Canon has recently announced the RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM lens, a super telephoto zoom lens for the EOS R mirrorless system. This lens is designed to offer a massive zoom range, from 200mm to 800mm, in a relatively compact and lightweight package. It is also compatible with Canon’s RF 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, which can extend the reach up to 1600mm. This makes it ideal for wildlife and sports photography, as well as other subjects that require long distance shooting.

But how does the Canon RF 200-800mm lens perform in terms of image quality, autofocus, stabilization, and usability? Is it worth the price tag of $1,899? And how does it compare to other super telephoto lenses on the market? In this review, we will answer these questions and more, based on our hands-on experience and testing of the lens.

Design and build quality

The Canon RF 200-800mm lens is not a member of the high-end L-series, but it still has a solid and robust construction. It has a white barrel, which helps reduce heat absorption and improve thermal performance, as well as a rubberized zoom ring and a metal mount. It also has a dust and moisture resistant design, which means it can withstand some harsh weather conditions.

The lens measures 102.3 x 314.1 mm (4.03 x 12.37 in) and weighs 2050 g (0.55 lbs), which makes it the heaviest and longest RF lens to date. However, it is still relatively lightweight and compact for a lens of its scope, especially when compared to some DSLR super telephoto lenses. For example, the EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens weighs 4500 g (9.9 lbs) and measures 163 x 461 mm (6.42 x 18.15 in).

The lens has a tripod foot with a collar that allows the lens to rotate, which is useful for switching between horizontal and vertical orientations. The foot is non-removable, but it can also serve as a carrying handle. The lens also has a lock switch, which prevents the lens from extending accidentally when not in use.

The lens has a 95 mm filter thread, which is larger than most RF lenses, but smaller than some super telephoto lenses. The lens also has a built-in lens hood, which can be extended or retracted by twisting the front part of the lens. The hood has a small window, which allows you to adjust a polarizing filter without removing the hood.

The lens has four switches on the side: AF/MF, focus limiter, IS mode, and IS on/off. The AF/MF switch lets you choose between autofocus and manual focus, while the focus limiter switch lets you select the focus range: full, 0.8-3.3 m, or 3.3 m to infinity. The IS mode switch lets you choose between three image stabilization modes: mode 1 for still subjects, mode 2 for panning, and mode 3 for irregular movement. The IS on/off switch lets you turn the image stabilization on or off.

The lens has a Nano USM autofocus motor, which is fast, quiet, and smooth. It also supports Dual Pixel CMOS AF, which is Canon’s advanced autofocus system that uses phase detection pixels on the sensor. The lens also has a focus ring, which is electronically coupled to the focus motor. The focus ring can be customized to perform other functions, such as exposure compensation, aperture, or ISO, by using the custom control menu on the camera.

The lens has 17 elements in 11 groups, including three UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) elements, which help reduce chromatic aberration and improve image quality. The lens also has a Super Spectra coating, which helps reduce flare and ghosting and enhance contrast and color. The lens has a 9-blade circular aperture, which creates smooth and pleasing bokeh (background blur).

Optical performance

The Canon RF 200-800mm lens has a variable maximum aperture of f/6.3-9, which means that the aperture changes depending on the focal length. At 200mm, the maximum aperture is f/6.3, while at 800mm, the maximum aperture is f/9. This is a relatively narrow aperture, which means that the lens is not very bright and may struggle in low-light situations. It also means that the depth of field is not very shallow, which may make it harder to isolate the subject from the background.

However, the lens delivers sharp and detailed images throughout most of the zoom range, especially when stopped down to f/8 or f/11. The lens is sharpest at the center, but the corners are also decently sharp, except at the extreme ends of the zoom range. At 200mm, the lens is sharp from f/6.3 to f/16, while at 800mm, the lens is sharp from f/9 to f/22. The lens suffers from some diffraction at the smallest apertures, such as f/32 or f/54, which reduces the sharpness and contrast.

The lens has minimal distortion, which is well controlled by the in-camera corrections. The lens has some barrel distortion at 200mm, which changes to pincushion distortion at 800mm, but both are barely noticeable in real-world images. The lens also has some chromatic aberration, which is more visible at the longer focal lengths and the wider apertures, but it can also be corrected by the camera or in post-processing.

The lens has some vignetting, which is the darkening of the corners of the image. The vignetting is more pronounced at the longer focal lengths and the wider apertures, but it can also be reduced by stopping down or by applying the lens profile in post-processing. The lens also has some flare, which is the appearance of bright spots or streaks in the image when shooting against the light. The flare is more noticeable at the shorter focal lengths and the wider apertures, but it can also be avoided by using the lens hood or by changing the angle of the light source.

The lens has a good bokeh quality, which is the quality of the out-of-focus areas of the image. The lens can create smooth and creamy bokeh, especially at the longer focal lengths and the closer focusing distances. The lens also has a nice bokeh shape, which is round and uniform, thanks to the 9-blade circular aperture. The lens can also create some nice bokeh balls, which are the circular highlights in the bokeh. The lens can also create some nice bokeh fringing, which is the color variation in the bokeh, which can add some artistic flair to the image.

Autofocus and stabilization

The Canon RF 200-800mm lens has a Nano USM autofocus motor, which is one of Canon’s best autofocus technologies. The Nano USM combines the speed and accuracy of a ring-type USM with the smoothness and quietness of an STM. The result is a fast, precise, and silent autofocus performance, which is ideal for both stills and video.

The lens also supports Dual Pixel CMOS AF, which is Canon’s advanced autofocus system that uses phase detection pixels on the sensor. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF allows the lens to focus quickly and accurately in a variety of lighting conditions and scenarios. The lens also supports eye, face, and animal detection, which can track and lock on the subject’s eyes, face, or body, depending on the mode. The lens also supports subject tracking, which can follow the subject’s movement across the frame.

The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.8 m (2.62 ft) at 200mm and 3.3 m (10.83 ft) at 800mm, which is not very close, but still decent for a super telephoto lens. The lens has a maximum magnification of 0.25x at 200mm and 0.2x at 800mm, which is not very high, but still enough for some close-up shots. The lens also has a focus limiter switch, which can speed up the autofocus by limiting the focus range.

The lens has an optical image stabilization system, which can compensate for camera shake and allow you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without blurring the image. The lens has a rated stabilization effect of 5.5 stops, which means that you can shoot at shutter speeds 5.5 times slower than normal without losing sharpness

The image stabilization system has three modes, which can be selected by the IS mode switch. Mode 1 is for still subjects, mode 2 is for panning, and mode 3 is for irregular movement. Mode 3 is especially useful for wildlife and sports photography, as it can detect the direction and speed of the subject and adjust the stabilization accordingly. The image stabilization system also works well with the camera’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which can further enhance the stability and sharpness of the image.

Compatibility and versatility

The Canon RF 200-800mm lens is compatible with the Canon EOS R mirrorless system, which includes the EOS R, EOS RP, EOS R5, and EOS R6 cameras. The lens can also be used with the Canon RF 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, which can increase the focal length by 1.4x or 2x, respectively. However, using the teleconverters will also reduce the maximum aperture by 1 or 2 stops, respectively. For example, using the 1.4x teleconverter will change the focal length to 280-1120mm and the maximum aperture to f/9-13, while using the 2x teleconverter will change the focal length to 400-1600mm and the maximum aperture to f/13-18. This will make the lens even darker and harder to focus, especially in low-light situations.

The lens is very versatile, as it can cover a wide range of subjects and scenarios, from wildlife and sports to landscapes and portraits. The lens can also capture some stunning close-up shots, thanks to the decent magnification and bokeh quality. The lens can also create some dramatic perspective effects, such as compression and isolation, which can enhance the visual impact of the image.

The lens is also very flexible, as it can be adjusted to suit different shooting conditions and preferences. The lens has a zoom ring, which can be used to change the focal length smoothly and precisely. The lens also has a focus ring, which can be used to fine-tune the focus manually or to perform other functions, such as exposure compensation, aperture, or ISO, by using the custom control menu on the camera. The lens also has four switches, which can be used to change the autofocus, focus limiter, image stabilization, and lock settings.

The lens is also very adaptable, as it can work well with different cameras and accessories. The lens can take advantage of the advanced features and performance of the EOS R system, such as the high-resolution sensors, the fast and accurate autofocus, the high-speed continuous shooting, the 4K video recording, and the vari-angle touch screen. The lens can also be paired with various accessories, such as filters, teleconverters, extenders, flash units, and remote controllers, to expand the creative possibilities and enhance the shooting experience.

Pros and cons

The Canon RF 200-800mm lens is a remarkable lens that offers a lot of benefits and features, but it also has some drawbacks and limitations. Here are some of the pros and cons of the lens:

Pros:

• Massive zoom range, from 200mm to 800mm, which can cover a wide variety of subjects and scenarios
• Compatible with RF 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, which can extend the reach up to 1600mm
• Sharp and detailed images throughout most of the zoom range, especially when stopped down
• Minimal distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, and flare, which can be corrected by the camera or in post-processing
• Good bokeh quality, which can create smooth and pleasing background blur
• Fast, precise, and silent autofocus performance, which supports Dual Pixel CMOS AF, eye, face, and animal detection, and subject tracking
• Effective image stabilization system, which can compensate for camera shake up to 5.5 stops
• Solid and robust construction, which has a dust and moisture resistant design
• Relatively lightweight and compact for a lens of its scope, which makes it easier to carry and handle
• Flexible and adaptable, which can be adjusted and customized to suit different shooting conditions and preferences
• Versatile and creative, which can capture stunning and dramatic images with different perspective effects

Cons:

• Variable maximum aperture of f/6.3-9, which is relatively narrow and may struggle in low-light situations
• Not very bright and may not create a shallow depth of field, which may make it harder to isolate the subject from the background
• Not very sharp at the extreme ends of the zoom range, especially at the widest apertures
• Not very close focusing, which may limit the magnification and the close-up potential
• Large filter thread, which may require expensive and bulky filters
• Non-removable tripod foot, which may add some weight and bulk to the lens
• Not a member of the high-end L-series, which may lack some of the premium features and quality of the L-series lenses
• Expensive, which may not be affordable for some users

Conclusion

The Canon RF 200-800mm lens is a super telephoto zoom lens that offers a massive zoom range, from 200mm to 800mm, in a relatively lightweight and compact package. It is also compatible with the RF 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, which can extend the reach up to 1600mm. It is ideal for wildlife and sports photography, as well as other subjects that require long distance shooting.

The lens delivers sharp and detailed images throughout most of the zoom range, especially when stopped down. It also has minimal distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, and flare, which can be corrected by the camera or in post-processing. It also has a good bokeh quality, which can create smooth and pleasing background blur.

The lens has a fast, precise, and silent autofocus performance, which supports Dual Pixel CMOS AF, eye, face, and animal detection, and subject tracking. It also has an effective image stabilization system, which can compensate for camera shake up to 5.5 stops. It also has a solid and robust construction, which has a dust and moisture resistant design.

The lens is flexible and adaptable, which can be adjusted and customized to suit different shooting conditions and preferences. It also has a zoom ring, a focus ring, and four switches, which can be used to change the focal length, the focus, the autofocus, the focus limiter, the image stabilization, and the lock settings. It also has a tripod foot, a lock switch, and a built-in lens hood, which can enhance the usability and stability of the lens.

The lens is versatile and creative, which can capture stunning and dramatic images with different perspective effects. It can also work well with different cameras and accessories, such as the EOS R system, the filters, the teleconverters, the extenders, the flash units, and the remote controllers, to expand the creative possibilities and enhance the shooting experience.

The lens has some drawbacks and limitations, such as the variable maximum aperture of f/6.3-9, which is relatively narrow and may struggle in low-light situations. It also may not create a shallow depth of field, which may make it harder to isolate the subject from the background. It also may not be very sharp at the extreme ends of the zoom range, especially at the widest apertures. It also may not have a very close focusing distance, which may limit the magnification and the close-up potential. It also has a large filter thread, which may require expensive and bulky filters. It also has a non-removable tripod foot, which may add some weight and bulk to the lens. It also is not a member of the high-end L-series, which may lack some of the premium features and quality of the L-series lenses. It also is expensive, which may not be affordable for some users.

The Canon RF 200-800mm lens is a remarkable lens that offers a lot of benefits and features, but it also has some drawbacks and limitations. It is a lens that can appeal to many users, especially those who are interested in wildlife and sports photography, but it is also a lens that may not suit everyone, especially those who are looking for a brighter, sharper, or cheaper lens. It is a lens that requires some trade-offs and compromises, but it is also a lens that can deliver some amazing and impressive results.