Canon RF 200-800: Is This a Design Flaw?

Disaster Strikes the RF 200-800!
Rugged Enough? Think Again
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👍 Gear Used 👍
Canon EOS R5, Canon RF 50mm F1.2, Angelbird AtomX, Atomos Ninja V

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0:00 Intro
0:40 Canon R3 status

The views and opinions expressed in this program are not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation. Each viewer has their own use cases and needs requiring individual research and analysis of needs.

[jochanan]

Despite it is not a l series lens.. it shold not break..

[vdelessy]

Mine broke exactly in the same way after a 40 cm fall on a carpeted floor. The repair cost me 500 euros :/ The tiny screws and the thin inner plastic piece are almost designed to break should the lens fall. Apart from that it is light and much fun to use!

[jeffolson]

I have had mine since it was released. During that time it has been my most used lens. I actually dropped it once while it was attached to my R5 MKII. The R5 MKII had to go in for repair, fully covered due to the Care Pac, but the lens was fine. Maybe I got lucky. I live in the PNW so it has only ever seen moderate temperatures. We don't get very cold, we don't get very hot, they issue heat advisories if we are going to reach 90F. When it is in my car in the backpack the temperature in my car is set to never exceed 90F. So, while in my car it also isn't exposed to high heat.

[gpfeiffer]

I have the 200-800 and have had no problems. I treat all my equipment with utmost care. I just don’t bang stuff around.

[warrenhanratty]

My RF 200 -800 i have had since it was released. Have used it carrying it on a peak design shoulder strap for about 8 hours a week ever since, it has been bashed on gates and stiles and transport it on camera on back seat of my car! Perfect condition still...think i shall treat it better from now on! Thank you for raising a potential issue.

[glenharriman]

I've had my 200-800 since March of 2024 and take it out on a 3-5 mile hike every two weeks, hanging from a shoulder strap across my body and I haven't had any issues. I live and shoot in Arizona and the lens has worked flawlessly for me, climbing up and down rock formations, bumping up against rocks, trees and anything else in my way while navigating around the desert. Full disclosure though: I've had it covered with a neoprene camo lens wrap since day one, so it's been somewhat protected on the outside. No issues with the physical or functional aspects of the lens and I hope to have it for a long time to come.

[CrawPhotography]

I dont care how long its been used or how badly its been bashed around. I wouldn't expect any lens to just snap in half while just in bag or something else, regardless of cost. I understand if people are throwing it against stuff then I don't have any sympathy, but honestly it shouldn't break that easy.

[alansach]

Most of us, especially as we get older, really appreciate the light weight of modern lenses. I remember carrying around a 300 2.8 back in the ninties that was like carrying a tank. The good part was that you could drop it, bang it, whatever, and it didn't even scratch. So there's always a trade off! Canon pulled out all the stops to make this lens as light and hand holdable as possible. Plastic breaks easier than metal! Not surprising! Lightweight plastic breaks easier than heavy plastic. Again, not surprising! Just have to be a little more careful. Not something I am going to lose sleep over.
Frankly, I would really question one cracking in half in a backpack. May be more to the story, or maybe a defective lens from the get go.

[Ben_Stewart]

Haven't heard of anything like this for the Nikkor 180-600. Or the F-mount 200-500. Strange design flaw.

[numlock]

I'm happy I went the 100-500 + 1.4x route vs. the 200-800. Solid construction, better coatings, superior weather sealing, more compact, lighter, and takes 77mm filters. The 200-800 was tempting as it gives me slightly more reach and was cheaper, but I'll admit I was bothered by the fact canon didn't label it an L series, glad I trusted my gut. That 100mm on the long end is easily made up for by the ability to crop on the R5 and still get more than acceptable results.

[Needacreate]

The denial of the fanboys and of the users without issues who offhandedly dismiss anything reported as "clearly resulting from abuse" is nothing short of astonishing. The part where the lenses broke almost looks like a predetermined breaking point, with its ridiculously flimsy design. While it is clear as day that you cannot expect L-series toughness from such a lens, having a close-to-2k lens break on you without it even leaving your backpack is disappointing.

[adhi_atma]

The thin plastic become brittle in very cold & high pressure environment

[johnbrotherton]

The images out of this thing are better than I could have imagined, and I have not had a problem. Of course it’s a hobby for me and I baby my stuff with a think tank and TLC.

[RetrieverTrainingAlone]

I've been using the RF 200-800mm here in Montana daily for wildlife for a year. Lots of mountain hiking with lens in backpack simply wrapped in my rain parka. IF I did break the lens, I would purchase another in a heartbeat!
No problems after a year of daily use.. F9 at 640mm and beyond.
I do rent the 600mm F4 for less than $100 per day including insurance for big trips.
In low light on normal days, I start with the RF 70-200mm F2.8, then switch to the RF 200-800mm as sun rises.

[paxrsi]

The frames of many handguns are made of polymers and have to endure much more in a single training session than my lenses do in an entire year. So it's possible to use a sturdy polymer that won't break easily.

[ScottRitchie-bwls]

Thank you for the video. I put mine in a camera backpack for trips, and attached the R5-2 in back floor of car for local birding. No issues YET. But I am going to be extra gentle from now on. Thank you! PS one cheap issue: the thin lens hood. Chinsy!

[mariobaert]

Following this as interested in the 200-800. I have the cheap 100-400 and have been enjoying it tremendously. But even that one I tend to lock in "in" position when putting it in my camera bag. Same with the 24-105 f4. I use these on my R6II and frankly the only issue I've had is that that camera really is not nice on battery life. I go out shooting these days with at least 3 spare batteries but have been caught in cold circumstances to not be able to shoot a full day with five spares! I wish that was different. I used to go out with the 6DI and never have issues with the batteries. Often I would only take 1 spare and not need it on a full day shooting!

[Wellsbrian]

EF 300 f2.8 II $3, 500 on MPB. 1.4 TC, great combo. RF adapter great IQ. More reach than 400 mm.

[kingghidorah]

i like how the lens looks, however the hood should be white in my opinion. Also, idk why Canon and Sony (yes, sony E mount lenses are also prone to snapping in half) haven't still invested in monocoque or magnesium alloy cylinders. They keep adding creases for aesthetic purposes, creating nothing but weak spots. One usually assembles the lens leaving all the junctions covered by the outer layer so that it acts like a shaft and structural reinforcing.

[HeadlessChickenTO]

The one at the Canon booth at ProFusion wasn't broken in half, but it was damaged a little further down while in transit. They didn't let me mount it on my R7, just in case it could damage my camera. I was really disappointed in not seeing what it would be like on my camera. But given my history of breaking 3 of my lenses by dropping them, I guess it's a good thing I didn't trade in my Sigma 150-600C for this.