Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM Review - Wildlife and Bird Photography

Ғылым және технология

The Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM offers a lot of focal length for relatively little money and weight. Is this the ideal entry-level lens for bird and wildlife photography? I have tested this telephoto lens for about 1 month in the real world and would like to share my experience with you in this video. This review is about the image quality, background cropping, fixed aperture 11, handling, autofocus and image stabiliser.
Please also have a look at my other videos:
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Specs and Handling
03:33 Autofocus
05:05 Image Stabilizer
05:28 Image Quality
06:18 Is f/11 usable
08:25 Conclusions

Пікірлер: 43

  • @peterebel7899
    @peterebel78992 жыл бұрын

    There is no single ideal lens covering all of bird/wildlife photography - but this lens is a decent and affordable access gate to this genres of nature photography. Kudos to Canon for this USP!

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    I completely agree. Now we need a 500/5 or 600/5.6 😃

  • @philfyphil
    @philfyphil2 жыл бұрын

    Very useful, thanks for the review.

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad to hear 😊

  • @runefagereng6023
    @runefagereng60232 жыл бұрын

    Something in between. Yes, I agree!

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    We can dream, right?

  • @fasuego
    @fasuego2 жыл бұрын

    great review!

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks a lot

  • @mvp_kryptonite
    @mvp_kryptonite6 ай бұрын

    Fair review. Cheers. I purchased its little brother the 600 for the R7 and it’s cool. So light and easier to frame. It for sure should have come with the lens hood.

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks! Have fun!

  • @nordic5490
    @nordic5490 Жыл бұрын

    Good review. Subbed.

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks 😊

  • @marximus4
    @marximus42 жыл бұрын

    Another option is to adapt the Sigma 60-600. I use it on my R5 and it works very well (the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary and the Tamron 150-600 G2 do not work well; lots of pulsing and hunting AF). It's not super cheap, and pretty heavy, but it gives you more range than the 100-500, it's longer, and it's brighter at the long end.

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Interesting to read that the Sigma 60-600 is indeed performing better than the 150-600 out there. Thanks for the insights

  • @TomTheTruckdriver
    @TomTheTruckdriver2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad if you liked it 😊

  • @ronschuddeboomdigiscoping3693
    @ronschuddeboomdigiscoping36932 жыл бұрын

    Nice Fabian👍…it would still be nice if you can get your hands on another 800f11 combined with the r7 and do a review…cheers Ron😀

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Unfortunately, I don’t think that this is very likely but we will see 😊

  • @gerardferry3958
    @gerardferry39582 жыл бұрын

    sharp and usable, my f4 does not leave the house

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Oh wow, you must be really happy with the 800/11 then! For me one lens can’t replace the other - they are too different

  • @tedinohio3981
    @tedinohio39812 жыл бұрын

    I am considering the rf 800 f/11. Right now I have the rf 100-400 and I use the 1.4 extender when I am shooting smaller birds, so I can get 140-560mm with the extender. I can't afford the rf 100-500. Cheers, Ted

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    I think if you constantly need more reach, the RF 800/11 would be a good addition 😊

  • @naturealbums
    @naturealbums2 жыл бұрын

    Good review. I think Nikon are doing a better job at new lenses but it might be a bit of a wait for the Z9 tech to come in an D850 sized body for me to to get excited about Nikon. It should also be better than any R5/6/7 hopefully with same sensor as Z9 stacked sensor and BSI. Meanwhile I'm still waiting well over two months for an R7 to update my old 7DmkII.

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes, I agree! Hope your R7 is arriving soon!

  • @19ab59
    @19ab595 ай бұрын

    Hi Fabian, I always like watching your vids. Clear and honest. Thanks for that. I do have a question though. I have a R6 with a RF24-105L and the RF100-400 5.6-8. Sometimes I miss some extra reach on the 400 end. I'm in doubt what to do. Go for an extender or opt for the 600 or 800 but in that case I'll probably miss the flexibility of the zoom. Could the Sigma or Tamron 150-600 be a good alternative you think? It's not just for birding but all kind of nature. I'm aware of that f11 is slower. Looking forward to your suggestion. Greetz Ab

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    5 ай бұрын

    I would go for the RF200-800, it’s a great lens

  • @19ab59

    @19ab59

    5 ай бұрын

    thanks and I would if budget wasn;t an issue😉 @@FabianFoppNaturephotography

  • @stevemurnan1702
    @stevemurnan17022 жыл бұрын

    If you can work within the limitations of this lens i.e. the reduced AF area and the aperture then it's outstandingly good value and sharp enough. I used mine on an R5 and it was only good for BIF shots on a bright day. Static birds no problem at all. However, I'd think twice before using this lens on a crop body due to that aperture. OK if you live in Florida but in N.W. Europe it's a summer lens.

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Personally I also find 800mm quite long for BIF

  • @RogerZoul
    @RogerZoul2 жыл бұрын

    I use the 800F11 here in the south eastern US and it is strictly a sunny day lens on my use. It stays at home on cloudy days. It can work well in and under heavy tree cover if there is dappled light peaking through. I don’t think it is intended as a one and only lens, as canon has made variable aperture lenses for such use. This is strictly a when you need/want reach in light weight easy-to-carry all day in good light lens. If you don’t want/need that, just buy either the 100-400 or the 100-500 options, or a third party option. But having owned third party 150-600 lenses, I’d rather have this and some other lens, like a 500 f4 or the 100-500.

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes, it’s not ideal under dark conditions. Overcast weather was still okish, but you already need to increase the iso a bit. But for beginners I think it’s a nice lens as a 100-500 might be financially a bit too much

  • @RogerZoul

    @RogerZoul

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@FabianFoppNaturephotography Beginners to bird photography will struggle a lot for BIF at 800 mm.

  • @AlessandroAvigni
    @AlessandroAvigni2 жыл бұрын

    it could be very intresting to see thei lens on R7 that for sure need more ligh. In the othere way about your last consideration about to have someting in the midle, I think about the sony 200-600. I thougn to go to Sony only for this reason. A 200-600 with those quality and price range it could be greate for sure

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes, Canon lacks a lens in this region! The RF 100-500 is an amazing lens, but it’s quite pricey

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography
    @FabianFoppNaturephotography2 жыл бұрын

    You can buy the RF 800/11 here (affiliate link): amzn.to/3bcPBja

  • @tedinohio3981

    @tedinohio3981

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! I'm still paying off my last lens addition, in the opposite area: the "no brainer" rf 16mm, which I use for landscape. So I'm still in the thinking stage about how often I would use the 800 mm, for birds. I did a little math, and found that if I set my 100-400 at 355mm, put on the 1.4 extender, and then put my R5 in crop mode, I get a good idea of what the field of view and magnification would be if I got the 800, though that is not a solution, as when used in imaging the pixels go down. Cheers, Ted

  • @garymeredith2441
    @garymeredith2441Ай бұрын

    Fabian when you tested that 811 did you have a chance to use it with an extension tube to try to get a little bit closer to photograph in the birds .

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    Ай бұрын

    No, I never tried that

  • @Chris_Wolfgram
    @Chris_Wolfgram Жыл бұрын

    Best lens I've ever owned. Would I like a lens to be a "little faster" Sure, like maybe an F8. But it doesn't need to be an F4. Would it be okay to be a bit more expensive, and a little "heavier" ? Sure, maybe 4 to 4 1/2 lbs, and $3K.... But NOT 7 lbs, and $17,000 like the RF 800 F5.6 ! Bottom line > Until Canon (if ever) makes a slightly pumped up version of this lens, I'll never own another birding lens. This lens has just about completely cured my big lens lust.

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    Жыл бұрын

    Something like a 600/6.3 for ~4k would be amazing

  • @Chris_Wolfgram

    @Chris_Wolfgram

    Жыл бұрын

    @@FabianFoppNaturephotography I think that would sell well, but it would still be a little short for me, and adding a TC would slow it down the point it would defeat the purpose...

  • @yorkshirekoi2246
    @yorkshirekoi2246 Жыл бұрын

    another option is using a r7

  • @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    @FabianFoppNaturephotography

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, but I find f/11 really getting dark on an APS-C body. More importantly, 1280mm would be too much for 99% of my pictures

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