Canon RF 800 review - Pro results for wildlife!

The Canon RF800 is an odd one. It has a very limited f11 aperture but it's an 800mm prime, it's sharp and it has great image stabilisation which is fantastic for hand-held filming. Something you won't do on many long range telephoto lenses. Try finding a lens that can do what this lens can but with a wider aperture - you won't!

This lens is best suited for birders who are out trekking the land in search for new sightings. But it's also a fun zoom lens to create interesting sharp 'compressed' compositions. A budget zoom lens like the Sigma or Tamron 150-600 is probably a better option for 'all round' shots but the RF800 and it's smaller brother the RF600 may focus better and give you sharper more reliable results. However, that's at the cost of less shallow a depth of field and around 3000 more iso!

00:00 Intro
02:04 Good example of speed
02:45 Brightness example
07:31 Compactness
12:21 Depth of field
15:50 Comparing it to the Sigma 150-600
21:05 Using the lens for birding
25:45 Other alternatives
29:40 More birding with the lens
31:05 Conclusion

[Stefanful]

I had quite a negative view on the Canon RF 800mm f/11 - mainly as I could not imagine an f/11 lens could produce anything useable for me. I am into Wildlife, professionally and I usually use a Canon EF 600mm 4.0 III together with a Canon EOS R5. And yes, I was quite a bit shocked positively. Why? Because at good light the image quality isn't that bad at all. And it is super lightweight, the combo of Canon RF 800mm f/11 + Canon EOS R5 weights about 2kg. That is nothing. The autofocus is also decent. So what do you want more for this price? For me it is nice addition to my Canon EF 600mm 4.0 III, not a replacement. It is a lens I can take with me basically anytime. Well done, Canon!

[Leosooter]

Thanks for the in depth review. I've been using the Tamron 150-600 G2 and while it's an excellent lens, it is pretty heavy, and I tend to leave it behind unless I know I will be taking long shots of wildlife. I just ordered the RF 800, and I'm hoping it will be small enough to pack along on longer hikes.
It doesn't matter how great the bokeh on a lens is if you left it in your car because it was too heavy to pack along.

I do applaud Canon for taking a chance on these lenses. Obviously a fixed f/11 isn't going to be for everyone, but I wish more of the big companies would produce these long-range entry level lenses. I hope it opens the door for more people to try wildlife photography.

[BrentHall]

Man, not sure how I just barely found your channel, but that was definitely the best review of this lens out there!!! (way better than mine, 😅😂) I get a lot of negativity coming at me when I do my wildlife videos with this lens, but it's all from people who've never used it and just want to be keyboard warriors. I definitely agree that it has a lot of flaws, the worst for me is the lack of weather-sealing, but that light weight and stupid good sharpness makes up for it in my book. The production value and effort you put into this is fantastic and I definitely subbed! Also, your appreciation for tea is most excellent!

[joeymccallion]

Always love seeing more Irish Photography YouTubers. Great video Hugh, keep it up

[heinricheugenvonhelmbrecht]

Great video! Thank you! It was pleasure to watch. I purchased this lens only couple of weeks ago new for $530. Wildlife photography is something I enjoy, however, it is secondary to me, therefore this lens looks like just enough for my needs.

[apelkeshishian]

I recently picked up this lens and I'm so glad I found this video. This has got to be one of the best videos on this topic I've seen on YouTube. Thank you so much!

[Josh_Sattin]

This was so much more than a lens review. Really enjoyed it Hugh!

[finnritslev]

Great review !!
I have R6 and have "shot" 10, 000 birds since mid August together with RF 600mm and during spring and summer another 11, 000 with an RP. All my photoes are handheld and I am comfortable with carrying the total of 1.6 kg camera + lens. All my photoes are taken within 10 min. from where we live. Note, I "cheat" a little as my property is neighbor to Roskilde Fjord EU bord sanctuary !!!
I purchased RF 800mm a few days ago and upgraded the software om my R6 to 1.5.0. No problems detected so far. My subjective impression is that the autofocus is better with 1.5.0. And the combined weight of 2 kg is quite acceptable - I'm far from a body builder :-)

[paullanoue]

I have an RF 600 mm f/11. Use it on R 6 that has very low noise. I also use on one noise reduction software. I have no problem with noise at high ISOs. The software available today negates much of the noise problem.

[declanmurphy]

Great vid. The robin "little bastard" moment had be cracking up!

[robertcooper]

About to buy a Canon R7 and this has helped with my decision of which lenses to buy, this will definitely be one of them.

[mikegrok]

Try using the "Better Beamer" flash extender on a camera flash combined with a long lens near dusk in an area with lower humidity. It will focus the light into an area that is good for a 500mm lens. In high humidity areas, I would but the flash on a tripod about 15 feet away so that I could shoot the subject without shooting through the illuminated atmosphere.

[juliangreaves]

Well Hugh, I just got in from my first walk out with my new RF800, which turned up this afternoon. I’ve had all the same reservations about it that everyone else has had but I have to say, I had some fun using it and I reckon, under favourable conditions, I’ll get some good shots with it. I’ve watched many videos on it but I reckon, yours was pretty much my favourite.
Best, Julian

[DeputyNordburg]

While I don't think this lens is ideal for everyone, I do think it is amazing for what it costs. It's competition is the 150-600s from Sigma and Tamron, but it's still an 800mm when they are not.
I shoot sports and I normally won't buy a lens that is not f2.8. I own a 400mm f2.8 IS V1 and a 2X III Converter. But that is an ungainly combo which I would not walk through the woods or the city with.
I bought this lens a few weeks ago and I love it. It's. just a fun lens to walk around with. I added and aftermarket hood and a foot with built in area Swiss plate. Both for about $20.

[kaix]

Super beautiful review. Really felt like you're there doing the bird walk with you.

15:13 best of the series

[kellyboden]

Thank you so much, the part where you hoped the Robin stayed there and then they moved is the story of my life! 🤣

[ericbrowne]

Woah. Definitely a change of pace of style and flow from every other photography channel I watch; and I’m all the better for it mate! Subbed, keep up the serene content.

[stevemurnan]

Enjoyed this Hugh. I've just traded my 1.7kg EF100-400L II in as it was just too short a focal length for birding. Adding a 2x TC got me to 800mm f11 and added yet more weight and bulk. My R5 handles high iso well but the images weren't that good. Quite soft in fact so I sold the 100-400 and got the 800mm f11. 0.5kg lighter and much better IQ than the 100-400 plus 2x TC. It fills a niche for me as a walk around lens that the 100-400 never could. I passed on the RF100-500 due to not enough reach and price. With an RF1.4 TC I think it still only gets you to 700mm at f10. With a 2xTC the IQ really suffers on any ot the Canon lenses so just not viable. I feel I've the perfect partner for my EF600mm F4 going forward.

[doug]

I would expect that some of the pics you said were not in focus were actually motion blur. I don't care how good someone is 800mm is a lot to hand hold. Every little movement hand held is amplified tremendously. Increase shutter speed and it will help stop some motion blur.

[ChrisSummers]

I enjoyed your video and gave it a thumbs up! I got the RF 800mm back in November, I have an investment that pays out every year and it gave me the same as what the lens cost so I got it. I also have the Tamron 150-600mm and shot with the Canon R and R7. The lens is not perfect but had pros and cons and I feel for me it's like any other gear that has a useful purpose for certain situations. I'm retired now and older so I don't want a lot of weight. Several years ago I owned the Sigma 800mm f/5.6. Not as good as the Canon of that size but a pretty good lens. I took it on safari in South Africa and all I can say is I was glad I was sitting in a Land Rover with it instead of walking around! By the way, I got a cheaper aftermarket lens hood, Canon thinks a lot of theirs and charges a fortune. I also found a lens foot that allows me to mount the lens for both vertical and horizontal shots; about $60 on Amazon. I did get the Canon lens case, it's well made and fits the lens without being super bulky like some 3rd party cases. And I agree on a filter, I always have one on every lens I own. I will watch some of your other videos, love your nice accent and soft spoken voice.