Canon RF 800mm F/11 IS STM

Specifications01

MountCANON RF

Focal length800mm

Max aperturef/11

TypeCinema · Telephoto · Prime

Release year2020

Weight1260 g

Filter size95 mm

Physical length351.8 mm

Min focus distance6.002 m

Max magnification0.1401

Optical elements11

Groups8

AutofocusYes

StabilizationYes

Aperture controlNone

Lens hoodET-101 - Bayonet-type round

TeleconvertersCanon Extender RF 1.4X→ 1120mm F/15.4 Canon Extender RF 2X→ 1600mm F/22

Sensor coverage43.3 mm

EraDigital era

Production statusIn production

Additional Info02

ModelIS STM

FormatFF

SeriesRF

SpecialIS STM

Category["Canon","Canon RF"]

Keywords["Canon","Prime","Tele"]

Lens TypeSuper telephoto prime lens

Iris Blades9

Review AuthorKlaus

Other FeaturesControl ring, focus distance switch, 4 f-stop image stabilizer, fixed tripod mount

Review VerdictWe didn't expect too much from the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM. However, after having used it in real life, it has its merits - with a couple of caveats. Despite the slow aperture, it can be surprisingly sharp. The CAs are low, and image distortions are absent. There's some vignetting in RAW files, but it's well auto-corrected. Despite common perception related to the max aperture of f/11, the quality of the bokeh is actually quite good. It's also a very well-made lens. The used materials are of high quality despite targeting consumers rather than professionals. Canon did, however, omit weather-sealing, which is hard to understand because this is an outdoor-only lens, really. The retractable design may seem to be odd at first, but you can get used to this in no time. Unlike its (distant) professional cousin, it is actually a quite portable lens that you can carry for long distances without breaking your back. The AF speed is sufficiently fast unless you want to use it for very fast action photography. Keep in mind that the covered AF field of the camera is somewhat reduced, though. The big elephant in the room is, of course, the max aperture of f/11, and most will use this lens in hand-held mode. More often than not, you will shoot at very high ISO settings of > ISO 2000 or (much) higher - also because the image stabilizer isn't all that efficient at just 4 f-stops. Traditionally, ISOs this high were like entering a no-go zone, and it still is if you prefer JPEGs straight out of the camera. When using advanced RAW converters such as DxO RAW/PhotoLab or Topaz Labs DeNoise AI, the results can be impressive - although limitations regarding dynamic range still apply. Even with all the support from new AI tools, shooting in low light is a challenge. While the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM can deliver nice, if not great, results, we still wished that it was one f-stop faster. This would have (roughly) doubled the price tag and also the size/weight, but the potential gain in practicality would have been worth it. That being said, the lens is primarily targeting amateurs, and most of us have a tight budget for just-of-fun equipment, and it will surely find friends among wildlife photographers. If you'd like to support our work, please consider shopping for this or other lenses via one of the following partners: * Amazon US * Amazon Europe * B&H US * Adorama US * KEH US (used gear)

Review Published2023-06-12T04:17:22+00:00

Optical Construction11 elements in 8 groups including 1xDO element

Field Notes02

Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM is a fixed ultra-telephoto prime lens for distant subjects such as wildlife and sports, with image stabilization and an f/11 maximum aperture.

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Catalog note · source: cinelenswiki