Canon RF 200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM - real world photo samples and review

[@Vaquero_interestelar]

Without a doubt, the best video of the day. Thank you very much for this content

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@Andrewmusic100 Thank you so much. Your comment has made my day :) Wishing you all the best!

[@VanceWorldTravel]

As soon as you started to talk about how great the bird was... you sold me on how great the lens is. You pulled up a picture and were not drawn to lens errors, making explanations on why it wasn't good, or the conditions, just about the photo and the subject. The equipment should disappear in an image. Sure we buy our gear and we are proud of it (for some reason), but it's the art of the photograph.. and when the gear gets out of the way and lets you make art... you have the right gear for you and that moment.

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi Vance, thanks for your comment and thanks for taking the time to check out the video. I totally agree with you. People will look for a review just to find faults in something and then pick it apart. This lens is what it is and I really enjoy using it. it delivers a reach at an affordable level and its main shortcomings seems to be the F9 aperture. Challenges like this only force me to get more creative. I hope 2024 has been going well for you so far.

[@1992tlp]

Great demonstration of its capabilities and image quality. Thank you!

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@1992tlp Thank you, you are most welcome :)

[@stuartcarlton7939]

Superb, I have one on pre order, can't wait! These shots dispel any lingering doubts!

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Thanks Stuart! I hope yours arrives soon. It's a fun lens. Super light weight and a good performer for a non-L-series.

[@hawkforce3109]

Outstanding images!

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@hawkforce3109 thank you :)

[@RogerZoul]

Thanks Matt! You have convinced me that this lens is worthy kit for me! Too bad I likely won’t have it before my trip to Panama in March. But at least, hopefully, I can see some of your results at your return from your trip in February. Nice on Adobe to add that lens blur in Lr! Take care!!

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi Roger, thanks for your comment. I'm glad you found it useful. I really hope you get the lens in time for Panama. Mine was meant to arrive in January and I got it December. I wish you the same luck! Thanks for taking the time to check out the video :)

[@theflyingdutchman7127]

what great sharpness this lens has. I can't wait until I get it in. thanks for sharing this video. I look forward to your Antarctica photos.❤👍🙏

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@theflyingdutchman7127, Thank you. I am also very impressed by the sharpness of this lens. I hope you get to have some fun with one very soon :)

[@theflyingdutchman7127]

@@mattkempphotography6110 I still have one dirty wish, and that is an RF 200-500 F/4 and a Canon R1 at an affordable price😂❤️🙏

[@jammyjackson4434]

Thanks for the review 👍

[@mattkempphotography6110]

My pleasure!

[@kamerakeith2048]

GREAT VIDEO … GLAD I HAVE ONE ON ORDER …

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi Keith, thanks mate! I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video. I hope your lens arrives soon. cheers!

[@hongkongkong7174]

excellent video

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hey, thanks! :) I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@stevesperlo6143]

Matt, what camera were you using at the time these photos were take? Great video. Thanks for the review.

[@mattkempphotography6110]

hi Steve, thanks for your comments. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. The images were all taken on a Canon R3. The Canon R6 mk ii would produce similar results

[@anandvikamshi]

Thank you very informative video

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@anandvikamshi, Thanks for your nice comment. It was my pleasure! Best wishes :)

[@JeffandLeslie]

thanks for sharing. It seems the biggest complaints folks seem to be having about this lens is it isn't an F4. If I didn't already have the 100-500 L lens, I would be on the list to get one of these.

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi @JeffandLeslie, thanks for you comment. It's my pleasure! Whoa, yes f/4 would be a luxury at 800mm. Even Canon's L-series RF 800mm primes lens is 'only' an f/5.6 Have you tried a 1.4x TC on the 100-500mm? Apparently, the results are comparable to the 200-800mm

[@JeffandLeslie]

@@mattkempphotography6110at what it would cost, it would probably come with its own drone to fly it from your parked vehicle to the location where you are shooting images and then back to its included locked safe inside your vehicle. :). Even if such a lens were made, there would be those around here who would complain that it wasn't a real professional lens at F4 it needs to be F2.8 and so on.

[@cheungching9430]

This lens is superb.

[@mattkempphotography6110]

I think so too :)

[@tkdive4784]

I think the lens is very good for it's focal length and price, but: Simply having a lens doesn't produce photos ;-)

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@@tkdive4784 yes, this correct. Attaching a camera to it is important :)

[@adrianhelyar5735]

Thankyou Matt for this early review, good of you to show your Lightroom skills to remedy the lens's shortcomings. For a non L 'Big White' it seems mighty impressive for the price!

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi Adrian, thanks for your nice comment. You are most welcome. I think the f/9 is the only reason they left the L-series badge off this one. It's a weapon and half on all other counts. The ease of use with LR masking and lens blur definitely makes this lens more appealing.

[@Joya5545]

So nice to see real world shots of birds, thanks Matt. I have mine on pre order so I'm excited to get out in the field and start shooting. how did you find the weight, did you use a monopod or tripod?

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi @Joya5545 Thanks for your nice words. I find this lens incredibly light for the reach that it delivers. I used to have a sigma 150-600mm (sport version) lens which had an in-use weight that well-exceeded 3k. The 200-800mm is only 2k and I haven't needed to use a monopod or tripod. I ease the load when carrying the lens by using a Black Rapid single strap.

[@TieitAndFlyit]

I've had one preordered for two months, any insight on when Canon is shipping to the rest of the gang?

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi @benhuffer1554, I'm in Sydney, Australia and mine was meant to arrive in early Jan. Surprisingly, it turned up a month early. I have read some horror stories online about Europeans having to wait until April. I'm not privy to shipping info unfortunately but I hope yours arrives soon.

[@philsmeanderings7991]

Nice to see some untouched images of the card for a real world comparison of what can be achieved. Good clean capture. Just out of interest , have a nephew by the name Mathew Kemp who just happens to live in SouthEast Qld Aus, any relation ?

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi Phil, thanks for checking out the video and thanks for your comment. Its always nice to have images that look good straight off the card so that we get on with enhancements instead of resuscitation. I haven't met Mathew from SE QLD but I know another photography tour operator that had a guy with same name on her recent tour.

[@philsmeanderings7991]

You know as a kid there were barely any Kemps in the phone book ,now there are plenty. Mostly not related. Anyway good luck with your photography ventures . Your images were a great start.@@mattkempphotography6110

[@orloaguilar]

Really cool stuff Matt! Could I ask you to provide us with some sample raw files to test out? I'm leaning towards this instead of the 100-500 but I wanna play around with some files first

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Thank you Orlo! Here's a few CR3 files for you to play with. If I didn't already have the 100-400mm ii (I'm still very happy with this EF lens on an adapter) I might have considered the 100-500mm + 1.4x combo. I hope these help www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/60b3bqdn3930hzql94bds/h?rlkey=vjyg438i3vxu8y1grth2d1oqd&dl=0

[@orloaguilar]

@@mattkempphotography6110 thank you so much! I'm on an R7 with the Sigma 150-600mm so I'm eager to upgrade to something that doesn't have so many focusing problems. It'll probably be the 200-800 since it is a lot cheaper than the 100-500

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@@orloaguilar if you haven't discovered Jan Wegener yet, I would suggest checking out his setup suggestions here www.youtube.com/@jan_wegener

[@excal022]

Im considering getting this lens for bird photography, would this lens fare well with a canon R7?

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@@excal022 this lens will definitely go well with the Canon R7 and you’ll have the added advantage with the 1.6x crop factor with your sensor. It will essentially turn it into a full frame equivalent of a 320mm-1280mm focal length. You will get some amazing moon detail photos with this lens. Always bear in mind that this is an F9 starting aperture at the long end so it best performs in brighter conditions. It’s great for video which doesn’t require as fast shutter speeds.

[@excal022]

@@mattkempphotography6110 thank you i appriciate the advice

[@mattkemp984]

@@excal022 my pleasure. let me know if there's any other info that I can provide

[@real1997]

Matt should I buy buy this lens, yes or no? BIF, planes mainly. Thx

[@mattkempphotography6110]

To confidently advise you to buy this lens, I would need to do more BIF photos (we had a heat wave here recently so birds have been very docile) Also, may I ask which camera body you’ll be using? Jan Wegener just posted a great youtube video that has some good BIF samples plus his evaluations. I value his opinion and suggest checking him out while i gather more data on flying subjects. if you are on a full frame camera like an R3 or R5 it is a good performer but I would like to do some extra testing before advising you to pull the trigger on a purchase

[@real1997]

@@mattkempphotography6110 thx Matt. I’m using R6 (version 1)

[@XenosKiran]

Great one, so it must be used on lower resolution camera like R3 and R6 & R6 Mark II for better performance.. thats sad news for me as R7 user this will definitely produce noise…😢

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Hi @XenosKiran, I would say that it 'must' be used on only those cameras. There's definitely low-light advantages with R3/R6 cameras but there's also added advantages of greater reach when when used on higher MP and crop sensor cameras. I haven't used it on the R5 yet but I might have to road test that combo next.

[@okaro6595]

It really is not about resolution but the sensor size sure counts. With APS-C you have about one stop disadvantage but you also have more range.

[@tonyad8603]

Your sound is similar to that of Duade paton

[@mattkempphotography6110]

I had to google who he was. 😅 thanks for bringing him to my attention :)

[@soumakbinduwildlife]

wow

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@soumakbinduwildlife Thanks! It has been a fun lens to use.

[@isotechimages.9130]

This is what l have thought about these slow lenses from Canon, on paper they sound like something to steer away from but are actually very useable in real world photography. Canon also appear to be designing their RF lenses to rely heavily on lens correction eg. 10/20mm F4 and post production tools such as denoise eg. 800mm F11. As l have said in the past l applaud Canon for thinking outside the box with their RF lenses, l would by choice take a 200/800 F6.3/9 over a 200/600 F5/6.3 even though it won't pull you through all situations obviously. Anyway am enjoying lens which is pretty much glued to my R7.

[@mattkempphotography6110]

It is definitely a lens that pairs well with Lightroom's recently added Ai tools. The masking and lens blur features go hand-in-hand will be an important part of the workflow. 800mm is amazing on a full-frame and I'm sure you're loving the extra reach on the R7. cheers!

[@nk-oi3oo]

I order 200-800mm lens to go with R8. I think thats a budget setup.

[@nk-oi3oo]

@@mattkempphotography6110 R8 has same sensor from R6 mark ii. I figure since its at f9, light will be an issue so I went with R8 instead of R7. It was same price.

[@mattkempphotography6110]

@@nk-oi3oo I just saw from your comment that the R8 is a full frame sensor. it’s a perfect combination and I’m sure you’ll capture some wonderful images with this lens

[@Paul_85-]

I think we need to be honest here and admit that canon have got this wrong. Those backgrounds are exactly what we expected with it being f9. We get better results and smoother backgrounds with sigma 150-600s and Sony 200-600 lenses. I cannot believe Canon have produced a lens that doesn't perform as well as their competition and are charging the most for again compared to their competitors. Canon has now tricked people into thinking a wildlife lens with worse backgrounds worse low light performance and a higher price tag is somehow good ! Canon are going in the wrong direction

[@mattkempphotography6110]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. At a time when both of those brands produce lens that reaches 800 mm only then can we make a comparison. For the moment, it’s apples and pears. This is once more, Canon pushing the development boundaries and I think it performs well for that reach. At 600 mm I would hope there would be vast improvements on the Image quality. Time will tell

[@mattkempphotography6110]

I’m hoping this is an isolated incident with my R3 body and just wanted to post a warning in case anyone else has a similar issue. If it prevents one lens drop then it’s all worth it kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWS4lpulbcibp5Ysi=wk5hpYLrbSWrL5dA