RF 800mm

[KEN_A]

Interested in getting the RF800 to go with my R5. What do owner's of this lens and camera combination think of the lens. Is it usable for BIF?

 

[Hanley]

Watching as I'm also tempted to pick up the 800mm.
I may grab it from Canon Test Drive for a couple of days.

 

[Hanley]

Just ordered a test drive with Canon.

RF 800mm
RF 85mm F2 (I was going to buy the 1.2L but this isn't a focal length I use too much so would like to see how the F2 version is as it's so much cheaper but reviews are very good)
RF 1.4TC - see how it works with the 800mm and with my RF 100-500

No charge for the lens hire and because I've ordered them over the Bank Holiday weekend they will deliver them on Friday 28th May and collect them on Tuesday 1st June, hopefully the weather will be good that weekend
I need to pay a refundable deposit of £498

 

[KWilles]

Here are 2 comparison photos using the RF 100-500 (at 500mm) and the RF 800 on my R5. The photos are unedited and taken from the same place. The Cooper’s Hawk at St. Marks NWR in Florida stayed on the branch long enough to change out my lens while using my car as a blind.

 

[LoneRider]

It is a fantastic lens for the price. Don’t let f/11 scare you off, the high ISO performance of the R series allow that to be overcome without forcing too slow of a shutter.

To answer question about BIF, yes and no. It depends on specific situation. Primary obstacle is it is a bit slower to focus then other lenses so it really takes good tracking and keeping target in view. Using the focus range limiter (20m ~ inf) is a good idea so long as you are going to be a fair distance away to reduce hunting entire focus range.

 

[Steve S]

Really good lens but remember only the centre part of the lens does auto focus

 

[KEN_A]

Thanks for the replies and after reviewing many YouTube videos and photos on the DPREVIEW lens Forum, I decided to go for it. I've only had it for about a week and finding it quite a steep learning curve, having only had 560mm available from my EF 100-400 L Mk.II + 1.4 Mk.III extender. Tried to capture some shots of the Red Kite which makes appearances occasionally over the garden and failing miserably to get within the frame. Definitely lots of practice required. Stationary larger birds are much easier. The image stabilisation of the lens + IBIS is amazing.