RF 200-800 f/6.3-9 IS Nov 2, 2023 ??

Let me toss another iron on the fire...

I have the RF100-400 and even with the RF 1.4 on it I find it acceptably sharp to me, also SO MUCH LIGHTER than my 100-400!!

I do like the kit I have except for two things the RF 600/11 can't zoom and often I clip wings if the birds are close also when the are against the sky and a ways away it can struggle for focus.
The 150-600c, well for the DSLR it is ok although soft at 600mm and with the mirrorless it is useless less than 50 yards due to focus hunting.

I know I said I was considering the 100-500 but with 2 DSLR's that I am not getting rid of and my son having a 50D and 80D I want to keep some lenses for them.

I am on the fence again on the 200-800 leaning towards it, of course that is why I have too much gear!

Auto panning detection is provided (a mode switch is not provided) and the lens has an IS On/Off switch, a feature I appreciate.[/U]

https://www.the-digital-picture.com …m-F6-3-9-IS-USM-Lens.aspx

Minutes 1:40 and 1:57

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=aVghBEnUknQ&​t=103s

digital paradise wrote in post #19575647
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=ylPleU-64GE

Thank you for this link. Nothing disappointing here or anywhere else so far.
The handheld video example at 3:28 is a testament to the IS capability (and to its light weight/hold-ability).

Having a zooming 800mm lens for small birds in the 20'~35' range is perfect!

Jeff USN Photog 72-76 wrote in post #19575790
Let me toss another iron on the fire...

I have the RF100-400 and even with the RF 1.4 on it I find it acceptably sharp to me, also SO MUCH LIGHTER than my 100-400!!

I do like the kit I have except for two things the RF 600/11 can't zoom and often I clip wings if the birds are close also when the are against the sky and a ways away it can struggle for focus.
The 150-600c, well for the DSLR it is ok although soft at 600mm and with the mirrorless it is useless less than 50 yards due to focus hunting.

I know I said I was considering the 100-500 but with 2 DSLR's that I am not getting rid of and my son having a 50D and 80D I want to keep some lenses for them.

I am on the fence again on the 200-800 leaning towards it, of course that is why I have too much gear!

Since you are satisfied with the results of the RF100-400 + RF1.4xTC combo, sell the RF600 STM (you're only losing 40mm but gaining a zoom and aperture control) and sell your 150-600 and possibly even sell your EF400 f/5.6.

Your EF100-400II will remain working with all your dSLRs and will outperform the EF400 f/5.6 anyway.

Since you're already covered up to 560mm, if you need 800mm (but didn't like the STM version already), then I think you have your answer. The RF100-500 would be more than redundant in your case.

https://youtu.be …viXjY?si=UqMlK7​iij5MFFdAQ

Janine does an excellent and thorough review of this lens. I think it will answer just about everyone's questions at this point.

View_Finder wrote in post #19575875
https://youtu.be …viXjY?si=UqMlK7​iij5MFFdAQ

Janine does an excellent and thorough review of this lens. I think it will answer just about everyone's questions at this point.

Don’t think covered the auto IS panning detect thingy.

digital paradise wrote in post #19575878
Don’t think covered the auto IS panning detect thingy.

LOL true! She just briefly stated that it is just on or off

View_Finder wrote in post #19575879
LOL true! She just briefly stated that it is just on or off

No one has. I don’t think it will hamper too many sales but it would be nice to know.

Two days ago I said maybe. Yesterday no. Today is maybe again. KEH is going to be in town at the end of the month setting up shop at my local mom and pop store. I'll see if mom and pop want to trade or what KEH offers me for my 100-500 and then think about it. Not installing and removing a TC sure sounds appealing. BIF with the R6II. Perched birds with the R7. Also mixing that up a little.

From minute 3:08

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=s5oaJnL3X8Y

greyswan wrote in post #19575242
I'm wondering how much heat/atmospheric haze will affect this lens @ 800mm?

Well, the haze isn't dependent on the focal length. It's dependent on the distance to the subject.
But a long focal length will of course temp you to stand farther away. In such a case, the math is simple. If you have a certain haze with a 600 mm, then if you maintain the same subject size, the haze will be 800/600 of what you had before.

Jeff USN Photog 72-76 wrote in post #19575591
I have to admit that with the 600/11 at 300 yards the swans are soft due to unstable air.

On cropping the 100 mm I do that now with the 100-400Lii. I have a 2xiii extender but it is definitely softer than or 1.4 on any lens and the 1.4 introduces some softeness as well.

I can use the 200-800 or 30 days as long as I am careful with it.

Starting to wonder it is the be all and end all to distance or whether to add a 800/11 (used) to the stable instead) the only thing about the 800 is that it is hard to get BIF in the FOV, the 600 is much better but still can be tough.

agonizing wondering and thinking...

DO I stay with what I have or get the lens. I do find that the 150-600C tends to be a lot of weight and the new one is heavier 4.5lbs to 4.3lbs but about the same.

the more I think the less sure I am....

One of the things that I like about my 100-400ii (EF) with or without tc is that I can shoot flowers and insects comfortably with it, lots of versatility. The MFD of the 200-800 would be a bit limiting in that regard, I think. Unless it resolves fantastic detail at the minimum focus distance. If it's strictly used for birding/animals, I think it would be great. But I'm an opportunistic shooter and don't want to carry more than one lens per trip for other subjects.

digital paradise wrote in post #19575767
I thought if you had the money for one of those lenses you could hire someone to get rid of the atmospheric distortion before you shoot.

If I could afford the new 300mm Canon just put out I could afford a sherpa! Lol.

View_Finder wrote in post #19575874
Since you are satisfied with the results of the RF100-400 + RF1.4xTC combo, sell the RF600 STM (you're only losing 40mm but gaining a zoom and aperture control) and sell your 150-600 and possibly even sell your EF400 f/5.6.

Your EF100-400II will remain working with all your dSLRs and will outperform the EF400 f/5.6 anyway.

Since you're already covered up to 560mm, if you need 800mm (but didn't like the STM version already), then I think you have your answer. The RF100-500 would be more than redundant in your case.

You nailed it. I was thinking exactly the same, sell the 150-600C, 400/5.6 and the 600/11 (to my eye the RF100-400 with 1.4 at 560mm is virtually the same IQ as the 600/11 and same f stop but has the zoomability especially when I am shooting birds out my den window.


Right now I am shooting birds out of my den window with the 100-400 & 1.4 (140-560) and the MFD on the zoom gets the birdfeeder without me having to backup with the 600 as it is barely 10 feet away (MFD on the 100-400 with 1.4 seems to be about 4-5 feet)

I like light lenses, but this lens sounds so interesting that I will carry it in a camera bag and put it on my walker to get to the side of the ponds!

Right now I think I am back on the yes brigade. I have had it on preorder wince the 2nd.

digital paradise wrote in post #19575878
Don’t think covered the auto IS panning detect thingy.

I'm not bothered by the IS mode issue.

It's not an exaggeration to say that all my lenses have been set to Mode 1 and have rarely (some never) been changed. True I don't shoot motorsports, but plenty of BIF and some airshows.