Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM lens review with samples

This is probably the most interesting (not to mention convenient) extreme telephoto lens I've ever handled. That aperture of f/11 is pretty divisive though. What's the lens really like to use?

This lens will /not/ work on digital SLR cameras, or Canon EOS M cameras - only Canon EOS R system cameras.

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All sample pictures taken by me on a Canon EOS R5 cameras.

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[serioussam]

You can reduce the minimum focal distance to ~5m or less by using macro rings. Might be useful for some people. Tested it myself.

[JC-tsdf]

Also regarding the minimum focus distance - macro rings solve that problem. And I managed to take some nice pics of dragonflies that way, because you can't get very close to them with any other lens.

[tomonabudget]

I've been complaining that Canon isn't all that innovative.
Well, that's a very innovative lens indeed!

[suchon_pong]

Thanks for the review. I've just placed an order for an R5 because of this lens. I am using Fuji X-T3 XF100-400 with a 2x Teleconverter, which is about as dark and just a little lighter. I hope R5 with 800mm F11 will give me better ISO performance and sharper images.

[bengtenyman]

I have enjoyed the 800mm f/11 lens since it first came out. It has allowed me to capture distant BIF and other wildlife which otherwise would have required a minimum of 400mm glass and 100% crop instead of the 800mm and a 50% crop. Unfortunately the lens recently stopped focusing properly rendering all pictures the same disqualifying degree of out of focus in both AF and MF. The R5 camera, AF and MF work fine with a 35mm macro lens suggesting that the problem is with the 800mm lens itself. Has anybody else had a similar experience with this lens ?

[JC-tsdf]

I own this lens and that 95mm filter thread is useless. Get an adapter to 77mm - it won't affect the image, but the filters will be cheaper.

[wingspan]

Surprised you had space to use the test chart.

[DelsquarePhotovideo]

Would you recomend it for the EOS R? No Ibis

[Lukrafiveman]

As soon as I put it on my R6, the camera says.. set the lens to the shooting position, the hell do I do now?

[DavidKfilmmaker]

I like a lens where I could take pics of God