I really like that you mentioned the effect of distance and what it does to sharpness in images. Something I think a lot of people oversee or don't really understand.
This was an excellent breakdown of why all of these lenses are designed and priced as they are. It is our job as photographers to figure out the right balance of price and performance. Kudos to Janine for making it clear for photographers of all levels to understand!
A fantastic review and even better to have the comparisons with the other lenses. Way better than any other review I've seen so far on announcement day. Great job and thank you, Janine 👍
Great summary of the strengths and tradeoffs of this lens! I think this one is a no-brainer for me, it's compact enough to fit in a camera bag, and it's inexpensive enough to risk taking it on my kayak without having a heart attack while still performing better than the 800/11.
£2299 In the UK. This sounds like a great lens but it's only great if you will use it for what it is. I had the 100-500 and loved it but could get just as good results from my RF 70-200 F2.8 so I sold it. I think lenses like these that try to be jack of all trades look attractive on 1st look, so attract a lot of buyers but eventually the novelty wears off. Good video Janine!
I one day walked, by chance, into your office. All three of you were there, Sabine and Danielle, and you told me about your photo safaris and you girls were bemused by my ignorance. Now, some years later, I learnt to minimise my gurus to avoid confusion. Janine, you are right up there and my Darlingmost Wificle and I regard you as our Photographic Wizardezz of Oz. Thanks for the great quality edutainment, and encouraging us to go out there and shoot. I'd love this 800mm reach, as I give the Peaky Blinders lions a wide berth. Lions don't brush. 😊. Wishing you well from my perch in Kapstadt.
I think that this should be the gold standard of lens reviews.. You 100 % nailed it, discussing what the purpose of image is and sensor size and heat haze as well as shooting at extreme distance! also cost vs usage case...Brilliant. All important points covered. I see so many people getting excited about reach on a Crop sensor. on comments sections. The new lens blur function on LR and PS can make any lens aF2.8 😂😂 these days anyway ... for 99% of users and usage cases
I love my 100-500, and used in conjunction with the 1.4 converter you can get 700mm F10, but then have the limitation of it becoming 420mm at the wide end. The thought of having 200mm all the way to 800mm without any of the fuss does seem rather welcome.
@@armenhovhannisyan5505 The 1.4 extender protrudes into the lens meaning you cannot use the full range of the zoom with it attached. You can only use from 300-500, effectively turning it into a 420-700mm lens.
Thanks Janine for your discussion of atmospheric limitations in high focal length lenses. I saw everyone's eyes glaze over when it became clear that this lens would work with the teleconverters. Immediately folks are calling for testing with a 2x TC on an R7! I can't imagine what a mess those images would be. I tell folks all the time - use these like a magnifying glass, not a telescope. This looks like a great lens but I don't think I'll trade it for my RF100-500/1.4x anytime soon. If this option had been available when I bought the 100-500, I probably would have went with it instead.
I agree that with 2x TC it gets into heavy diffraction territory, not to mention the darkness and that 2x TC isn't that great compared to 1.4. This lens is great that you can use it without teleconverter or attach the 1.4 while zoom out and use the whole range. Main downside of the 100-500, which I have too, is the cumbersome use with TC, you can use only last third of the zoom range and it won't fit in my bag extended at those 300mm. So I will be getting this one, it's still cheaper than the 100-500 and I can always crop further on my R5.
I shoot with a M50 on a swarovski digiscope, equivalent to about 2600mm and even on miserable UK days atmospherics usually get in the way, its also a lot of weight to lug and to get set up and focused takes an age and the bird has flown, forget about shots on the wing. My wife uses a cheap bridge camera with 1200mm equivalent onto a phone size sensor, good enough for identification but not good when they've been cropped. I'd love to see this on an R7 as that would be 1200 onto a much larger sensor though then the comparison might be with a 600mm bridge with a 1 inch sensor. I think it's white for marketing, if your lens isn't white and very long you can't possibly be a serious twitcher.
@@SurreyAlanI have the same experience with a Svarowski telescope and a Sony APS-C: While the scope is really great for watching even over great distances, the photos coming out of the combo in most situations are good for determination and evidence, but not beautiful.
I have found the RF 800mm at f/11 to be very manageable in low light situations. I suspect this lens will be a very versatile replacement for the 800mm, especially at $1899 US.
I’m primarily a sports photographer who also dabbles in wildlife photography. I’ll never use this lens for the odd wedding or portrait work I occasionally do, but at $1899 for the sports and wildlife this is a no-brainer for me. Already pre-ordered. I see reports that this lens will start shipping mid-December, and I can’t wait!
This is one of the best lens comparisons I ever seen... Very objective and down to the earth/usability... Thank you so much... Love your High Key photos!!!
All the latest editing equipment we have a new D noise in light than the new blue background. I don’t think Lens choice is a problem. If the Lens doesn’t does it the software will. Thanks for sharing Janine, always a pleasure.❤
An excellent review that points out the problems associated with long distance photography. I was in Manitoba, Canada in early March and it was bitterly cold and windy. A flock of Gray Partridges were sunning themselves in a brush pile, a potentially very nice shot as they were all facing the camera. All of the photos I took were extremely blurry because of heat haze and the distance was only about 100 meters. I was using a Canon 600mm f4 and R5. Thanks Janine.
Thank you very much! Great review. With an emphasis on not exaggerating the cost of equipment! Very sensible and comforting! Unfortunately, my "safari" will be limited to Poland. I need a lens like this!
This is a more than fantastic answer to the Sony 200-600 and Nikkor 180-600 I was sold on buying the RF 100-500 but really considering this one instead
Going to be road-testing one of these vs my Sigma 150-600 that I’ve had for about 7 years now. Subject separation is not such an issue these days now that Adobe have incorporated “fake” lens blur tools into Lightroom and ACR. Coupled with their excellent noise reduction which means you can use very high ISO without issues, this could be a worthy replacement (although significantly more expensive than the Sigma here in the UK).
Dust, smog and heat haze are absent after rain and the light under overcast conditions is perfect for long range shooting of stills and videos. These lenses will produce stunning imagery under these favourable conditions at long range. An excellent and comprehensive review of lenses from a wide price range.
Whoa! Awesome video! Thank you so much. I found this helpful, especially the point near the very end about using a full frame high performing sensor. That makes sense. Happy shooting!
The actual retail price is $1899 USD. Many people already threw their negative opinions without having tried it yet in the field. I am preordering it to test it for myself and compare to my RF 100-500 mm. If it turns out no good, I can sell it. $1899 is not a big deal. With current advance noise reduction software like DXO and Topaz, and now Lightroom, noise is not a huge concern as before. This is mainly for amateurs and enthusiasts. Great price point.
Very good review. The US price turned out to be $1899 so I preordered one. Where I live I can get away with longer distances on most days since we don’t let a lot of heat shimmer. But, not everyone lives in the Pacific Northwest. However, I like a long lens to make a small subject big in the frame so I rarely shoot at a distance anyway. I am really looking forward to getting my copy.
Really well done initial review - the real world comparisons to other lenses in the Canon lineup were especially informative. Best info I have seen on this lens and its pros and cons so far.
Excellent review of this new RF 200-800mm lens and comparing it to the other two 800 primes. Thank you. A very good point you made at the end, exactly what are we doing with the images and does it necessitate the expenditure. Photography is a great hobby.
Great review! This is one of the best lens reviews I have ever seen, especially covering the atmospheric conditions!! Thanks for this! I think for my air show stuff I'll stick with my RF 100-500 for now. But it does look intriguing!
Hi Janine - great review! Apart from the RF 200 -800 having the extra 300mm reach, how does it compare to the RF 100 - 500 mm with and without extenders? If you had the opportunity of one of the 2 which would you reach for first? I would love to see a comparison video 🙂
all reviews should be this thorough! the side-by-sides and 100/200% zooms are wildly helpful when lens shopping. appreciate you guys doing reviews correctly for today's photographers, thanks so much!
On the 100-500 I shoot F8 or F9 anyway to make sure the depth of field is deep enough, so the aperture is not too much of a big deal while the zoom range is really a great improvement from the 500. R6mII has great low light performance so that would be a perfect match. The only other alternative for the same range and price is OM-1 with the 100-400. Many Olympus photographers praise this setup. It gets the job done, but it takes more time in post. Canon is just a pleasure to shoot, the autofocus works way better than Olympus and the noise is much less at higher iso. I think the new 200-800 is a great addition to the RF lineup.
I shoot both Sony A1 (600/f4 and 200-600) and OM1 (150-400/F4.5) and have compared on DPReview. For hiking long distances or travel, the OM1 kit is my to-go system. I shot Canon for about 12 yrs, but DSLRs with 600/f4, 300/f2.8 and 100-400. The weight and bulk are vastly different with the OM1 kit. Sony big whites are the same size and wgt as Canon’s but the more compact A1 body is welcome.
Forgot to add, AF on the OM1 is very comparable to the A1. But ProCapture is unique - so bird take-off shots are easy. Much more difficult with any other brand.
@@biodan8577 Thank you for your reply. The weight of the OM1 system is definitely a big improvement. My concern is the picture quality. I tried everything, 2 different bodies, 4 different lenses, went through all the settings. The only way to get something decent was shoot raw and then spend time in Topaz or LR to make adjustments. It's like details are not there, at least not what I expect. I'm talking about wildlife. I don't have any problem with the Canon. The eye autofocus works very well on the Canon, unlike the OM1. I'm really puzzled. One thing I love about the OM1 is the computational modes. Those are amazing, but everything else is a hit and miss...
@@raz744u I shoot a lot of wildlife too. I don't have problems with eye focus on the OM1. I have always shot RAW, from my Canon days and now with all my systems: Sony A1, OM1, and Fuji GFX100. I'm surprised that you mention shooting raw is considered an unusual effort. Until the newly announced A9 iii, Olympus/OMDS was the only manufacturer that enabled ProCapture. I could rarely get shots of humming birds taking off from branches when i shot Canon. Its now trivial on the OM1 and likely the A9 iii.
I really liked the review, since it points our realistic situations tele photographers are facing. With that said, at this price point and with the insane range it covers, this seems well worth the risk for general audience interested in super-tele photography. I used to work with 600mm f4 and while I loved that lens, the size and weight also meant that I was pretty much limited to using just one lens for the shoot. Compact size and low weight means you can throw this new lens in your backpack and bring plenty of other glass along. The 100-500 is currently one of my favorite and most used lenses for that exact reason, which means that this one is a no brainer for me. Also, cost difference is just insane compared to the big 800, and I'm no commercial wildlife photographer to justify the investment.
@@pangolinphotohosts818 absolutely. While the 600 & 800 may be considered benchmarks in terms of image quality, the 10x cost certainly puts things in perspective.
Hi I shoot sport and wildlife and I am lucky enough to use both 400 2.8 and 600 f4 but I also think portability and practicality within an environment is important and I feel that this is a great all round lens at a price point that is still a lot but more attainable. I find the new cameras handle iso and stabilisation really well and when travelling abroad this lens is a lot easier to keep with you when flying, I think this was one of the best lens reviews with honest comparisons and practical advice and showcasing the lens in a realistic way and judging it in a fair way as it’s design was intended 👍
Thanks so much... yes l, there is definitely times when carrying one of the fixed lenses (especially thr 600mm) becomes difficult... as we focus on destinations and trips that are photographic we will always make sure long lenses are not an issue... but when pairing your photography with more activities such as hiking or kayaking it becomes impossible... cheers Janine
What a great review. So complete and geared towards Safari shooter, I love it! My wife and I just came back a few weeks ago from Kruger and Sab where I was using my R5 with my trusty EF 100-400 II.
Excellent review! Janine you have such a lovely, natural way about you. You put things across very clearly covering all aspects and considerations. I’m just an amateur who does photography for a hobby as I totally love it but I can understand much of this due to the wonderful way you explain it all. Wish you were here in England as I’d learn so much from a wildlife photo shoot with you. Amanda
This lens leaves me conflicted with its slow f/9 at 800mm, but I think if I shot wildlife primarily, it might be an option to pair with my R6 ii. The weight and relatively low cost are a big plus. Great initial review Janine.
It's faster than the 800 f11 or the 100-500 with a TC It's also as fast as the Sony 200-600 or Nikon 180-600 with TC to get to 800mm Obviously a 800 5.6 would be ideal but that's $20k and not as versatile
@@TheMrNeffels The issue to me is that everything from 200-600 in the Canon is slower than the Nikon and Sony lenses (eg, 600mm is f8 on this lens). So the only real reason to get the lens is for the extra reach of 800mm. So this really only works in bright conditions when you want that extra reach. Not so great for Golden Hour where lots of animals are active (yes DXO and Topaz is great but it's not a silver bullet). Also, the lack of internal zoom makes it worse at being weather-sealed (external barrel) and much slower to get to 800mm from 200mm (Gordon Liang had to turn the zoom ring 4 times) compared to getting to 600mm in the Sony and Nikokn which only requires a few flicks of your fingers to achieve 600mm. Lastly, because it's external zoom, the lens doesn't balance as well, which makes it troublesome for those birders who use gimbal-tripods.
@@jeffbronson3696 As a Sony shooter myself you hit the very points I was looking at being that you're already at f8 for 600mm opposed to f/6.3 with my 200-600 and shooting on the Alpha 1 I can easily crop my shot to the desired focal length/framing without losing sharpness or low light performance. But, Canon have the lens priced at $1899 on their site and if you really think about it they are just giving you 200mm more focal length in exchange for some of the aperture. Guess it comes down to your preferences/needs whether you need more aperture or range! Canon can do things like have a 100-500 f4.5-7.1 and then this 200-800 f6.3-9 because there's no third party options on the platform so there's no competition to make the lower aperture lenses in the same focal lengths like Sony and Nikon with companies like Sigma. I also couldn't imagine using a lens with that much throw on a gimbal while trying to shoot eagles or owls... that would be a nightmare to keep balanced!
Great review Janine! I think a lot of people think a higher magnification lens will allow them to reach out there at long distances to get tack sharp images. Your comments on atmospheric noise is right on point. I got back from S Africa in August where I had my R5 and 100-500 RF lens. I had quite a few shots at animals that were at longer distances which I thought I was getting sharp images. NOT! I was really disappointed after getting back and going through them on my computer. Very disappointing and it was all due to the atmospheric noise you talked about. Love my set up and will not be buying this lens as there is no substitute for getting closer to your subject! Thanks for a great review of this lens.
Great and helpful stuff here, and superb images. Thanks for posting! After 2 decades of being a happy DSLR user, I finally decided to add a mirrorless to my kit (R6 Mk II). I bought the 800mm f/11 along with it, because I figured that it was a fairly inexpensive way to get that extra reach. I've had it for a couple of weeks and it has returned good results, including with the recent full moon. However, I've decided that the 200-800 is going to be a bit more versatile, so I'll be trading the 800mm in and picking the 200-800 in the near future. Looking forward to it already.
I suspected the image quality would be great, but TYSM for confirming this :) I've taken about 130K photos with the 800 F11 in the last year, so F9 doesn't even start to concern me :) Also, the vast majority of my shooting is small to tiny birds in the 20-30 ft range, so atmosphere is almost never a concern. The additional weight (over my 800 F11) will be a bit more of a pain... But I can't fault Canon. That's just physics. It looks to me like Canon did an excellent job ! Very anxious to rent this lens for a week or two, and then, probably buy it. Thanks again for the excellent review :)
Excellent review. Was first thinking of replacing my EF100-400mm USMII lens with the RF100-500. Will keep the EF lens and buy the RF200-800mm. With my EF500mm USMII should be covered for all my wildlife needs. Think this lens will work really well with the R1.
If you shoot a lot from a vehicle or blind, this looks like a great setup. But if you do a lot of hiking, I like the micro four thirds options. The Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f4-6.3 weighs only 1kg. Same effective zoom, faster lens, in a package that weighs less than half as this Canon. It’s really nice.
For hiking the RF 100-400mm is perfect. And if you own the R6 Mark II, just dial the built-in digital t c 2X, in case you need more reach. Advantage of using the built in 2 x: you don't lose any stops. The 4X is too much
Canona USA offers this lens at a great price: $1,899.00 + VAT, so it is nowhere near the $2500 figure; I think there is a desire to wage a kind of parallel war on the Sony 200-600 and the Nikon 180-600, which cost about $100 more. The street price will make this new Canon lens very competitive, you can get great results with little expense. Janine congratulation for your review!
Thank you so much for this comparison! I bought the 800/11 and have been able to get some shots of small animals I wouldn't have gotten otherwise, simply because I would not have been able to carry an 800 mm lens or my 600/4 with me on a multiday hike. I'm 100% sure I'll buy this one after your review!
I'm not buying it but I feel Canon is right on here - they actually do something different with RF lenses. The 600 and 800 F/11 (I have the shorter) are an interesting value lens and this is a good reply to third party EF 150-600 lenses. We are a lot of people that wants longer reach but understand that you cannot get everything. I bought the tamron in 2021 before I had a RF camera. Canon had some EF but you feel you "get more" when the tamron and sigma reaches further. Granted Canon is a lot more expensive than those with this RF 200-800 but it actually give you longer reach. When I switched to RF I feel they actually give you options rather than just 100-400 with teleconverters apart from giant primes.
Masterpiece Janine! I would love to see you testing this equipment in a different environment,in natural habitat! Amazonas-Brazil,if you have any plan to go there,let me know I'm native and I know the places!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Canon has been hitting the ball out of the park with such a range of unbelievable glasses, I consider myself a Canon addict since I purchased my Canon A1 in the late 70s, and I'm sure that RF 200-800mm is a heck of a lens but I'm also addicted to the "L" series as well as the "1.~ ▪︎▪︎ to 2.8 f.
Great Review, agree with your point on the "not a long distance lens" however on the ISO, today with post processing software it is not such a major issue any longer.
Excellent, very comprehensive review and I really appreciate the way you cover the practical aspects of the lens in use versus pixel-peeping in studio conditions. Two weeks after you posted this the price is down to $1900 US from Canon USA with a delivery date in mid-December (three weeks hence). Thanks for helping me make the decision!
It is really important to note that the example at 12:42 is not an IQ issue of the 200-800. That image is back-focused on the grasses behind, likely a cause of atmospheric effects throwing off the focus. The most consistent tests are when the subject is close and there are less variables. In those tests you can see how similarly the lenses perform
Interesting. To me it appears that example is a good example of back focusing, the grasses behind are sharper than the subject. The focus accuracy on the prime may be behaving more consistently in this scenario@@janinekrayer2499 I'm sure generally speaking the prime is sharper than the zoom at those distances! Just this specific example appears back-focused
Excellent overview, certainly very welcome addition into RF lineup, however I'll aim for used EF 100-400mm L II, as I imagine second-hand market will be flooded with that EF lens soon.
Really enjoy your lens/camera reviews. I see so many reviews that talk about a lens like it came from God himself until the next model comes out and then they rave about how that model fixed all the problems the old model had. Honest, thorough and positive. Incidentally, I really agree with your statements on 800 mm and reach. Atmosphere can play havoc.
Thanks Janine for a great video! Even as Sony shooter I think the new 200-800 Canon lens is great. However, I took your advice from Maasai Mara. 😊 Do you remember? I asked you, weather to buy a 400 mm F2.8 or a 600 mm F4? I managed to find a secondhand Sony GM 400mm F2.8. 😊 and I have the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters from before. Thanks and have a good one!
Cheers for a great review. So cool to see that they take another step with focal length in the 'affordable' range of wildlife zoom lenses. And great to see the stonechat. Over here (The Netherlands) they moved south around a month or two ago.
Great review. Love that it retains the close focus ability like the RF 100-500. I’m forever using the 1.4 extender with my 100-500 so this lens has me really thinking about another purchase? Would love to see a comparison to the 100-500 and the use of the extender for image quality. I know many of the cheaper super zooms suffer for things moving such as birds in flight. If this keeps up with big boys they will fly off the shelves! Pun may be intended? lol
Hi... so glad you are enjoying your 100-500mm ... remember that lens is still a L series lense while the 200-800 isnt..... so it does make a difference and I feel it is sharper than the 200-800mm... but if you mostly shoot with an extender anyways I feel the two lenses start being on par.
Only really works in bright sunlight, which isn't the ideal condition to shoot in, anyway. Would've been an absolutely phenomenal lens, if it was at f/6.3 at 600mm, but the way it is now it isn't worth the trade-off in my opinion. I don't get why Canon can't just offer a competitor to Nikon's and Sony's 600mm zooms. Being different isn't always better.
On good full frame sensors you can shoot it in over-cast conditions as well like I did in the video a lot.... but yes. There is limitations to the lens... cheers Janine
Wow, really. What perfect timing. I literally destroyed my Rf100-500 last night by accident. On a BOC in Chobe 2 weeks ago, I spent a lot of time wishing I had more reach and very little at 100mm. I'm going to have to seriously consider this for the replacement.
this was so phenomenal lens i returned it next day after 20 test photos i didnt even downloaded them from memory card. Just a look from the camera screen told everything - junk.
If I shot Canon, I think that this would be ideal to pair up with a body like an R5. (Heat shimmer/mirage are not a significant issue where I live.) The only thing that I think that Canon could have done easily to improve on this lens (without noticeably changing the price-point) would be to make the tripod foot Arca-Swiss compatible right from the factory.
Yes and make the foot detachable. I disagree with the reviewer in this video, people want tripod collar that can be removed. For handheld shooting like in the video it's much easier and also lighter. On my 70-200 and 100-500 the tripod collars rest at home most of the time.
I just bought an R8 and got rid of my 400 and converter but was playing with my 70-300 zoom and I was videoing a road a mile away from my backyard and was using the enhanced image stabilization which crops perhaps 1.5 times and I was having shimmering on the roadway and I thought it was digital artifacting but figured it out it was heat waves coming off of the hiway and you could actually see it with naked eye. It was only 70 degrees out that day too.
Thanks for this amazing review. Judging by sample photos presented in this video, in my opinion, the 200-800 looks bit wider @800mm than 800/11 and 800/5.6. Did You have the same impression? Does it suffer a lot of focus breathing like Sony 200-600?
I really like that you mentioned the effect of distance and what it does to sharpness in images. Something I think a lot of people oversee or don't really understand.
This was an excellent breakdown of why all of these lenses are designed and priced as they are. It is our job as photographers to figure out the right balance of price and performance. Kudos to Janine for making it clear for photographers of all levels to understand!
Thank you very much indeed.
A fantastic review and even better to have the comparisons with the other lenses. Way better than any other review I've seen so far on announcement day. Great job and thank you, Janine 👍
Thank you so much Phil... I really appreciate it. It is only my first thoughts on the lens but I hope it helped 😊
Great summary of the strengths and tradeoffs of this lens! I think this one is a no-brainer for me, it's compact enough to fit in a camera bag, and it's inexpensive enough to risk taking it on my kayak without having a heart attack while still performing better than the 800/11.
Very good reasoning!
Yeah didn’t like the f11 got rid after couple a weeks lol 😂
Haven't seen a honest review like this for a while!
Speaking of distance sharpness. Speaking of heat in the air etc.... great!!
Thank you so much 😊
Wow.. 200-800mm what a great option to have. Thank you for detailed info and update! Way to go Canon!!! 🥰
Thank you.
Wonderful images Janine! Just shows that it’s not just about the lens, but the person behind it
Thank you so so much !
£2299 In the UK. This sounds like a great lens but it's only great if you will use it for what it is. I had the 100-500 and loved it but could get just as good results from my RF 70-200 F2.8 so I sold it.
I think lenses like these that try to be jack of all trades look attractive on 1st look, so attract a lot of buyers but eventually the novelty wears off.
Good video Janine!
Thank you.
Probably right for small birds. I would probably go for one of the fixed lenses, 400, 600 or 800 if I could stretch to the costs lol.
Otherwise, I love the work you are doing. Thank you. I'm am Collins Joshua Kaboggoza from Uganda 🇺🇬 . I love Mother Nature😊
Wonderful review Janine!!! Thank you so much!!!
Our pleasure!
absolutely in love with your video. super clear super on the ground for beginners. Thank you!!!
I one day walked, by chance, into your office. All three of you were there, Sabine and Danielle, and you told me about your photo safaris and you girls were bemused by my ignorance. Now, some years later, I learnt to minimise my gurus to avoid confusion. Janine, you are right up there and my Darlingmost Wificle and I regard you as our Photographic Wizardezz of Oz. Thanks for the great quality edutainment, and encouraging us to go out there and shoot. I'd love this 800mm reach, as I give the Peaky Blinders lions a wide berth. Lions don't brush. 😊. Wishing you well from my perch in Kapstadt.
Thanks, Janine! I LOVE that white-headed kite at 17:31. All the photos are awesome, but that one is my favorite. Excellent review.
You are so welcome!
Will you be considering this lens? Is the price point right for what you get? Let us know your thoughts!
Thank for the review I order mine in February and finally received last week . preorder price was 1900 usd
Probably one of the most well-spoken human beings to ever exist. Very clear review.
Thanks
I think that this should be the gold standard of lens reviews.. You 100 % nailed it, discussing what the purpose of image is and sensor size and heat haze as well as shooting at extreme distance! also cost vs usage case...Brilliant. All important points covered.
I see so many people getting excited about reach on a Crop sensor. on comments sections.
The new lens blur function on LR and PS can make any lens aF2.8 😂😂 these days anyway ... for 99% of users and usage cases
wow this is a proper review! thanks for this! keep up the hard work on the comparison!
I love my 100-500, and used in conjunction with the 1.4 converter you can get 700mm F10, but then have the limitation of it becoming 420mm at the wide end. The thought of having 200mm all the way to 800mm without any of the fuss does seem rather welcome.
Indeed
How do you get 420mm at the wide end?
@@armenhovhannisyan5505 The 1.4 extender protrudes into the lens meaning you cannot use the full range of the zoom with it attached. You can only use from 300-500, effectively turning it into a 420-700mm lens.
Thanks Janine for your discussion of atmospheric limitations in high focal length lenses. I saw everyone's eyes glaze over when it became clear that this lens would work with the teleconverters. Immediately folks are calling for testing with a 2x TC on an R7! I can't imagine what a mess those images would be. I tell folks all the time - use these like a magnifying glass, not a telescope. This looks like a great lens but I don't think I'll trade it for my RF100-500/1.4x anytime soon. If this option had been available when I bought the 100-500, I probably would have went with it instead.
"Immediately folks are calling for testing with a 2x TC on an R7!" Nice idea!
I agree that with 2x TC it gets into heavy diffraction territory, not to mention the darkness and that 2x TC isn't that great compared to 1.4. This lens is great that you can use it without teleconverter or attach the 1.4 while zoom out and use the whole range. Main downside of the 100-500, which I have too, is the cumbersome use with TC, you can use only last third of the zoom range and it won't fit in my bag extended at those 300mm. So I will be getting this one, it's still cheaper than the 100-500 and I can always crop further on my R5.
I shoot with a M50 on a swarovski digiscope, equivalent to about 2600mm and even on miserable UK days atmospherics usually get in the way, its also a lot of weight to lug and to get set up and focused takes an age and the bird has flown, forget about shots on the wing. My wife uses a cheap bridge camera with 1200mm equivalent onto a phone size sensor, good enough for identification but not good when they've been cropped. I'd love to see this on an R7 as that would be 1200 onto a much larger sensor though then the comparison might be with a 600mm bridge with a 1 inch sensor. I think it's white for marketing, if your lens isn't white and very long you can't possibly be a serious twitcher.
Exactly my thinking. Jeepers when I read your comment I honestly thought I wrote it and had forgotten that I had already replied!
@@SurreyAlanI have the same experience with a Svarowski telescope and a Sony APS-C: While the scope is really great for watching even over great distances, the photos coming out of the combo in most situations are good for determination and evidence, but not beautiful.
I have found the RF 800mm at f/11 to be very manageable in low light situations. I suspect this lens will be a very versatile replacement for the 800mm, especially at $1899 US.
I think so.
Love your videos! Just got the R5 and am impressed with the quality in proper lighting. For low light I will still use my 90D.
I have had my R5 for about 2 years now. I started off with the 90D and now only use it for video recording. The R5 is a phenomenal piece of equipment.
I’m primarily a sports photographer who also dabbles in wildlife photography. I’ll never use this lens for the odd wedding or portrait work I occasionally do, but at $1899 for the sports and wildlife this is a no-brainer for me. Already pre-ordered. I see reports that this lens will start shipping mid-December, and I can’t wait!
Just in time for Christmas!!!
This is one of the best lens comparisons I ever seen... Very objective and down to the earth/usability... Thank you so much... Love your High Key photos!!!
Wow, thank you!
All the latest editing equipment we have a new D noise in light than the new blue background. I don’t think Lens choice is a problem. If the Lens doesn’t does it the software will. Thanks for sharing Janine, always a pleasure.❤
Totally agree
Having nosebleed listening for the whole video!!! Ur the best!!! ❤❤❤❤ from Philippines!!!
An excellent review that points out the problems associated with long distance photography. I was in Manitoba, Canada in early March and it was bitterly cold and windy. A flock of Gray Partridges were sunning themselves in a brush pile, a potentially very nice shot as they were all facing the camera. All of the photos I took were extremely blurry because of heat haze and the distance was only about 100 meters. I was using a Canon 600mm f4 and R5. Thanks Janine.
Thank you very much! Great review. With an emphasis on not exaggerating the cost of equipment! Very sensible and comforting! Unfortunately, my "safari" will be limited to Poland. I need a lens like this!
Hi, Poland has some great birdlife too. And the 800mm will be fantastic for that....cheers Janine
Great video as usual. Many thanks Janine
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is a more than fantastic answer to the Sony 200-600 and Nikkor 180-600
I was sold on buying the RF 100-500 but really considering this one instead
Its a tough choice now!
Going to be road-testing one of these vs my Sigma 150-600 that I’ve had for about 7 years now. Subject separation is not such an issue these days now that Adobe have incorporated “fake” lens blur tools into Lightroom and ACR. Coupled with their excellent noise reduction which means you can use very high ISO without issues, this could be a worthy replacement (although significantly more expensive than the Sigma here in the UK).
I would say it is definitely as good as the sigma from a quality perspective... especially if subject separation is not an issue for you
@@janinekrayer2499 “as good as” doesn’t really cut it at 2.5x the price though.
Dust, smog and heat haze are absent after rain and the light under overcast conditions is perfect for long range shooting of stills and videos. These lenses will produce stunning imagery under these favourable conditions at long range. An excellent and comprehensive review of lenses from a wide price range.
Whoa! Awesome video! Thank you so much. I found this helpful, especially the point near the very end about using a full frame high performing sensor. That makes sense. Happy shooting!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Wow, Janine is such a great presenter! Well done!
Thank you.
Always love your review and presentation. A lot of sharing. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you Janine, i am definitely going to buy it🙏
Have fun with it 😊
The actual retail price is $1899 USD. Many people already threw their negative opinions without having tried it yet in the field. I am preordering it to test it for myself and compare to my RF 100-500 mm. If it turns out no good, I can sell it. $1899 is not a big deal. With current advance noise reduction software like DXO and Topaz, and now Lightroom, noise is not a huge concern as before. This is mainly for amateurs and enthusiasts. Great price point.
Yes it is!
Very good review. The US price turned out to be $1899 so I preordered one.
Where I live I can get away with longer distances on most days since we don’t let a lot of heat shimmer. But, not everyone lives in the Pacific Northwest. However, I like a long lens to make a small subject big in the frame so I rarely shoot at a distance anyway.
I am really looking forward to getting my copy.
Hope it arrives soon.
Really well done initial review - the real world comparisons to other lenses in the Canon lineup were especially informative. Best info I have seen on this lens and its pros and cons so far.
Thanks so much Michaelle
Much appreciated!
Looking good Janine! I think this is the first review of this lens on UA-cam 👏
Certainly one of the first!
The best informative summary I have seen for the Canon rf 200-800mm so far.
Thanks
Excellent review of this new RF 200-800mm lens and comparing it to the other two 800 primes. Thank you. A very good point you made at the end, exactly what are we doing with the images and does it necessitate the expenditure. Photography is a great hobby.
Thanks for watching!
Your reviews, like this one, are always honest and informative. Well done!
Great honest review and comparison Janine. Appreciate you showing and explaining the differences in the lenses while photographing the same subject.
Glad it was helpful!
Another beautiful vlog Janine😘
Thank you Janine for this great review.
You are so welcome!
Thank you for sharing your expertise - especially concerning atmospheric distortion. Great review.
Great review! This is one of the best lens reviews I have ever seen, especially covering the atmospheric conditions!! Thanks for this! I think for my air show stuff I'll stick with my RF 100-500 for now. But it does look intriguing!
Good to hear. Thanks.
Good work as always Janine.
Thank you! Cheers!
Hi Janine - great review! Apart from the RF 200 -800 having the extra 300mm reach, how does it compare to the RF 100 - 500 mm with and without extenders? If you had the opportunity of one of the 2 which would you reach for first? I would love to see a comparison video 🙂
A very precise analysis and review in a charming way. Thank so much for it.
Its a pleasure.
all reviews should be this thorough! the side-by-sides and 100/200% zooms are wildly helpful when lens shopping. appreciate you guys doing reviews correctly for today's photographers, thanks so much!
On the 100-500 I shoot F8 or F9 anyway to make sure the depth of field is deep enough, so the aperture is not too much of a big deal while the zoom range is really a great improvement from the 500. R6mII has great low light performance so that would be a perfect match. The only other alternative for the same range and price is OM-1 with the 100-400. Many Olympus photographers praise this setup. It gets the job done, but it takes more time in post. Canon is just a pleasure to shoot, the autofocus works way better than Olympus and the noise is much less at higher iso. I think the new 200-800 is a great addition to the RF lineup.
I am glad this lens fits your shooting style perfectly...!
I shoot both Sony A1 (600/f4 and 200-600) and OM1 (150-400/F4.5) and have compared on DPReview. For hiking long distances or travel, the OM1 kit is my to-go system. I shot Canon for about 12 yrs, but DSLRs with 600/f4, 300/f2.8 and 100-400. The weight and bulk are vastly different with the OM1 kit. Sony big whites are the same size and wgt as Canon’s but the more compact A1 body is welcome.
Forgot to add, AF on the OM1 is very comparable to the A1. But ProCapture is unique - so bird take-off shots are easy. Much more difficult with any other brand.
@@biodan8577
Thank you for your reply. The weight of the OM1 system is definitely a big improvement. My concern is the picture quality. I tried everything, 2 different bodies, 4 different lenses, went through all the settings. The only way to get something decent was shoot raw and then spend time in Topaz or LR to make adjustments.
It's like details are not there, at least not what I expect. I'm talking about wildlife. I don't have any problem with the Canon. The eye autofocus works very well on the Canon, unlike the OM1. I'm really puzzled.
One thing I love about the OM1 is the computational modes. Those are amazing, but everything else is a hit and miss...
@@raz744u I shoot a lot of wildlife too. I don't have problems with eye focus on the OM1. I have always shot RAW, from my Canon days and now with all my systems: Sony A1, OM1, and Fuji GFX100. I'm surprised that you mention shooting raw is considered an unusual effort. Until the newly announced A9 iii, Olympus/OMDS was the only manufacturer that enabled ProCapture. I could rarely get shots of humming birds taking off from branches when i shot Canon. Its now trivial on the OM1 and likely the A9 iii.
I really liked the review, since it points our realistic situations tele photographers are facing. With that said, at this price point and with the insane range it covers, this seems well worth the risk for general audience interested in super-tele photography.
I used to work with 600mm f4 and while I loved that lens, the size and weight also meant that I was pretty much limited to using just one lens for the shoot.
Compact size and low weight means you can throw this new lens in your backpack and bring plenty of other glass along. The 100-500 is currently one of my favorite and most used lenses for that exact reason, which means that this one is a no brainer for me. Also, cost difference is just insane compared to the big 800, and I'm no commercial wildlife photographer to justify the investment.
Huge difference... I love that you see that one can't really compare the quality given that the price difference is so huge...
@@pangolinphotohosts818 absolutely. While the 600 & 800 may be considered benchmarks in terms of image quality, the 10x cost certainly puts things in perspective.
Great review Janine! I’ve been shooting the RF 100-500 on my R5 and just love it…..but now I have something to think about.
Hi Joe, definitely... however, I find the 100-500mm still has the better quality...! However not the extra reach... it is a trade off... cheers Janine
Great review Janine. I think I am going to get it and see how it performs. Thanks! 🙏
You are so welcome!
Much needed review for me to decide … have been seeing may reviews but this pointed the right things …. Thanks for making this
Wooow. Amazing and convincing points. Regards from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Thanks so much
Hi I shoot sport and wildlife and I am lucky enough to use both 400 2.8 and 600 f4 but I also think portability and practicality within an environment is important and I feel that this is a great all round lens at a price point that is still a lot but more attainable. I find the new cameras handle iso and stabilisation really well and when travelling abroad this lens is a lot easier to keep with you when flying, I think this was one of the best lens reviews with honest comparisons and practical advice and showcasing the lens in a realistic way and judging it in a fair way as it’s design was intended 👍
Thanks so much... yes l, there is definitely times when carrying one of the fixed lenses (especially thr 600mm) becomes difficult... as we focus on destinations and trips that are photographic we will always make sure long lenses are not an issue... but when pairing your photography with more activities such as hiking or kayaking it becomes impossible... cheers Janine
What a great review. So complete and geared towards Safari shooter, I love it! My wife and I just came back a few weeks ago from Kruger and Sab where I was using my R5 with my trusty EF 100-400 II.
Maybe we will see you n The Chobe next time?
@@PangolinWildlife it's on the list
Excellent review! Janine you have such a lovely, natural way about you. You put things across very clearly covering all aspects and considerations. I’m just an amateur who does photography for a hobby as I totally love it but I can understand much of this due to the wonderful way you explain it all. Wish you were here in England as I’d learn so much from a wildlife photo shoot with you. Amanda
This lens leaves me conflicted with its slow f/9 at 800mm, but I think if I shot wildlife primarily, it might be an option to pair with my R6 ii. The weight and relatively low cost are a big plus. Great initial review Janine.
Thank you. Valid points...well made.
It's faster than the 800 f11 or the 100-500 with a TC
It's also as fast as the Sony 200-600 or Nikon 180-600 with TC to get to 800mm
Obviously a 800 5.6 would be ideal but that's $20k and not as versatile
@@TheMrNeffels Agreed on all points.
@@TheMrNeffels The issue to me is that everything from 200-600 in the Canon is slower than the Nikon and Sony lenses (eg, 600mm is f8 on this lens). So the only real reason to get the lens is for the extra reach of 800mm. So this really only works in bright conditions when you want that extra reach. Not so great for Golden Hour where lots of animals are active (yes DXO and Topaz is great but it's not a silver bullet). Also, the lack of internal zoom makes it worse at being weather-sealed (external barrel) and much slower to get to 800mm from 200mm (Gordon Liang had to turn the zoom ring 4 times) compared to getting to 600mm in the Sony and Nikokn which only requires a few flicks of your fingers to achieve 600mm. Lastly, because it's external zoom, the lens doesn't balance as well, which makes it troublesome for those birders who use gimbal-tripods.
@@jeffbronson3696 As a Sony shooter myself you hit the very points I was looking at being that you're already at f8 for 600mm opposed to f/6.3 with my 200-600 and shooting on the Alpha 1 I can easily crop my shot to the desired focal length/framing without losing sharpness or low light performance. But, Canon have the lens priced at $1899 on their site and if you really think about it they are just giving you 200mm more focal length in exchange for some of the aperture. Guess it comes down to your preferences/needs whether you need more aperture or range! Canon can do things like have a 100-500 f4.5-7.1 and then this 200-800 f6.3-9 because there's no third party options on the platform so there's no competition to make the lower aperture lenses in the same focal lengths like Sony and Nikon with companies like Sigma. I also couldn't imagine using a lens with that much throw on a gimbal while trying to shoot eagles or owls... that would be a nightmare to keep balanced!
Great review Janine! I think a lot of people think a higher magnification lens will allow them to reach out there at long distances to get tack sharp images. Your comments on atmospheric noise is right on point. I got back from S Africa in August where I had my R5 and 100-500 RF lens. I had quite a few shots at animals that were at longer distances which I thought I was getting sharp images. NOT! I was really disappointed after getting back and going through them on my computer. Very disappointing and it was all due to the atmospheric noise you talked about.
Love my set up and will not be buying this lens as there is no substitute for getting closer to your subject!
Thanks for a great review of this lens.
Muy bueno el video,,,felicitaciones!!!
Thanks so much 😊
Great and helpful stuff here, and superb images. Thanks for posting! After 2 decades of being a happy DSLR user, I finally decided to add a mirrorless to my kit (R6 Mk II). I bought the 800mm f/11 along with it, because I figured that it was a fairly inexpensive way to get that extra reach. I've had it for a couple of weeks and it has returned good results, including with the recent full moon. However, I've decided that the 200-800 is going to be a bit more versatile, so I'll be trading the 800mm in and picking the 200-800 in the near future. Looking forward to it already.
Terrific lens review and also a clinic on managing expectations and priorities
I suspected the image quality would be great, but TYSM for confirming this :) I've taken about 130K photos with the 800 F11 in the last year, so F9 doesn't even start to concern me :) Also, the vast majority of my shooting is small to tiny birds in the 20-30 ft range, so atmosphere is almost never a concern. The additional weight (over my 800 F11) will be a bit more of a pain... But I can't fault Canon. That's just physics. It looks to me like Canon did an excellent job ! Very anxious to rent this lens for a week or two, and then, probably buy it. Thanks again for the excellent review :)
...and you should bring it to Botswana!
Excellent review. Was first thinking of replacing my EF100-400mm USMII lens with the RF100-500. Will keep the EF lens and buy the RF200-800mm. With my EF500mm USMII should be covered for all my wildlife needs. Think this lens will work really well with the R1.
If you shoot a lot from a vehicle or blind, this looks like a great setup. But if you do a lot of hiking, I like the micro four thirds options. The Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f4-6.3 weighs only 1kg. Same effective zoom, faster lens, in a package that weighs less than half as this Canon. It’s really nice.
Yes, I wouldn't consider it the perfect hiking set up even though it is fairly light for what it has to offer.... cheers Janine
For hiking the RF 100-400mm is perfect. And if you own the R6 Mark II, just dial the built-in digital t c 2X, in case you need more reach. Advantage of using the built in 2
x: you don't lose any stops. The 4X is too much
Canona USA offers this lens at a great price: $1,899.00 + VAT, so it is nowhere near the $2500 figure; I think there is a desire to wage a kind of parallel war on the Sony 200-600 and the Nikon 180-600, which cost about $100 more. The street price will make this new Canon lens very competitive, you can get great results with little expense. Janine congratulation for your review!
Thank you so much for this comparison! I bought the 800/11 and have been able to get some shots of small animals I wouldn't have gotten otherwise, simply because I would not have been able to carry an 800 mm lens or my 600/4 with me on a multiday hike. I'm 100% sure I'll buy this one after your review!
Thats great to hear,. Glad it was helpful.
The best wildlife reviewer for sure 💯
Wow, thanks!
I'm not buying it but I feel Canon is right on here - they actually do something different with RF lenses. The 600 and 800 F/11 (I have the shorter) are an interesting value lens and this is a good reply to third party EF 150-600 lenses.
We are a lot of people that wants longer reach but understand that you cannot get everything. I bought the tamron in 2021 before I had a RF camera. Canon had some EF but you feel you "get more" when the tamron and sigma reaches further. Granted Canon is a lot more expensive than those with this RF 200-800 but it actually give you longer reach.
When I switched to RF I feel they actually give you options rather than just 100-400 with teleconverters apart from giant primes.
Thank you.
Thanks , solid review. I really like my 100-500mm USM …if I need extra focal length he 1.4x is perfect and still gives you a half decent f/stop.
Thanks for sharing
Masterpiece Janine! I would love to see you testing this equipment in a different environment,in natural habitat! Amazonas-Brazil,if you have any plan to go there,let me know I'm native and I know the places!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Thanks so much... we will definitely get there at some point... cheers Janine
Canon has been hitting the ball out of the park with such a range of unbelievable glasses, I consider myself a Canon addict since I purchased my Canon A1 in the late 70s, and I'm sure that RF 200-800mm is a heck of a lens but I'm also addicted to the "L" series as well as the "1.~ ▪︎▪︎ to 2.8 f.
A fairly healthy addiction I would say! Expensive...but healthy.
Great Review, agree with your point on the "not a long distance lens" however on the ISO, today with post processing software it is not such a major issue any longer.
Thats very true!
Excellent, very comprehensive review and I really appreciate the way you cover the practical aspects of the lens in use versus pixel-peeping in studio conditions. Two weeks after you posted this the price is down to $1900 US from Canon USA with a delivery date in mid-December (three weeks hence). Thanks for helping me make the decision!
It is really important to note that the example at 12:42 is not an IQ issue of the 200-800. That image is back-focused on the grasses behind, likely a cause of atmospheric effects throwing off the focus.
The most consistent tests are when the subject is close and there are less variables. In those tests you can see how similarly the lenses perform
Hi, it was consistently less sharp on long distances... so that was not simply back-focusing I fear. - cheers Janine
Interesting. To me it appears that example is a good example of back focusing, the grasses behind are sharper than the subject. The focus accuracy on the prime may be behaving more consistently in this scenario@@janinekrayer2499 I'm sure generally speaking the prime is sharper than the zoom at those distances! Just this specific example appears back-focused
thank you for a great informative video i will be buying this to use on my R7
Excellent overview, certainly very welcome addition into RF lineup, however I'll aim for used EF 100-400mm L II, as I imagine second-hand market will be flooded with that EF lens soon.
There are some real bargains to be had out there!
Really enjoy your lens/camera reviews. I see so many reviews that talk about a lens like it came from God himself until the next model comes out and then they rave about how that model fixed all the problems the old model had. Honest, thorough and positive. Incidentally, I really agree with your statements on 800 mm and reach. Atmosphere can play havoc.
Pretty awesome lens that I just couldn’t find a practical use for personally, as I do not live in the Savannah. Thanks for the good review.
Haha, if you don't like bird photography there is probably not much use for you... cheers Janine
Really love your explanation and logic...wish to go to safari some day...❤
Please do!
Thanks Janine for a great video! Even as Sony shooter I think the new 200-800 Canon lens is great. However, I took your advice from Maasai Mara. 😊 Do you remember? I asked you, weather to buy a 400 mm F2.8 or a 600 mm F4? I managed to find a secondhand Sony GM 400mm F2.8. 😊 and I have the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters from before. Thanks and have a good one!
that is so exciting.... you must enjoy it!!!! - cheers Janine
I use the RF 800 find it to be a great lens for the money i wouldnt hesitate to buy this....great review
Cheers for a great review. So cool to see that they take another step with focal length in the 'affordable' range of wildlife zoom lenses. And great to see the stonechat. Over here (The Netherlands) they moved south around a month or two ago.
We will send the back at the end of the summer!
@@PangolinWildlife counting on it!
Watching from Minnesota, great review and good price!
Thanks for watching!
Awesome photos!
Thanks for F/6.3-9 200-800 mm canon lens video. I love my R5 with F/4.5-6.3, however there is some struggle for shooting under rain forest.
Great review! I just pre ordered
Hope you enjoy it!
Great review. Love that it retains the close focus ability like the RF 100-500. I’m forever using the 1.4 extender with my 100-500 so this lens has me really thinking about another purchase? Would love to see a comparison to the 100-500 and the use of the extender for image quality. I know many of the cheaper super zooms suffer for things moving such as birds in flight. If this keeps up with big boys they will fly off the shelves! Pun may be intended? lol
Hi... so glad you are enjoying your 100-500mm ... remember that lens is still a L series lense while the 200-800 isnt..... so it does make a difference and I feel it is sharper than the 200-800mm... but if you mostly shoot with an extender anyways I feel the two lenses start being on par.
thank you soooooo much.....love to go along with you....
Thank you for the fine review, Janine. There's a good possibility that I'll be adding it to my 100-500 & 600 f/4 lineup. (Just subscribed!)
Thank you for subscribing!
Only really works in bright sunlight, which isn't the ideal condition to shoot in, anyway.
Would've been an absolutely phenomenal lens, if it was at f/6.3 at 600mm, but the way it is now it isn't worth the trade-off in my opinion. I don't get why Canon can't just offer a competitor to Nikon's and Sony's 600mm zooms. Being different isn't always better.
On good full frame sensors you can shoot it in over-cast conditions as well like I did in the video a lot.... but yes. There is limitations to the lens... cheers Janine
Wow, really. What perfect timing. I literally destroyed my Rf100-500 last night by accident. On a BOC in Chobe 2 weeks ago, I spent a lot of time wishing I had more reach and very little at 100mm. I'm going to have to seriously consider this for the replacement.
Hey Steve. What immaculate timing!
Wonderful review.. very practicle and fun-billed.. really helped.. here from India
this was so phenomenal lens i returned it next day after 20 test photos
i didnt even downloaded them from memory card. Just a look from the camera screen told everything - junk.
I enjoyed a lot witth you review. Very practical and didactic.I'm considering to buy it for motorsport. it seems a good candidate.
Go for it!
If I shot Canon, I think that this would be ideal to pair up with a body like an R5. (Heat shimmer/mirage are not a significant issue where I live.) The only thing that I think that Canon could have done easily to improve on this lens (without noticeably changing the price-point) would be to make the tripod foot Arca-Swiss compatible right from the factory.
Yes and make the foot detachable. I disagree with the reviewer in this video, people want tripod collar that can be removed. For handheld shooting like in the video it's much easier and also lighter. On my 70-200 and 100-500 the tripod collars rest at home most of the time.
I just bought an R8 and got rid of my 400 and converter but was playing with my 70-300 zoom and I was videoing a road a mile away from my backyard and was using the enhanced image stabilization which crops perhaps 1.5 times and I was having shimmering on the roadway and I thought it was digital artifacting but figured it out it was heat waves coming off of the hiway and you could actually see it with naked eye. It was only 70 degrees out that day too.
Thanks for this amazing review. Judging by sample photos presented in this video, in my opinion, the 200-800 looks bit wider @800mm than 800/11 and 800/5.6. Did You have the same impression? Does it suffer a lot of focus breathing like Sony 200-600?
It's definitely wider than the 800 f/11 ... I didn't get the impression from thr 800 f/5.6 so much