$25k LENS test! Canon RF 400mm f2.8 and RF 600mm f4 REVIEW

I test Canon’s two largest and most expensive RF super-telephotos!

Equipment used for producing my videos

00:00 - Intro
01:27 - Design and controls
06:38 - Auto, Power PF and Manual focus
09:14 - Stabilisation
10:54 - Depth of field and bokeh balls
12:15 - Cycling test
13:16 - Birds in flight
15:08 - Sample images
16:16 - Video slow motion
17:15 - Verdict

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[cameralabs]

I test Canon’s two largest and most expensive RF super-telephotos!

Equipment used for producing my videos


00:00 - Intro
01:27 - Design and controls
06:38 - Auto, Power PF and Manual focus
09:14 - Stabilisation
10:54 - Depth of field and bokeh balls
12:15 - Cycling test
13:16 - Birds in flight
15:08 - Sample images
16:16 - Video slow motion
17:15 - Verdict

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[AS-ozep]

$25k lens test:
Credit card declined.

Test: FAILED.

[LEXPIX]

Good stuff Gordon. One can only dream of such stratospherically priced gear.

[markrigg]

I'm fascinated by people's attitudes towards the pricing of esoteric lenses like these. My other hobby is fishing. Many anglers here in Australia will put two or three times the price of one of these lenses into the hobby, specifically, buying a boat. Now an expensive toy like this causes a constant on going drain on one's wallet In maintainance, registration and fuel. And it depreciates in value quite quickly. So my point is, spending this sort of money if photography is really your thing is in reality not as extreme as people make it out to be. And there's no more running expenses, and the resale value is high. So I didn't spend 40 grand on a boat, I spent 20 instead. And 20 on a 600 f4.

[kilohotel]

I just replaced my EF 600/4 IS II with the RF model. The weight difference is very noticeable and the IS is so much quitter than on the EF. I really didn't plan on replacing my EF model but I took advantage of the good used market prices now to sell it after I found the RF and both extenders in stock at Canon USA.

[rudyreimer]

Droooollling! One can dream. Maybe when I win the lottery...

[garyrobinette]

I just picked up the RF 600mm F4 and traded in the 600mm F4 version II . I loved the version II and used it constantly for 8 years, but I really wanted to lose the 2 lbs. of weight since I'm not getting any younger. So far I am enjoying the RF mount version. It's focus is noticeably faster and I am getting used to the difference in the weight distribution when I mount it on my tripod. I'm looking forward to many good years of service out of the new version. As far as the cost, the trade in was enough to cover the cost of a R5, battery grip, extra battery, an EF to RF converter as well as the RF 1.4 teleconverter plus a portion of the cost of the new lens. On the other hand, I'll be keeping the rest of my EF lenses for a while.

[simon]

That 400 / 2.8 really has a nice bokeh - everybody should have such a lens !

[DaveMody]

I'm at awe of your ability to hold those seagulls in the frame using the R5. My EVF frame refresh seems to drop off using 100-400 EF and I loose those little guys out the side of the frame very quickly.

[yutubeuxx]

10:19 the left image - decaffeinated person handheld / the right image - Gordon, handheld, under coffee ;)

[dinosaurusss]

It's a little bit sad to see that these native lenses continue to be so expensive, Sigma already showed with their 500mm f4 sport that they can make something so similar (some say even better) in performance, yet so much cheaper. I really hope Sigma can produce more of these big primes to show what they can do, maybe even Tamron wants to jump in.

[AjaySingh-]

Wow amazig lens sir..I am a huge fan of telephoto lens..I love it..🖤

[kevindiossi]

I used the EF 400mm f/2.8 several times and if your kind of photography calls for such a lens, it's hard to accomplish it with anything else out there. Thankfully, even as a professional motorsports photographer, I seldom find that I need the lens/aperture combo. When I do, it is usually provided for me or I can rent it and charge the client. That said, if I win the lotto I would add BOTH of these to my kit so I wouldn't have to rent them and could have them at any time.

[benharveyphotography]

The slow motion b-roll looked delicious! The 400mm was my favourite - but as you said, holding it got old pretty quickly!

[rooflessdriver]

Great Review Gordon, thanks. I've just traded in my old EF 600mm F4 L IS mk2 for the RF 400mm f2.8 L and tested it out at my local Nature Reserve. Very impressed considering the poor UK light at the moment. Looking forward to trying out the focus presets with the local Kingfishers in the summer.

[Shum_vetra]

very good review😉😉😉👍👍
✅ so tell me, which of the two is better to take first?

[ryansanderson]

At 2:22 you talk about the dual power ability of the new mount. Can you share where that info came from or add anything else about it? Online reviews are suggesting there’s no difference at between EF version iii and the RF versions of the lenses with the R3. I’ve owned EF version III of both lenses and now have both of these RF lenses and am just wondering about this. All four lenses are exquisite.

[KurtisPape]

The focus preset would be surprising useful, im glad you mentioned it for bird photography on perches, a good way to do bird photography is with setups with a perch being placed near a water or food source with a nice background already worked out. The problem is with the background being distant, if you focus on the background by accident it can be impossible to regain focus on the perch unless you pre-focus on the ground near the perch which takes time and can easily miss a shot, I know because I have missed many shots in this scenario by only a couple seconds because the bird has landed and ive spent time trying to regain focus on the perch, its even more painful when you have sat in the same spot for 9 hours without moving, eating or drinking for that moment...

[ganzonomy]

Gordon's channel was the very first channel I subscribed to when I began on YouTube.

Good to see that we all age, Gordon doesn't. Also, insane lenses! And here I am using a 5d4 and the 24-70. I hope Canon doesn't forget the ef users!

[garymeredith]

Gordon I love how you did this review of these two lenses being that I'm a wildlife and bird photographer I can really appreciate what you did here so thank you .

I am waiting here is for A Canon 500mm F4.0 RF do you think that is in the future, I'd love to hear your input being a you test a lot of equipment for Canon .