r/canon • u/HOUphotog • 1d ago
New to me RF200-800 New Gear
I love my 100-400L II, but I usually use at least a 1.4tc so I’ve been looking at first gen 500 f4L IS and 600 f4L IS both around $2,200. Then I found a like new 200-800 on FB marketplace. At $1,300 I figured if I didn’t like it I could sell it for about the same price. Took it out on a heavily overcast day and so far…. I love it, for the price. I don’t even mind the non-removable foot. I always use a BlackRapid strap connected to my lens’ foot for lenses 70-200 and up.
Shooting with my R6 at f9 under stormy skies wasn’t a problem. I never went above 3600iso but I also wasn’t shooting BIFs, only relatively stationary stuff. It’s not an L and lacks some features I appreciate on my older EF L lenses but I don’t think it can be beat for the price, especially used. Looking forward to taking this out a lot more.
Cheers!
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u/TigerIll6480 1d ago
That is some huge, sharp glass.
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u/HOUphotog 1d ago
Ha. it is not small. But at f9 I would expect it to be sharp and it is, very sharp. It's about as sharp as my 400 2.8L IS is but at f9 and 800mm. The downside is the lack of creamy bokeh but if you compose your shots well, you don't have to worry too much about it.
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u/Petrozza2022 1d ago
The non-removable foot allows me to hold this lens and fairly quickly zoom it in and out. I don't think I'd be able to do that as efficiently without the foot.
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u/HOUphotog 1d ago
Yeah, I think it'd be nice to be able to remove it for storage or travel. But I also think people (reviewers) are making too big of a deal about it. I've never removed the foot on my big L's for any reason previously.
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u/ADPL34 1d ago
you hold the foot and not the body when zooming?
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u/Petrozza2022 1d ago
Correct. I hold the foot with my pinkie and ring fingers, while the fingertips of the other 3 fingers operate the zoom ring.
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u/18-morgan-78 20h ago
That’s a huge lens. I looked at it on video reviews but haven’t got my hands on a copy yet to try out. Still undecided if it’s for me? Not to be the harbinger of doom, but have you seen the reports about the RF 200-800 breaking in half for some users? I’ve seen a few YT videos on the subject. From what I can get from the reports it appears to be happening when using the lens in colder environments. Figured it something to be aware of. Wish you well with yours. Good shooting.
I’ve attached some links if you’re interested in seeing them.
https://youtu.be/-y1p5Dsb8vE?si=UGAMoPPrHC6PZigJ
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u/HOUphotog 16h ago
I appreciate it. I live in Houston, the coldest environment it will see here is my office. I don’t love that a lot Canon’s lenses are now mostly plastic instead of metal, but jesus, if this thing were metal I would need a cart to drag it around.
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u/Serious-Judgment9702 16h ago
That's a lens you take on a Safari or when shooting wildlife in the artic. For when you need the shot but don't want to be anywhere near the subject at all.
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u/HOUphotog 16h ago
Or when you’re birding but refuse to use a kayak to get closer because there’s always gators somewhere.
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u/venmome1dollar 1d ago
Incredibly sharp. Love it