Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM

goofing off in the backyard

can't wait for warbler season!

I just received delivery of the RF600/11 yesterday, an Amazon "renewed" at US $500, and I am very impressed by the combined stability of OIS and IBIS; I took a couple dozen shots with the RF2x at 1200mm last evening at only 1/100s in EFCS mode, and not a one of them had noticeable motion blur, even with the R7's smaller pixels.

It's funny; the first person I spoke to who owned this lens was very disappointed and was talking about selling it right away, but that guy had been using the EF600/4 previously, and I suspected that his expectations were too high because he saw it as a substitute for a 600/4, rather than the ~53m-pupil-lens that it is. I know the limitations of the smaller pupil, and see the lens more as a substitute for a 300/5.6 with heavy cropping, or a 300/5.6 with a 2x TC, or the RF100-400 with a 1.4x, which are clearly bested by the RF600/11 where the RF600's limitations are not an issue (you don't need to stop down, zoom out, or focus very close).

That’s awesome, John. Looking forward to seeing some examples from you.

I have to admit that I haven’t been on long excursions with the RF600 yet but it seems like a great lens.

Try out the lens hood linked below. I have it and for $16 it’s a steal. Reversible, quick/locking attachment, lens cap accessible. Great for rainy days since the front element is very near the front.

https://www.amazon.com …=ppx_pop_mob_b_​asin_title

A cropped section using 62mm worth of extension tubes at minimum focusing distance of 118"

I'm looking forward to using this combo for butterflies, dragonflies, and frogs.


The uncropped version can be found here https://photography-on-the.net …read.php?t=1524​036&page=9

Eastern Bluebird

An uncommon visitor to our feeder. Now to track him down to get some better shots.

View_Finder wrote in post #19498303
Eastern Bluebird

An uncommon visitor to our feeder. Now to track him down to get some better shots.

Hosted photo: posted by View_Finder in
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forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive

Excellent shot with crazy amount of detail!

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19498318
Excellent shot with crazy amount of detail!

Thank you, Levina.

A brown creeper. Not the best look - a significant crop from a high ISO shot.

The compactness and light weight of the RF600 allowed me to chase it down. Don’t think I could have gotten it with the 500mm.

Get away from my sunflower seeds!

Canon R6 RF 600mm lens
1/250 f/11 ISO 1600

Photo from Jeff USN Photog 72-76's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (1208454)

Mourning dove


actually kind of difficult with the slow shutter speed (due to f/11 and my self-imposed ISO 1600 limit) and the fact that they constantly move their head/neck like a chicken lol

View_Finder wrote in post #19527484
Mourning dove


actually kind of difficult with the slow shutter speed (due to f/11 and my self-imposed ISO 1600 limit) and the fact that they constantly move their head/neck like a chicken lol

Hosted photo: posted by View_Finder in
./showthread.php?p=195​27484&i=i154241364
forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive

This one looks pretty good. But with the R5 and modern noise reduction software I wouldn't think twice about going to 3200 or 6400 to get faster shutter speed. Going higher is very doable if the subject is properly exposed and you don't need to crop too much. Motion blur is much harder to overcome.

Especially with these f/11 lenses; not cropping much is the more important part. I find the images from them fall apart rapidly when cropping; but, I will *comfortably* run 3200 or 6400 with little to no real-world side effects.

kd_reno wrote in post #19527500
This one looks pretty good. But with the R5 and modern noise reduction software I wouldn't think twice about going to 3200 or 6400 to get faster shutter speed. Going higher is very doable if the subject is properly exposed and you don't need to crop too much. Motion blur is much harder to overcome.

Yes, I just need to get over my old habit. Never had a need to go over 1600 since getting my 5D4 and 7D2. But with f/11 lenses I'm definitely feeling a bit sluggish.

I'll start dabbling with 3200 (although 6400 might take some more time lol).

Snydremark wrote in post #19527531
Especially with these f/11 lenses; not cropping much is the more important part. I find the images from them fall apart rapidly when cropping; but, I will *comfortably* run 3200 or 6400 with little to no real-world side effects.

Will keep that in mind. I always try to shoot tight so that should help keep the noise issue to a minimum on the final image.

Common Starling

Typically these birds are "invisible" to me as I'm usually searching/tracking other birds. But they really are quite striking up close imo.

View_Finder wrote in post #19527552
Yes, I just need to get over my old habit. Never had a need to go over 1600 since getting my 5D4 and 7D2. But with f/11 lenses I'm definitely feeling a bit sluggish.

I'll start dabbling with 3200 (although 6400 might take some more time lol).

Will keep that in mind. I always try to shoot tight so that should help keep the noise issue to a minimum on the final image.

I came to the R bodies from a 7DII/5D4 myself, and I totally get the reticence there. I sort of conflated a couple of issues in my response, though. The "image falling apart" portion of my comment was not around noise, but a more general find on image sharpness/clarity/what​chamacallit about using these lenses. The noise is a characteristic of the sensor; and these newer sensors plus modern NR software have really changed the game up on us a bit. It'll certainly take some time (and it should) for you to see whether you're happy with the outcomes at higher ISOs now. I live in the PNW where we just don't typically HAVE enough light to keep high shutters at longer focal lengths AND keep ISO below 800 or 1600, even. So, I have had a bit more time using higher ISOs to compensate.