EF 100-400?
I haven't really had any issues with BIF with the 800. I set up a double back button focus, and I use that method for all my wildlife, including BIF and I've been happy with it. I made a whole video about it.
I have r6 body , I am enthusiastic bird photographer ,after watching your video ,I am going to buy rf 800 . Thank you for unbiased opinion . Your new subscriber from india .
Hi. I really enjoyed the video. I have one question that I hope you will answer, though. You said that you wouldn’t extend the 100-400. Why is that? Is it because of sharpness, focus speed or another reason? I am a happy amateur, but I would of course want as good and sharp pictures as I can get. I consider the 100-400 extended, so I would like to hear your justification for your choice. I would think that the 100-400 would give great quality, even extended?
If you're talking about adding a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter on there, then yeah, I don't generally like to add TCs to zoom lenses, but that's just me. I made a video about it with the 100-500, which is similar. th-cam.com/video/iRb9XfAe9_4/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=BrentHall
One problem I would have going on a hike with the 800mm lens is that as you said it's not a do everything Wildlife lens. It would seem like, as in your video, you would need to take it along with another lens also so instead of having less weight you would be carrying two pieces of glass while hiking.
Hey brent lovely videos ! Im doing bitds and mammals , more birds now as i cannot move out if singapore. So what s ur final verdict ??? Will it work. In the long run??? I mean im not the beat or the fastest reflex guy .
The verdict is: it depends...on your situation, budget, shooting style, location, etc. Everyone is different and has different needs for gear, so I certainly can't tell people to just buy something that's good for me personally. Like I said in the video, I'm very happy with my RF 800, but I live in the desert with 330+ days/year of sunshine, so the f11 is not as big of a concern for me. The lack of weather-sealing is my biggest drawback though. If this is your only lens for wildlife, you might be better off with a 150-600 or similar lens, they are faster, and the tamron is weather-sealed and much more versatile.
@@BrentHall no this is my lens fr reach inly . My other lens are tge 100-400 mk 2 nd 500mm f 4 mk 2 , anyway after your video i hv alrdy bought it now ;)
Great video Brent. I really wanted to hear someone’s opinion on the Tamron 150-600 G2, the Canon EF 100-400 II, the Canon RF500 and the Canon RF 100-500. Thank you for clarifying my thoughts.
All of those are great lenses, and all have their pros and cons, but overall my favorite is definitely the RF 100-500. It's my favorite lens of all time. I'll be finishing it's review video very soon.
Superb video, I got a 150-600mm G2 with a 5DMKIV. after some microadjusting I just love It. I was thinking about getting the TC-x1.4x converter for the lens but you now I really have to think I over. Thanks!
How do you feel about the 800 lens with the R6, that's the combination I have and I feel like I'm having some difficulty with getting sharp images,(flying birds),I think my shutter speed was a bit slow to.Do you recommend at starting double the focal length,and then maybe bumping it up from there?,btw I've only had the gear for about a week and still trying to tweak the settings,also thoughts on eye focus while tracking a flying eagle
I think it's a great combo. I haven't had any issues with it on my R6. Birds in flight are definitely tricky, especially at 800mm. I have found that I get a lot less keepers, even with the great af on the R5 and R6, if my shutter speed is below 1/2500 sec with the 800mm for birds in flight.
Yeah, when it comes to fast moving objects I don't think that the focal length matters that much when choosing the proper shutter speed. I assume that the formula based on focal length is more related to eliminating the blur caused by camera movement. 1/2500s is a very good starting point for BIF (well, if motion blur is not wanted). For something like hummingbirds with super fast wing movement you probably need faster shutter. There are none of those here in Finland so I'm not an expert regarding them 😂. But I have read that some feel that even 1/4000-1/5000s isn't fast enogh for Hummingbirds and in some cases going to 1/8000s cuts too much light. So they use flash with faster than 1/10000s duration. I like this technic for insect macro photography. Though for that you don't need that fast flash duration.
I'm back and I see the R3 was announced lol. I guess no R7. But, still looking at the RF800 when it's even available. I now have the tele converter on the sigma. The one thing I notice is the Sigma is jumpy with OS on. Not sure of you have that problem with the tamron.
@@BrentHall Yea, so you know what I mean then? If your super steady and focused on the subject and start shooting, the image in the EVF starts bouncing around and It's not me doing it. It so dam strange. I think it did this without the teleconverter tho as well. I just never asked about it.
Thank you! Unfortunately I've never used either of those lenses, so I couldn't say anything about them personally. If you're wanting to compare those two though, the principles would still be the same. The discussion I had in this video would be the same for those two lenses, that is, the 600 will be lighter and less expensive, but the Sigma Sport will be more versatile, more expensive, weather-sealed, have a faster max aperture, and be much heavier. So it will just depend on what you want to do with the lens and if you want to shoot more than just wildlife, or even if you just want more versatile options when shooting the wildlife.
@@BrentHall Thanks. I definetly want to shoot more than Wildlive. But Wildlive too (new for me) So i guess the 60-600 would be my Choice ... ("more than Wildlife) ... or the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM ? Or that one plus the 800? Fom 8 to 200mm i have all i need but i am looking for something above it. And this is so difficult without testing those lenses in real live. And i have very little experience with lenses above 200 mm For the first time the price isnt so important for me (wich is not normal for me) but it makes it even more difficult to buy lenses ;-) P.S., what about Zoom vs Prime? Doesnt the Rf 600 has better picturequality and sharpness cause its a prime or not it because its slower?
@@pinakiray2005 yes I do recommend it, it is way cheaper than anything else in this category and it is very sharp and easy to handle (I was so happy to find out I can use this lens handheld). You do need to remember that it is limited by the amount of light, so very early in the morning is more tricky
@@goldfis.h I haven't but I am going to. All of my research and talking to people who have it says it's a great lens. If I get it soon I will let you know how it is. If you get yours before I get mine please do the same and let me know how you like it.
@@KevinSmythPhotography Thank you for replying. I'm also in research phase ans I will let you know if I do buy it. I followed one gentleman on Instagram who has this combo. He replied in the comments section here. Look for pierre.boulay on Instagram and see some of the pictures he posted.
I bought one of these a couple months ago and it's been great for the price! Just noticed this morning that it has condensation on the inside of the front lens? I've been out in some pretty cold weather with it, but I've never had this happen with any of y other lenses. Any one else experience this and what does one do about it?
sounds like it's probably just the ambient moisture in the air from when it was built in the factory. I've had that happen to other lenses before when I went from super extreme cold to normal temps real fast. I'd give it a couple days (depending on where you live) and let it naturally evaporate back into the air inside the lens. If it doesn't, then you might want to talk to CPS about it.
That really depends on what all you mainly photograph and if you think you have enough light (on average) to deal with the f11. Personally, I wouldn't want the 800 as my only long lens, and I certainly wouldn't sell a zoom telephoto to get it. that's just me though, I do a lot more than just wildlife and the zooms are too valuable to me.
its almost embarrassing how many times I re-watch your older videos. Good stuff, always.
Great video. Nice to hear from an adult that understands the limitations imposed by optic physics on lens design. Also you gave people practical advice about using these lens, rather than photographing charts on a wall. And you gave us a look at the quality of the images obtainable with these lens and body combinations. Once again exceptional video. Thank you.
Hey thanks for the kind words Paul, I really appreciate that!
Thanks for this Brent, and all your other vlogs regarding theCanon RF 800mm f/11. I watched this and ordered one which I took out for the first time with my R6 yesterday, and I have to say I was gobsacked at the quality of the images at ISO 6400 (it was a dull day), and I got 2 keepers of a Kingfisher the likes of which I never thought I could achieve. Love the simple honest reviews, keep em coming.
Hi Brent, I have to say what a brilliant video, kudos to you. I have never watched one of your videos before and I can happily say this won't be my last. Your points, views and information about the 800mm on a R body especially the R5 & R6 is great.
I love the unbiased way you give the pros and cons about the 800mm, your video is one of the best photography videos on a lens I have watched for a long time, keep up the good work from a new subscriber.
Wow, thanks Ron, I really appreciate the kind words!
Always stoked on your videos Brent. Thank you for the content.🤙🏼
on a sunny day your birds in flight are sharp. On a sunny day, r u able to get sharp photos of the elk running with the 800mm Fll and did it focus/tract their eye when their running?
Is this combo good for Aviation Photography especially Fighter jets and helicopters.
Thanks! I'm using the EF 400mm f5.6 with 2x extender on the R6 and thinking about switching to this.
I think that will be a good switch for you. Getting a native mount and 800mm without extenders will be a nice upgrade for sure.
I was thinking of that exact setup before going to the RF800.
I’ll have the 800 Monday.
Thanks for the video. I have this lens along with the 100-500. You will love the 100-500, its a great lens. I'm looking now to see if you have a video on the 70-200. F2
I got the 1-5 shortly after this video and have had it ever since. It is definitely my favorite lens! I don't have the rf 70-200 f/2.8, I only have the f4 version.
Hi Brent, I really love watching you video’s. I have a Canon R6 mirrorless camera. I am getting to retire and I am starting to build up my lenses. I love nature photography and plan on including it into my vacations. I have a limited budget so therefore was wondering, should I purchase the Canon RF 800 f/11 or the Tamron 150-600 g2. I already have the Tamron 100-400 and love it.
If you have a 100-400 already then I would definitely go with the 800. that's just my personal opinion though.
Amazingly put together video - very informative- I did venture out and pick up the tamron 150 - 600 G2 for my wildlife photography
Thank you, have fun with it, it's a great lens!
As a "re-beginning" photographer, I can really appreciate the very technical explanations in a very understandable layman fashion. I was on the fence with this Tamron as I have an SL1, but your advice has convinced me to step out! I am ordering today with high hopes when the Meadowlarks return in the Spring!! Thank you!
Hey thanks, I appreciate the kind words, and I'm glad my video helped!
Tamron 150-600 G2 FTW
Your videos are great you inspire me everyday
I wholeheartedly agree. 🔥👍🏻🔥
Thank you so much Noa, that means a lot, and I'm glad my videos are helping!
Great idea to set the control ring on the 800 F11 lens to exposure compensation, thankyou.
So how about putting a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter on the RF 800mm? 😳 What does that do to the image quality?
I don't know, I don't have the new TCs yet. Personally I will probably skip them on this lens, and just crop if I need to.
Hi, here is my comment I have written earlier about this to another forum - maybe you find it useful:
One thing good to remember when using higher pixel density sensors, like the 45Mp in R5, is DLA effect.
Like with the RF 600mm or 800mm f/11 lense on the R5 you don't get any more resolving power by adding a teleconverter.
With R5 the DLA effect begins already at f/6,6 (airy disc 2x pixel diameter). But it's really hard to notice so the typical formula used gives a value of f/8,2 (airy disc 2,5x pixel diameter). It's typically considered that DLA takes "full effect" when the airy disc from the diffraction reach 3x pixel diameter - in the R5's case at f/9,8.
Even though the "maximum" DLA value is f/9,8 there is no real harm in using f/11 lens. But for easier composition/viewing it's probably better to use the APS-C crop mode instead of adding a teleconverter.
Please notice that these DLA numbers are totally different for R6. They are: f/9,8, f/12,4 and f/14,6. So with f/11 lens on R6 you could possibly get some additional resolving power by using a 1,4x TC.
Here is a link to DLA calculator. You can use any camera model with correct sensor size and just type in the proper resolution.
www.photopills.com/calculators/diffraction
@@tkermi That's a good point about diffraction. That will indeed make a TC rather useless on this lens, on an R5!
I'll say though, the current Canon RF-lens line-up is quite fantastic. It is really the biggest draw of the R system for me: the lenses.
The cameras themselves, despite their fantastic specs, don't appeal that much to me but the lenses -- the line-up as a whole and also the individual lenses -- look so much more appealing than the current Nikon Z offerings!
@@TimvanderLeeuw Yes, the lenses are really good. Some are quite expensive but quality is top notch! I'm eagerly waiting the upcoming 100mm macro.
A most enjoyable, easy to watch video on the RF800. I, normally come away from most reviews with more questions than answers or solutions but you covered everything a viewer could want to know about this lens. Before I could finish the review, my finger was compelled to find and click the subscribe icon. Looking fwd to your other videos. Nicely done and much appreciated, Brent.
Hey thanks Mike, I really appreciate that, and I'm glad the video helped!
I have one problem with the adapter. When I forget it on another EF lens which is not in my bag 💼
Well... i go since months anyways RF only (50mm 1.8) because of convenience.
I have multiple usable EF lenses from 16-300mm in Zooms and 100mm macro/portrait lens as well as another 50mm 2.8 macro. Even a Meike EF RF filter adapter and V-ND as well as PL filter.
But ANY of my EF lenses is only used if i really want to go photograph intentionally and then i pick the ones i really need. Just to compare - my 70-300mm with EF RF adapter is AS HEAVY as the RF 800 F11. And the IS in the RF 800 is superior to the one in the 70-300, as well as the AF.
But if i use the EOS RP daily - compact size is a must have. the 50mm 1.8 STM is pretty much perfect (next to the 35mm IS STM which i will get some day).
The 800 F11 just is a nice addition, the 1,2kg are not really noticable in the backpack, just waste a "big" amount of space if there isnt a properitary bag for it. Hiking and superteles were since ever a painful compromise, not so with the RF 800.
In fact i love the adapter, especially because i dont have to care about dust as much anymore with the filter adapter and that you can use the filters at ANY EF LENS! This reason was the only one which led me partially to a 150-600mm sigma, but i dont need any filter at all at a super tele, i dont need the zoom really... i just want focal range and good, NON PULSING Autofocus, so "sadly" i have to go native RF mount when price is a huge concern next to mobility/weight.
Edit: not the 70-300 is as heavy as the RF 800, a 28-135mm IS USM on EF RF adapter is! Just such a "small" basic zoom! Even this single lens is already annoying to carry, let alone a set of different zooms... I hope Canon release more lightweight stuff, this obviously affects price positively for us poor hobby photographers.
I would like to have this lens on my bag. Don't know if I'd use it much, but looks interesting for certain occasions.
is min distance a problem when you take in FOV?
Can you please tell me what the switch on the lens mean fall full to left and 20m on right?
It’s above the auto & manual switch
Brent, I'm not a pro like you, just an old lady skywatcher, but this was a really informative review, thanks so much for taking the time and effort to put this together. I love the RF 800mm lens even with the RF 2x extender on it. I use it for filming the planets and moon, and then getting even extra reach past the 1600mm by using an external recorder and the camera's magnify zoom of 5x-10x which can be recorded externally. I was surprised that at F/22 that the camera can still auto focus, which amazed me. Anyway, thanks again for doing this. :)
Hey thanks, I'm glad you liked it! That sounds awesome, and I definitely want to try some astro stuff with it for sure.
were you able to photograph jupiter with the rf 800 and the x2 extender? I've seen some of your videos as well i know you photographed and did videos of the moon but were you ever able to do jupiter? my current gear isn't powerful enough to capture it which was why i was wondering if you used this lens and 2x extender to photograph or video it
@@RandomGuy-qn2fr Hello there, yes, I do film Jupiter & Saturn with the RF800 & 2x extender but doing so in video and not photos. If you check my latest videos I do have both those planets along with the moon.
Great video! Some the best wildflower photos I’ve ever taken were with that 150-600. The photos out of the 800 are impressive. Your second breakfast is well deserved. 🤠
Thanks Richard! Second breakfast is definitely the best meal of the day!
Hi Brent, I'm subscribing to your channel b/c I love the fact that you are using similar camera equipment as myself and your passion for wildlife. Looking forward to your future videos!
Hey thanks for the sub, and the kind words, I really appreciate that! Check out my wildlife playlist if you want to see more wildlife specific videos. I've got quite a few on there. :)
what about the tripod mount? is it a safe way?
Could a macro ring help getting a closer focussing distance?
Yes it would, with some caveats. I personally wouldn't use one with this lens, but that's just me.
Have you tried the 800 for moon pics or astrophotography?
Not really. I've done a few stacked moon images so far, but nothing with a tracker yet. I plan to at some point soon though.
For astrophotography (if you can track/guide and get away with 5 minutes+ exposure times!) its definately good. But unguided, especially untracked i would not try anything except the moon, just said.
But whats positive (and why im using the RF 800 somtimes to a "heavy" EQ mount adapted and guided via PC):
The image quality of the RF 800 F11 is better than a 750mm (non photographic) newton with F5 which is more or less the cheapest entry in proper astrophotgraphy with 700mm+
The biggest joke of this setup... tripod, motorized mount, weights... add up to about 20-25kg, to mount 1,8kg of camera+lens. But its a huge advantage: my cheap EQ3-2 mount is very precise with the "non existing" weight!
The stars are slightly sharper and in overall more detailed, especially on the edge, much less vignetting and idk.. i once thought im a fan of the X shaped halos with newtonians... refractors have another, different style but i also like it now!
I have just a basic, older 750mm newton so i dont have any experience with "big boy" telescopes, but they are anyways much more expensive than the RF 800.
How does it compare to the Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS II USM?
To me, those are two very very different lenses for very different things. Aside from the obvious, the price, the weight, and the aperture, I just know know why one would compare things like that. I think it would compliment any of the big whites very nicely, because it's so light and affordable, and quite sharp. The 800 will be much more limited in less-than ideal light, but much more versatile in carrying capabilities.
@@BrentHall Was just curious as I was out birding the other day and some guy came up to me and said his RF 100-500 was better than the EF 600 II I have because it's lighter and on native RF mount, and because he can use ISO to compensate for f7.1.
Well that guy is just silly. Those just aren't two directly comparable lenses. Maybe it's better for him personally, but that's just because of his needs and preferred shooting style.
Best review yet of this lens. Great work thanks...now subscribed
Hey thanks Roy, I really appreciate that!
Hi Brent, I am just not getting the sharpness with my 800 that I see in your amazing pics, the bird eyes are just a little blurry. My 100-500 gives me much sharper pics in the same setting. Any tips for me?
Well I'm pretty sure the RF 100-500 is a sharper lens all around, but it could be a number of things, including shutter speed, light, subject movement, heat haze, etc.
Torn between the RF 600, 800 and Tamron 150-600. I have several lenses and 1.4/2.0 TC so it seems logical for me to get the 800 which does not overlap with my existing setup. I can get 800mm by using my 100-400 with a 2x TC but I don't get good results with the 2x TC. Most of my photography is outdoors (hiking, camping, 4x4) so non-weather sealed is a major bummer. I also realize I need to start committing to RF. Canon IBIS is most utilized with RF IS. So far looks like RF 800mm with my EF 100-400 with optional 2x would be a great combo just like you described. Helpful video! Thanks!
My 100-400mm II. So I am making the move to mirrorless. I briefly considered Sony but have decided on an R6/100-500mm/RF800mm. I will wait to purchase the 100-500mm to see if the price come down, I forsee this lens being used later on an APS-C "R7" later. Thanks for your review here that backs up my thinking.
Great realistic take on everything. Appreciate this.
Hey thanks Alex, I'm glad you liked it!
This lens seems like it would be great for two things I like to shoot: pics of the moon, and air shows. Good review, thanks!
Did you have to get the Tamron lens calibrated to the R5 and if so, do you have a video on how to do that? Great video and info by the way.
No, you shouldn't have to get any lenses calibrated on a mirrorless camera, unless the lens has a firmware update or something, in Tamron's case, then you would need their TAP console.
Brent, this is a really great video because you talk about reality more than specs. I'm so glad you went off on your 'tangent' because you made a point that we all need to think about more. That point is that if you are photographing birds, there is some distance at which a lens will not be able to resolve fine detail. Last year at Bosque is borrowed a 600mm Big White from the Canon table and shot it on my 5Dmiv with a 1.4x. It was amazing, but I still found that eagles atop the dead tree in the 1st pool were only ok. Why, because they were 1000' away.
For me, I think I'll sell my 7Dmii, 100-400, and 1.4x and buy the RF 100-500. That extra 100mm feels necessary. I've shot 100k images with the 7d & 100-400 and I know how to make that work. But the 100-400 on full frame isn't enough. I'm in western PA so I shoot warblers and sparrows in darker forest so I can't get any closer than the birds will allow.
I've only had my R5 for a week so I'm still learning. I want to use the amazing video functions but can't get my computer to play anything I shoot. I'm hoping you can do something on that subject showing how you've set the camera up and how you process the video.
Sorry for the long winded comment but you really hit the nail on the head on so many points. Well done!
Thanks again for the great content.
Hey thanks for the comment, and the kind words Dave! I definitely know the struggle of the eagles in pond 1, lol. I lead workshops there a lot in the winters and there's always someone in the group who tries to photograph them way out there and I always try to tell them to not even bother, and to wait until they come closer. I definitely want that RF100-500 too, and I'm saving up for it, but it'll be a while cause that thing expensive!
I do plan on doing some more settings videos about the R5 and R6 and how I have them set up for wildlife. I was also toying with a video on how, why, and when I film in 8K with the R5. If you like more of the technical stuff, and want to see how I edit more images and set things up and the bts, I do more of that stuff with the green and chai tea member levels of the channel memberships. I am going to try to get on that R5 and R6 settings video here pretty soon though.
Thanks very much, Brent, for a very thorough evaluation. I'm looking forward to getting the R6 and the 800mm in late fall. Hope Canon has a Christmas special!
You bet, glad I could help! That world be awesome to find a holiday discount for sure! It's a great combo either way though. 😁
One thing that has suprised me just a lately is I’ve just got a old ef400mmf5.6L and with the ef 2xiii and that then becomes 800mm f11 but yet that will allow full frame animal eye af even if I wind the aperature right down f32 the af is still spot on so why can’t the rf800 with its newer technology st least allow full frame af😢
I've found that even on a bright day, I have to shoot way faster than 1/800 with the RF 800 to escape motion blur with the R5.
thanks, very nice!!! i am lucky enough to have the R 5 and the 800 mm, and i am very happy with it. Like you, i take nothing for granted.....
That's awesome! I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Great video brother, I’m picking up the 600 mm today
Thanks man, have fun with it!
Great video. I have the Sigma 150-600. I use the Sigma 2x tele on it I have been pleasantly surprised by the great performance and image quality with the R5. I do get the sigh factor with the adapter plus the tele. It’s a lot.
Thanks Rocky! That's good to hear. I haven't ever tried the Sigma with their TCs, so it's good to know you're able to still get some decent results with that combo.
hi Brent , thx for your video ;) but did you ever think about an ext. Tube ? the large change the focusing distance from ca. 3m- 30ms (in feet its ca. 10-100feet) (no infinity but as you described if its to far away....
Thanks! I have used them before, but I don't really like them, and I didn't know they had any for the rf system yet.
@@BrentHall thrd party ext. tube for rf( its also usefull with thr rf 85 f2 macro) i put it between the two extenders to have them faster if i need one, like a protection distance ring. So if you have your extenders with you , you have also the ext. tubes(2).with the 800 i use a 25mm ring the 12mm bring not realy a big difference
Sorry, a bit late to the party. I have the Tamron150-600mm for my canon 90d. I've just purchased the R5, and after watching this, I'm stoked to know it will work reasonably well. Do I need a specific converter for the Tamron or are they all the same?
Thanks, and Happy New Year 🎉
Thank you very much for a thorough and honest review. I sold my Tamron 150-600 G2 and bought the Canon 100-400. Very happy with that decision. How does the RF 800 compare to the Tamron in terms of sharpness? Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words John! I think in good conditions they're both pretty sharp, though I might give a very unscientific slight edge to the 800mm (again, only in good conditions, with a decently close subject).
Is there an RF extension Tube? Would that be good for you?
I don't know if there's an rf extension tube yet? I doubt I'd use it though, especially since I got the 100-500. I'll just use that lens for when I'm in places where the birds get closer than 20 ft.
I'm about to make the jump to mirrorless. Probably going to start with the R6, coming from the 90D. Never shot full frame before. Love how much better it will be in low light than the 90d. But I'm worried about losing that little bit of "focal length" from the 1.6 crop factor on the 90D, and I'm worried that the R6 is only 20 megapixels compared to the 32.5 on the 90D. Do you think that the Tamron at 600mm on the R6 with cropping will be better than the 90D at 600 with the additional 1.6 crop factor of the smaller sensor?
I think a lot of people get carried away with worrying about resolution. Don't get me wrong, I love my R5, but I won't hesitate to use my R6 for ANYTHING that I need to capture, whether it's for fun or for a paying gig/client. I think the upgrade to mirrorless and benefits will far outweigh the lower resolution. The R6 AF alone is worth it for me personally, not to mention the high iso performance. That's just my 2 cents though. also, I did another video recently about birding and wildlife photography with just the R6. It might help you get a better visual of my thoughts.
You are sure are getting great sharpness at these lower than ideal shutter speeds! Excellent. I will have this Monday.
Steady hands, solid IBIS & IS, and good editing techniques go a long way! :P
@@BrentHall hell yea! Do you know if this combination gets eight stops of stabilization? I don’t recall what you get when you combine these two pieces together
Do you have the hand with a + next to it on your screen?
@@Thomasjcolbert82 I think it's theoretically supposed to be like 7-8 stops of IS combined or something like that, though I don't feel like my real world usage is that high, maybe like 5-6 stops on average, but I haven't done any real tests on that. And yes, I have the hand with the plus sign on my screen.
@@BrentHall Hey Brent,
I have it and think it’s great! Yes it is a little more challenging in low light conditions. But so far it’s been really good.
is there any video in your youtube canon 100-400 mark ii vs tamron 150-600 g2 at the zoom point 400mm or with 1.4x mark ii converter with canon 100-400markii lens ??
I always see the RF800 tested with the R5 or R6, but i cant afford to upgrade from my EOS R. I'm very tempted to buy this lens as i use a EF 400mm f/5.6L with 1.4 extender (the adapter makes this quite a handle). I'm always left wondering if Id be disappointed with the ISO performance with this lens and R camera.
The R5 and R6 are both a step up in terms of high iso performance from the R, but not drastically. The R still has a great sensor and I'd personally use the 800mm on if that's what I had. I've used it on my RP a couple times and it's been fine for most things, as long as you manage your expectations.
At the long end, which lens is sharper? Logic says the prime... but I am curious to hear your opinion!
I haven't done any definitive tests concerning sharpness, but I would say that the 800 (in good light) is a bit sharper than the Tamron at 600mm.
@@BrentHall that's a good thing, cause tamron g2 at 600mm is decently sharp! Anyway I sold it, so that I can get the 800mm!
You are so right in what you say, many people just judge things too quickly without really dealing with the situation! Thx for this clip Brent ;)
Brent, I have been shooting Nikon for 50 years. Really! I have lots of big glass like a 600f4, etc. I have played with Sony's new stuff and the Nikon Z series, but with these two new f11 lenses I had to buy my first Canon. I know, been shooting forever and never shot or held a Canon. So, I got an R6 and the 600m f11, The 800m is on the way. I live on the water in Florida. I shoot daily. Your video is so spot on. This combo is nothing short of amazing. I shot a wood stork today in the afternoon at ISO1250 at 1/1250. The results are incredible. The focusing system on the R6 is so easy. The combo is great. This morning I shot pelicans because that is what was around. The way the focus tracking hung on to the birds was fantastic. I used the mechanical shutter which is plenty fast enough. This 600 f11 prime is really good and fun.....but if you are used to carrying heavy SLR's or even Mirrorless with big glass, this this guy is very sharp, light and fun. Oh, and with a background that is a good distance from you subject, you get plenty of bokeh. Anyway, great video and your experience is just what I experienced today. Anyone shooting wildlife will love these lenses. Thanks.
Hey thanks for the kind words Ralph, I appreciate it! That's awesome to hear. You have such great birding in that area for sure! I definitely appreciate the AF system of the r5 /r6 and the weight savings of the 800. It makes a huge difference for me not to have to carry around big heavy setups all the time.
liked this video, watched so many times. still contemplating which one to buy 800mm f11 or 100-500mm...
Well if you can only get one, and you can afford it, then I'd definitely go with the 1-5. Overall it's my favorite lens of all time.
Hi Brent , awesome video and thanks for clarifying lot of things . Question about Tamron 150-600, do you miss lot of shots ? (Out of focus or blurry) ? Thanks
So, when I did this video, the lens performed okay, and while the af still wasn't as good as native lenses, it worked decently enough, but since then Canon has done a lot of firmware updates on their mirrorless bodies and the 3rd party lenses just don't work well enough to be trusted (at least for me), so unfortunately I don't use any 3rd party lenses anymore.
I have the tamron 70-300 and it’s so hard to shoot birds because to not long enough and they ad end flying off
I'm a Nikon shooter so the review of the 800mm doesn't apply to me, but still such a helpful video! Walking through the pros and cons of these lenses in such a logical way was really great. I think the points you made are applicable to other lens and camera decisions and will really help me think through some of this stuff in the future. Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words Kerri, I really appreciate that!
Other than this lens, would you recommend a $1000 telephoto lens for canon 250d compatible bird photography?
I mean, glass is almost always the better choice for upgrading. Glass is the first point at which light enters your camera and if it's poor quality, then there's no helping the image, so yeah, if you're serious about getting better at photography and have the money then investing that amount in a better lens is the way to go. As for which lenses at that price, I don't know. since I moved to mirrorless I've been out of touch with EF lens prices, so I couldn't say which one would be best for you a that price. I think Sigma also has a 150-600 that in the same ball park as the tamron. then there's the Canon 400mm f5.6L, which is super old, but still an L lens, small, light, and might be in that price point.
@@BrentHall Thank you for your feedback and advice.
I am buying a R6, confused bw 100-400 and 800 or 150-600 and 800. I shoot wildlife. Which one of the two combinations should I go for?
I don't know. That depends on what you want, what you feel like dealing with, and what you can afford. The 1-4 is lighter, faster, and sharper, but not as long, and more expensive.
I've been shoot film mostly in heavy wooded forests with my Canon T90 and 400mm f2.8 L FD and mostly with 1.4x and 2.0x sometimes combined. I use Kodak Portra 800 at ISO 2000. My Canon A2e serves my EOS lenses upto 100-400 w/1.4. I rented the Canon 400mm DO and liked that lens alot for weight savings. I've been on the fense for the 400mm 2.8 or the DO. WHen these leses came out I had another pause, but then there is the body for digital. EF adapter to my EOS A2e? Possible?
The only way you'll ever be able to use the 800 f11 is with a Canon mirrorless camera. They will never make adapters for the RF lenses to be used on anything else, because it's not physically possible.
What about a 2x extender and the 100-500?
I personally probably won't ever use the 2x, but I am planning on doing a video about the 1-5 with the 1.4x TC.
@@BrentHall I'm coming closer and closer to buying an R6 and a 100 to 500 RF to take me through retirement. I'll look for your review.
Do you think on a apsc camera without ibis like canon r50 can take some great pictures than 150-600m gen-2. i want to try 800mm f11 on canon r50..
I think the R50 with an RF 800 will be a great budget/lightweight combo.
@@BrentHall thanks for the confirmetion 😊
I have a R5 with the Tamron 150-600g2 and I shoot birds.... how about using a Canon 300mm F4L with a 2x extender iii! instead of say the RF800 or RF600?? would dat be a more lfexible combination than the RF 600 /800 F11 limitations????
I used the 300 f4 for many years, and it was a mostly great little lens, but I personally never had any good results with a 2x on it, at least not to my standards anyway. Also, just my 2 cents, but I'd take my 800 f11 over that pretty much every time, even with it's limitations. that's just me though.
Excellent! For fast birds in flight it pretty difficult compared to the RF 100-400mm in terms of auto tracking and auto focus. 2024 I bought the RF 800m F/11 used in excellent condition for $600.
Hi Brett, love your videos, this one was super informative, i bought a tamron 150-600 g2, after your review and im very happy with it, i have a dslr and i want to purchase an R5. My first question is about the compatibility of the tamron with the R5, there is any issue with it? Did you need to update your lens through the tap in device??. And my second question is about you shimoda backpack, which one is? Im searching about the “Shimoda action x50”. thanks for all!!
Hey thanks! No, there's no compatibility issue b it works great on both my R5 and R6. I did not have to update the lens or anything. And yes, the bag I have is the action x50. It's the best bag I've ever had.
@@BrentHall thanks Brent 😊
Hi sir. I borrowed my friend’s sigma 150-600mm and the auto focus is very very suck. I wonder do you have the same experience with Tamron G2 as well or it works fine for you ?
Quick question: would this 800mm lens (with or without 2x conv.) deliver an image of recognizable facial features during overcast winter dusk at, say 100-200m with Canon R6? We are not talking about art here, this is law enforcement related, so iso could go sky high. Manual cropping is also acceptable.
Idk, that's pretty far away. You'd have to crop a lot, and that wouldn't be optimal for either the r6 or the lack of light, which would hurt the iq even more. It might be possible though.
Brent, sorry to hit you up. Is there any cannon contact I can get in touch with USA based to receive a loaner copy ?? We can talk private as well. I want to do a small review and am more interested in seeing in hand what my compromises will be using the 800mm f11 and RP/R/R5 setup. Thanks again Stafford.
I have no idea. I don't know anyone at Canon. I use lensrentals (link is in the description) for all my rental stuff.
@@BrentHall Much Thanks man ! Stafford Fuhs
Heya, I noticed you hold your camera up towards the sun a lot when you talk to the other camera. I believe the R5/R6 can burn the sensor if you do that a lot. Just FYI!
Thanks for looking out. I appreciate the tip. I've been trying to form the habit of putting my lens caps back on when not in use, but it's a work in progress.
@@BrentHall Yeah I literals never put lens caps on.. I keep the camera in a good spot where it won't get scratched typically.. and I have some dust cloths. It's a new to me camera (the R6) so I will also need to get used to it. I am still torn about gettin the 600 or 800.. ugh.. there is also a nice L 400L 5.6 about the same price, and used even better. I've never shot with a lens that long ever. I want to double it up for moon/sun photography so I am thinking the stabilization in these new lens's will out perform that 400.. but with the 400 I can get less noise.. also the lightness of that 600/800 sound amazing. I have no idea what I would prefer tho the 600 or the 800. I think the 600 would due.. I just don't want to be disappointed I didn't go to 800. I could imagine 600 to be quite shocking though after only having 135mm. I think 600 is more realistic.. I've just not hit buy yet!
@@myhappygecko2895 rent both of them for a day and try them out. Than you will do a better choice.
Thank you so much. I have the Tamron as well and weight is an issue. Your video helped enormously.
You're welcome, I'm glad it helped!
Sorry to double post but, that would be a great video. When does make more sense to crop instead of losing all of the light and sharpness with a tele.
Another great video, but do have a couple of questions:
A. How do the following setups compare to the tamron and the canon 800mm; especially for IQ:
1. R5 body coupled with the 100-400mm II and the 1.4x teleconverter for 560 mm f/8, and
2. canon 7d II with the 100-400mm II and 1.4x teleconverter for 896mm and f/8.
B. IF canon releases an ASPC mirror less body (1.6x crop) - what affordable lense would you recommend?
Well I haven't done any scientific tests, or any tests really, that encompass those combos. I still prefer the 800 to the 100-400 with TC most of the time (unless maybe I needed the weather sealing).
I personally wouldn't ever consider the 7D2 anymore (I sold mine a long time ago and never looked back), so that one's out for me. (I still think it's a great budget camera for entry level stuff though)
If canon came out with an APS C mirrorless, personally I still wouldn't get it (can you tell I'm not a fan of crop bodies?) but that's just my personal tastes based on my experience, my current gear, and my shooting style. I wouldn't take anything over my R5 at this point. But if you were to get said APS C mirrorless, I'd still recommend the same lenses. The most versatile and budget friendly being the Tamron 150-600 g2.
Again, these are all just my personal preferences, and everyone's different, for their needs and styles, etc. It just comes down to what you think would would for your budget, comfort, and style of shooting.
A great video and thanks for all the effort taken to make this.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!
Just found this very helpful thank you
Thanks Stephen, I'm glad it helped!
How well would a 2x iii work with your Canon 100-400mm achieving F11 also? 🤔
Not well, especially compared to the rf 800mm.
The 2x iii on the Canon 100-400L2 is not great iq. The 1.4x is fine though.
Thank you! I kind of figured the Canon RF 800mm might be better than the 100-400 II with the 2x Tele but wasn’t sure. Just got the 100-400 and experimenting with the 2x III using my Canon 6m Mark II with a speed booster giving me 200-800mm Zoom at F8. Would love an R7 with a Speed Booster, hopefully in the future! 😊
Trying also to find a Speed Booster for my R5 to use in crop mode for both videos and photos for extra light and shallower depth of field making my lens one stop faster.
Well said. I've bought the RF 800 mm F11 about 3 weeks ago and just enjoy it. I have the EOS R.
Hey thanks Pierre! That's awesome, I hope you have fun with it!
Are you still happy? I also have "just" the R and consider to buy the RF 800mm F/11- thank you in advance. Do you have maybe instagram with some sample shots of this combination EOS R + RF 800mm?
@@tomkro9704 Hi Tom, yes still happy with the RF 800 mm. It is very light also. I do have an instagram (pierre.boulay) and a 500px account (boulayp). The majority of the photos in last 2-3 months are with the 800 mm. The only downside with an 800 mm, sometimes you end up to close to the subject. You will also find a few shots of the full moon taken without the use of a tripod and came out great.
Brent, great video as always…. I’ve to the 100-500 and looking at the 1.4x (even with it’s downside of 300 mm widest restrictions). I sold my 150-600 Tamron because of weight. Went directly to your web site and didn’t see the listing of new workshops (just 2021 balloon festival) but will check again. Thanks so much!
Hey thanks Steven, I'm glad you liked the video! Yeah, the 1-5 with the 1.4 is still a solid combo, even with the 300mm minimum issue. I haven't updated the website yet because I'm just not sure what I'm going to do about future workshops. I've been having a lot of cancelations lately due to people's travel restrictions and everything else related to the pandemic, so it's a bit difficult for me to commit to a full workshop right now. I am however, still running private workshops for individuals and/or small groups across the sw right now. I am doing places like Bosque del Apache, White sands, El Malpais, the Gila, and more (for wildlife, landscape, and/or astrophotography). These are great because they're much smaller, and I can do them more often and with much less hassle than a full workshop. So if you're interested in anything like that then just email me any time and we can make something happen.
Hi Brent, great video, really enjoyed watching it.. I live in London, Uk and I've just bought the R6 & 600mm F11. Used it on some squirrels in the park and owls so far, both on gloomy days and the results are decent enough for the lighting. Just wondering, where did you get your camo coat from please?
Thanks man, I'm glad you liked the video! I got it off amazon, it was like $30 or something. There's ton of cheap ones like that on there.
@@BrentHall Thanks for getting back to me. I had a crazy session with a barn owl again today. They came out for second breakfast. Ha! Could you link it for me please? Stay safe. Andy.
Is atmospheric haze and akin conditions more noticeable at i800 vs the 600 ?
Technically, the longer the focal length, the more those issues show up, but I'd say they're both pretty close since they're both quite long focal lengths.
@@BrentHall yeah Tnx , I know from my experience that up to 400mm it is rarely a problem but in the same conditions if you use a 600 you may notice it that’s why I wonder since you are already out there at 600mm if the extra 200mm make any discernible difference. or if it is clear at 600mm it will be clear at 800 I appreciate that if there is haze at 600mm the 800 obviously will be hazy. And I’m asking you cause you’ve been shooting them side by side and it seems to me that the 600mm shots you shared with us didn’t have any (noticeable) haze and so did not the 800 either. But did you come across situations that the 600 didn’t have haze and the 800 did?
Thanks for your videos.
Have you noticed some difference with the update on the Tamron lens. Was gonna be a firmware update for the R5/R6.
I haven't done any firmware updates on any of my Tamron lenses...I should probably look into that, lol.
@@BrentHall haha. Maybe so.
Had the tap in to them and think the update was for 150-600 and 70-200. They wrote that it was for the r5 and r6.
But guess you havet had any problems with them on those camera then.
I dont mean to criticize but:
Glacial shutter speeds and does the autofocus even work at f11?
I'd be more likely looking at the old tiny 1000mm & 500mm reflex lenses...
I don't know what you mean by glacial shutter speeds, but the AF works incredibly well at f11 on both the R5 and the R6, and it did just fine on my RP as well.
Hi, is it worth buying?
Hi bro I have canon t7 this lens I can use this lens
No, it's only for the Canon RF mount mirrorless cameras. Unless you're taking about the tamron, which you can definitely use with the t7
Thanks for the video. I have a question for you. I am a Nikon APSC shooter with the Sigma 150 - 600 mm and love the combination. However, I am going to switch over and get the Canon R6 because of the much better autofocus system, especially for wildlife and BIF which is my favorite type of photography. With the Tamron 150 - 600 or the Sigma 150 - 600 on the R6 d you need to use the lens adaptor to make them compatible? If you use a 1.4xTC do you also need to use the lens adaptor as well? What do you think of the somewhat new RF 100 - 400 lens, it seems to have good reviews? I’m just afraid that the 100-400 mm length on a full frame R6 is too short, especially for me coming from the Sigma 150-600 on an APSC. Thanks!
Yes, you still need the adapter if you want the 1.4x tc on the 150-600. I actually did a review of the new RF 100-400 not too long ago. It will be much shorter than your 150-600 on your crop body camera, but it will be native RF with better AF, cheaper, and lighter. It's up to you weather any of that is more important than reach though.
@@BrentHall thank you!
Good review for me with R & R5 with 100-400 II, Sigma 150-60 at B&H to get one but whether to add any Expensive RF TCs to the mix for this lenses and wihich one (s)?
Thanks so much for this detailed video. You have touched on so many things that are key to me. I have an R6, just sold my Tamron 150-600 G2 for many of the same reasons you describe, and I bought the EF100-400mm II - Love it. But also considering to go RF800 for longer reach. Great content Brent - you have a new subscriber and IG follower. Keep up the good work
You bet man, I'm glad I could help! That's a great combo, for sure, and it goes especially well with the 800mm.
I picked up the RF 800mm F11 to get more reach with my R5 and I just can't afford the RF 100-500mm yet. But, I am struggling with this lens to get birds in flight. I don't know if it is me getting used to a 800 prime or if it is just to slow to get getting focus. I've gone back to my EF 100-400mm II for birds in flight as it seems to get focus much faster and doesn't hunt for focus as the 800mm did for me. I am using back button focus, but probably need to change my AF mode next time. What AF mode are you using for birds in flight and do you find it as challenging as I am coming from the EF 100-400?
I haven't really had any issues with BIF with the 800. I set up a double back button focus, and I use that method for all my wildlife, including BIF and I've been happy with it. I made a whole video about it.
@@BrentHall thanks this just encourages me to keep trying.
I have r6 body , I am enthusiastic bird photographer ,after watching your video ,I am going to buy rf 800 . Thank you for unbiased opinion .
Your new subscriber from india .
Hi. I really enjoyed the video. I have one question that I hope you will answer, though. You said that you wouldn’t extend the 100-400. Why is that? Is it because of sharpness, focus speed or another reason? I am a happy amateur, but I would of course want as good and sharp pictures as I can get. I consider the 100-400 extended, so I would like to hear your justification for your choice. I would think that the 100-400 would give great quality, even extended?
If you're talking about adding a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter on there, then yeah, I don't generally like to add TCs to zoom lenses, but that's just me. I made a video about it with the 100-500, which is similar.
th-cam.com/video/iRb9XfAe9_4/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=BrentHall
One problem I would have going on a hike with the 800mm lens is that as you said it's not a do everything Wildlife lens. It would seem like, as in your video, you would need to take it along with another lens also so instead of having less weight you would be carrying two pieces of glass while hiking.
Hey brent lovely videos ! Im doing bitds and mammals , more birds now as i cannot move out if singapore. So what s ur final verdict ??? Will it work. In the long run??? I mean im not the beat or the fastest reflex guy .
The verdict is: it depends...on your situation, budget, shooting style, location, etc. Everyone is different and has different needs for gear, so I certainly can't tell people to just buy something that's good for me personally. Like I said in the video, I'm very happy with my RF 800, but I live in the desert with 330+ days/year of sunshine, so the f11 is not as big of a concern for me. The lack of weather-sealing is my biggest drawback though. If this is your only lens for wildlife, you might be better off with a 150-600 or similar lens, they are faster, and the tamron is weather-sealed and much more versatile.
@@BrentHall no this is my lens fr reach inly . My other lens are tge 100-400 mk 2 nd 500mm f 4 mk 2 , anyway after your video i hv alrdy bought it now ;)
Great video Brent. I really wanted to hear someone’s opinion on the Tamron 150-600 G2, the Canon EF 100-400 II, the Canon RF500 and the Canon RF 100-500. Thank you for clarifying my thoughts.
All of those are great lenses, and all have their pros and cons, but overall my favorite is definitely the RF 100-500. It's my favorite lens of all time. I'll be finishing it's review video very soon.
Superb video, I got a 150-600mm G2 with a 5DMKIV. after some microadjusting I just love It. I was thinking about getting the TC-x1.4x converter for the lens but you now I really have to think I over. Thanks!
Thanks, I'm glad it helped!
How do you feel about the 800 lens with the R6, that's the combination I have and I feel like I'm having some difficulty with getting sharp images,(flying birds),I think my shutter speed was a bit slow to.Do you recommend at starting double the focal length,and then maybe bumping it up from there?,btw I've only had the gear for about a week and still trying to tweak the settings,also thoughts on eye focus while tracking a flying eagle
I think it's a great combo. I haven't had any issues with it on my R6. Birds in flight are definitely tricky, especially at 800mm. I have found that I get a lot less keepers, even with the great af on the R5 and R6, if my shutter speed is below 1/2500 sec with the 800mm for birds in flight.
@@BrentHall thank you,and awesome review,really enjoyed watching it after a 12 hr work shift
Yeah, when it comes to fast moving objects I don't think that the focal length matters that much when choosing the proper shutter speed. I assume that the formula based on focal length is more related to eliminating the blur caused by camera movement.
1/2500s is a very good starting point for BIF (well, if motion blur is not wanted). For something like hummingbirds with super fast wing movement you probably need faster shutter. There are none of those here in Finland so I'm not an expert regarding them 😂.
But I have read that some feel that even 1/4000-1/5000s isn't fast enogh for Hummingbirds and in some cases going to 1/8000s cuts too much light. So they use flash with faster than 1/10000s duration. I like this technic for insect macro photography. Though for that you don't need that fast flash duration.
I'm back and I see the R3 was announced lol. I guess no R7. But, still looking at the RF800 when it's even available. I now have the tele converter on the sigma. The one thing I notice is the Sigma is jumpy with OS on. Not sure of you have that problem with the tamron.
Yeah, the Tamron (in my experience) didn't do so well with the TC on, it did jump and hunt a bit at times. It was usable, but not up to my standards.
@@BrentHall Yea, so you know what I mean then? If your super steady and focused on the subject and start shooting, the image in the EVF starts bouncing around and It's not me doing it. It so dam strange. I think it did this without the teleconverter tho as well. I just never asked about it.
Very nice detailed Video
But can you say something about the Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM vs Sigma 60-600mm f4,5-6,3 DG OS HSM Sports?
Anyone?
Thank you! Unfortunately I've never used either of those lenses, so I couldn't say anything about them personally. If you're wanting to compare those two though, the principles would still be the same. The discussion I had in this video would be the same for those two lenses, that is, the 600 will be lighter and less expensive, but the Sigma Sport will be more versatile, more expensive, weather-sealed, have a faster max aperture, and be much heavier. So it will just depend on what you want to do with the lens and if you want to shoot more than just wildlife, or even if you just want more versatile options when shooting the wildlife.
@@BrentHall Thanks.
I definetly want to shoot more than Wildlive. But Wildlive too (new for me)
So i guess the 60-600 would be my Choice ... ("more than Wildlife)
... or the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM ? Or that one plus the 800?
Fom 8 to 200mm i have all i need but i am looking for something above it.
And this is so difficult without testing those lenses in real live. And i have very little experience with lenses above 200 mm
For the first time the price isnt so important for me (wich is not normal for me) but it makes it even more difficult to buy lenses ;-)
P.S., what about Zoom vs Prime? Doesnt the Rf 600 has better picturequality and sharpness cause its a prime or not it because its slower?
I got this lens a few months ago (I guess I was one of the first adopters), I totally agree with all you said on that lens, I got the same impression.
Hey eliash so do u advice buying this for wildlife ?? Im amateur wildlife photograph . Usually doing birds and mammals .
@@pinakiray2005 yes I do recommend it, it is way cheaper than anything else in this category and it is very sharp and easy to handle (I was so happy to find out I can use this lens handheld). You do need to remember that it is limited by the amount of light, so very early in the morning is more tricky
Great video man! 😃
Many thanks!
Great video! What is your opinion of what image quality would be with the Canon RF 800mm lens on a Canon EOS R? Thanks.
I think it should be fine.
@@BrentHall Thank you. Enjoying your Channel!
@@KevinSmythPhotography I also have R and thinking to get 800mm. Did you buy it? I'm curious to know before I buy 800. TIA!
@@goldfis.h I haven't but I am going to. All of my research and talking to people who have it says it's a great lens. If I get it soon I will let you know how it is. If you get yours before I get mine please do the same and let me know how you like it.
@@KevinSmythPhotography Thank you for replying. I'm also in research phase ans I will let you know if I do buy it. I followed one gentleman on Instagram who has this combo. He replied in the comments section here. Look for pierre.boulay on Instagram and see some of the pictures he posted.
I bought one of these a couple months ago and it's been great for the price! Just noticed this morning that it has condensation on the inside of the front lens? I've been out in some pretty cold weather with it, but I've never had this happen with any of y other lenses. Any one else experience this and what does one do about it?
sounds like it's probably just the ambient moisture in the air from when it was built in the factory. I've had that happen to other lenses before when I went from super extreme cold to normal temps real fast. I'd give it a couple days (depending on where you live) and let it naturally evaporate back into the air inside the lens. If it doesn't, then you might want to talk to CPS about it.
I already have a sigma 150-600 C. Should I sell it and get the 800 or keep it and use the adapter? Love the videos! Thanks.
That really depends on what all you mainly photograph and if you think you have enough light (on average) to deal with the f11. Personally, I wouldn't want the 800 as my only long lens, and I certainly wouldn't sell a zoom telephoto to get it. that's just me though, I do a lot more than just wildlife and the zooms are too valuable to me.