Here are the RF 600mm f/11 & RF 800mm f/11 super-telephoto lenses

peters · Jul 6, 2020

That weight and size is realy amazing

gzroxas · Jul 6, 2020

So that was what they had hidden in their sleeves.. a retractable design that makes these lenses much more portable. This makes the f/11 more believable. I wonder how many people would buy them.
I’d like to try them out once, even just for some fun

sobrien · Jul 6, 2020

My goodness they are light. The 800mm lighter than the 28-70!

Clever retractable design also. Important given these will rarely (if ever) be the only lens you will want to bring out with you.

Assuming IQ is up to scratch I can these going down very well with enthusiast wildlife photographers, particularly those that are on the go.

blackcoffee17 · Jul 6, 2020

That 6m minimum focus distance for the 800mm is pretty bad in my opinion.
All depends on the IQ and price, that 800mm could be very interesting as a portable wildlife lens.

Maximilian · Jul 6, 2020

Canon Rumors Guy said:
...Retractable design...

Really interesting.

I hope Canon does not mess it up by setting the MRSP too high...

Maximilian · Jul 6, 2020

blackcoffee17 said:
That 6m minimum focus distance for the 800mm is pretty bad in my opinion.
All depends on the IQ and price, that 800mm could be very interesting as a portable wildlife lens.

The EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM has 6.0 m
The EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM has 4.2 m

So pretty much what you can get out of such super teles.

chris_overseas · Jul 6, 2020

blackcoffee17 said:
That 6m minimum focus distance for the 800mm is pretty bad in my opinion.
All depends on the IQ and price, that 800mm could be very interesting as a portable wildlife lens.

Why do you think it is bad? I have the 800mm f/5.6 and it has the same minimum focus distance. It's rarely a problem in the real world.

blackcoffee17 · Jul 6, 2020

Maximilian said:
The EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM has 6.0 m
The EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM has 4.2 m

So pretty much what you can get out of such super teles.

Oh, ok. I remembered around 4.5m for the 800 5.6.

Aaron D · Jul 6, 2020

Looks like there's an Arca-Swiss wedge on the bottom of these!

Billct · Jul 6, 2020

Why f11 what am I missing here.

RMac · Jul 6, 2020

Interesting. - pretty unique design. Also a pretty low element count - these might be pretty affordable (although I'm guessing DO elements are not so easy to manufacture).
Now that we've seen pictures of the lenses, I'd really like to see some pictures taken through the lenses...

Konachu · Jul 6, 2020

Very interesting. Looking forward to seeing reviews of these in action.

RMac · Jul 6, 2020

Billct said:
Why f11 what am I missing here.

There was a whole discussion about this recently on here. The RF system is able to autofocus at much higher f-numbers, which enables compact designs like this.

Billct · Jul 6, 2020

RMac said:
There was a whole discussion about this recently on here. The RF system is able to autofocus at much higher f-numbers, which enables compact designs like this.

Not a lens to render smooth backgrounds tho for wildlife then.

FrenchFry · Jul 6, 2020

chris_overseas said:
Why do you think it is bad? I have the 800mm f/5.6 and it has the same minimum focus distance. It's rarely a problem in the real world.

The 800mm f/5.6 also has the same .14x magnification as well as the same 6m minimum focus distance. Do you find that you wind up using the teleconverter a lot to get more magnification?
I wonder if these lenses will be usable with the teleconverters given the aperture.
Key differences: the 800mm f/5.6 weighs 3.5 times more than this lens at 4490g and costs $12,999 new.

blackcoffee17 · Jul 6, 2020

FrenchFry said:
The 800mm f/5.6 also has the same .14x magnification as well as the same 6m minimum focus distance. Do you find that you wind up using the teleconverter a lot to get more magnification?
I wonder if these lenses will be usable with the teleconverters given the aperture.
Key differences: the 800mm f/5.6 weighs 3.5 times more than this lens at 4490g and costs $12,999 new.

I only had the old 400 5.6 i remember i was bothered sometimes by the long 3.5m minimum focusing distance. Not very often tho.

These new lenses apparently are compatible with both TCs but who wants to add TC on an F11 lens? Maybe for moon shots or long exposures or some landscapes

SV · Jul 6, 2020

I think I'll wait for the f/16 versions

AlanF · Jul 6, 2020

chris_overseas said:
Why do you think it is bad? I have the 800mm f/5.6 and it has the same minimum focus distance. It's rarely a problem in the real world.

Maybe not a problem in your world, but it is in mine. I use the same lens for birds and butterflies and dragonflies. My 100-400 and hopefully the new 100-500 as well get me down to 1m mfd and as long as 700-1000mm for reach with a TC. And I also use a 500mm PF with a mfd of 3m, and will take TCs at the same mfd. When you go out on a nature hike with one lens (and I admit that would not be a 800/5.6), you need both decent mfd as well as reach.

Jasonmc89 · Jul 6, 2020

Maximilian said:
The EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM has 6.0 m
The EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM has 4.2 m

So pretty much what you can get out of such super teles.

Good point!