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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.
  | sent on 22 Gennaio 2026 Pros: Great focus, excellent stabilization Cons: Aberration at TA - carrying bag not present Opinion: Purchased for lunar alignments and landscape photography in general, I'm happy with the lens which is worth the cost. It is certainly not very handy, given the weight and the focal length, but it is an 800mm, it also seems evident to me. The lens is extremely sharp even at full aperture. A defect, in my opinion, is a certain chromatic aberration found at 800 mm, not correctable directly in ACR but "fine" in Photoshop; probably being purchased primarily by "avifaunists" I will also be the only one to have noticed it, using it at night on subjects with strong light contrasts. The stabilization system is very effective, I was able to shoot the moon handheld in conditions where I would normally not be able except on a tripod. The construction is metallic and solid. I don't find it very fast in the zoom range, perhaps the old Canon super telephoto were more practical in this sense, but not practicing birdlife for me is not problematic. The qualitative difference with third-party optics is evident, I speak in terms of sharpness at TA. Also used for an indoor gymnastics event, it fully satisfied me; albeit paired with the Eos R which is not the fastest for this genre! A transport bag with padding must be purchased separately, since in most backpacks it will hardly fit . . . |
  | sent on 18 Gennaio 2026 Pros: 1 stabilization, 2 sharpness, 3 weight. Cons: Lack of Arca Swiss in the foot. Opinion: I bought this lens mainly for hiking and long walks in the mountains, for its low weight compared to the Canon 600mm f4L, and I must say that it does quite well, the stabilization is excellent and allows me to get shots in very slow times, the sharpness is good, but if you want to add more detail I recommend closing at least another 2 stops. The quality seems good, among the things I didn't like the lack of the click of the lens when centering with the foot and lack of arcaswiss in the foot. |
 | sent on 13 Novembre 2025 Pros: Focal range, price, colors and definition decidedly valid, weight all in all low and good handling Cons: Autofocus in difficulty in some situations, lack of distance limiter, a certain general latency. Opinion: Purchased essentially for plane spotting, among the positive aspects I would put first of all the focal range, and then the good optical quality, with the right times you get respectable definitions, with a significant improvement compared to the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary used so far. The mechanical construction seems to me all in all aligned with the cost of the product, it should be noted that although it is not an L series it is still supplied with a lens hood. The weight is also to be counted among the advantages, the lens proves to be manageable and not tiring, at least so far I can't complain in this respect. I must also say that aesthetically I don't mind, the fact that it lengthens with the focal length does not bother me, since the Sigma was already similar in this respect. The only two limits are a certain general latency and a marked difficulty in finding the correct focus in some situations, in this the lack of a limiter regarding the minimum distance certainly does not help. However, I consider it a lens that is fully worth the price paid, the uncertainties it shows from time to time all in all are acceptable also because I have encountered them in quite particular situations, during normal use there are no problems. |
  | sent on 08 Novembre 2025 Pros: Versatile. Economic. Light. Very sharp already at full opening. Cons: None, if you have understood well what limits it has. Opinion: A great surprise for a birdlife beginner like me. It totally changed my perspective. I'm really happy with the performance and responsiveness. I put on him a Chasing Birds onesie paid for four pennies on the oriental website. Taken to Patagonia to photograph pumas, he behaved very well, even on the birds around the humedales of Torres del Paine. |
 | sent on 16 Giugno 2025 Pros: Solid construction and not excessively heavy for the focal range it covers, excellent stabilization "even at 800mm", customizable buttons, very responsive and precise AF, excellent image contrast, lens hood with relative release and attachment button, generous, tropicalized shoulder strap, sharp images already at TA. Cons: I don't know! I don't see any particular against! Opinion: A must have!! And with these simple words I have almost said everything, especially for those like me who are passionate about nature photography, in particular birdlife. For me it is the zoom that was missing and I think it is the only one that allows you to get really close to the subject without losing details, if it is then used on an APSC camera, such as the Canon R7, the millimeters become 1280, really a marvel! although it has a decidedly not insignificant volume and not exactly easy to manage freehand, it can still be used safely without resorting to a tripod as it is equipped with an excellent image stabilizer and a precise AF, it must be said that, at 800mm you need to be familiar with handling it to get excellent results. From my point of view, apart from the lack of the red stripe typical of Canon's "L-series" lenses, I place it in the same way and it is a comparison that I would like to make because I own some L-series zoom lenses including the 100-500mm that I have used in the past for a long time. At the maximum focal length, i.e. 800mm and TA, taking into account the distance that separates us from the subject to be photographed, it may happen that the image is qualitatively less crunchy, but still good, with the same shorter focal lengths, where the frame has some more detail, a factor that I consider more than normal because, at certain distances, several factors take over that contribute to the degradation of the image itself, one of many and I would say one of the main ones is the distance between us and the subject, obviously it is one thing to shoot at 800mm and TA at a distance of 30/40 meters, another thing is to shoot at 800mm always at TA well over 40 meters, moreover, at a high distance, as we all know, the factor of air turbulence also comes into play which contributes to the degradation of the image and last but not least, incorrect timing and aperture have a significant impact on the IQ. Close one or two stops and regain the missing detail as much as possible. That said, I don't feel like finding fault with this fantastic super zoom, I'm glad I bought it and I highly recommend it especially for those who practice nature photography. Roberto Pasquino |
 | sent on 26 Maggio 2025 Pros: Focal length, good images Cons: Reaction speed Opinion: Purchased after a couple of shed trials. The lens is quite good, 800mm is really a lot and comfortable, but the reaction speed to focus has nothing to do with the 100-500 even with 1.4X extender. (Both mounted on R3). Excellent for birdlife that is not very fast because in flight it always hooks a little later than its shorter brother and tends to detach, even if slightly, from the subject and then recover it after a few shots. Much depends on how much of the surface area of the sensor is covered by the animal. Even in sharpness at full aperture it is less than 100-500, but with the software available it corrects very well. I recommend everyone, before buying it, to try it well. I knew what I was up against, but in oases with distant birds, this focal length makes all the difference. PS I tried two. The second, at 800mm and f9, was sharper than the first. The one purchased, fortunately, is perfect. |
 | sent on 08 Maggio 2025 Pros: Focal length.. good sharpness .. not excessively heavy .. lens hood included even if not in the same color .. Color of the pictures.. long bracket .. Customizable buttons.. shoulder strap attachment .. Cons: Non-removable bracket .. form.. no distance limiter.. small and a bit uncomfortable focus ring. Opinion: Just taken and give a precise judgment is soon.. but it is a good telephoto , with a good sharpness, but without crying out for a miracle. Autofocus is good but it definitely depends a lot more on the camera. excellent stabilizer even if it does not have the two selections.. Focus ring a little small and a little uncomfortable. the bracket cannot be removed and for handheld photography it would have been I think 300 grams less, but it rotates well.. The zoom has a long travel but even if calibrated to soft it does not fall if pointed up or down. To give an idea of the sharpness at 800mm at a distance of 15 meters, a fly is defined enough to be able to see all parts of the body and the pattern of the wings enough. with an R8 I am certainly satisfied with the purchase and compared to the sigma 150 600 c or the canon rf 600 f11... There has been an improvement. but not a miracle. To be honest, after reading a lot of reviews and watching videos, I expected a little more clarity. but maybe it also depends on me... See.. |
 | sent on 21 Marzo 2025 Pros: Image quality, fast autofocus Cons: Carrying bag not included, AF distance limitation selector not present, the non-focal length but the material lens itself Opinion: I was very skeptical before buying it, thinking that with such a closed diaphragm, I would encounter problems and poor quality. Instead it is well done. Obviously it has its limits, but for the same cost and quality I would even give it ten. I use it to take some photos of birds, where it behaves really well. Even freehand. It's not overly heavy, but a bit bulky yes. With feathered birds it behaves very well, even if there is no sun, but it does its job very well. Of course it is paired with the r5, and therefore I can increase the iso quite a bit without major losses. Let's say that I am fully satisfied with the product... I have to try it better in other contexts... |
 | sent on 23 Febbraio 2025 Pros: Focal, construction, lens hood, tripod bracket, sharpness, f/8 to 637mm Cons: f/9 at 800mm Opinion: Purchased together with the R7, it forms a very valid combination in naturalistics. The construction is excellent on a par with the L series. Despite the weight, (2kg), it swings very well also thanks to the tripod bracket which is very large and convenient for transport. The sharpness at maximum focal length, (in favorable conditions), is good. I would say that for the current price it is practically the only lens on the market that offers an excellent solution in the naturalistic field especially as regards focal lengths without having to resort to tc. Advised! |
 | sent on 04 Gennaio 2025 Pros: 800mm, AF Speed & Accuracy, Weather Resistant Cons: F9; Non-removable tripod mount; Non-ARCA tripod mount; Exaggerated external Zoom excursion Opinion: Of course 800mm in birdlife are not bad, at maximum extension 800mm f9 the quality of the images is good but in my opinion the image improves at f10; so to be used with a decent light, at 800mm complete with lens hood it becomes a bit long to manage due to the external zoom, however the quality of the images is good as the speed of the AF. Above all, this 200-800 is to be understood as a "600 F6.3 + 1.4x", and not mounting and disassembling the teleconverter means a lot, I see it better mounted on FF than on APS-C but only for a "Light-ISO" issue, on R7 it is fine, the ARCA tripod mount would be almost mandatory these days to make a good "Canon" impression. Happy "hunting" and good light to all. |
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| sent on 17 Dicembre 2024 Pros: Focal length, weight, sharpness. Cons: Impossible to use in low light. Opinion: In general it is a good lens even if the zoom ring is a bit long but I think you are already ready to shoot in almost any situation with the desired focal length. On apsc then it becomes a 1320mm indispensable for approaching distant subjects. It seems to me well built but I think it is unusable on very cloudy days or in the early hours of the morning or at sunset to photograph animals or subjects in the shadows. The focus in these cases, at least on my R7, does not work, it cannot keep the subject in focus. I limited the adjustment to 6400 iso maybe that's why. However, it is very comfortable to handle, so you can shoot handheld for some time, the quality of the photos is good if the light conditions are favorable. |
 | sent on 12 Dicembre 2024 Pros: long focal length, photo quality, fast and accurate autofocus, Cons: zoom ring a bit uncomfortable, non-detachable ring (to be rotated for stray hunting), no distance limiter Opinion: I have been in possession of this lens for a few months; I come from 90d+EF100-400II and I have to say that this lens has a much higher image quality rendition than the package I had previously. Everything is made better by the R7's animal eye tracking which helps in autofocus but which in low light conditions has some flaws. In low light, keeping maximum ISO at 6400, at 800 the lens naturally struggles to identify the subject; The zoom engine focuses on the difficult search for the subject to be framed. On the other hand, the long focal length gives you the advantage of identifying distant subjects and, in good light conditions, the performance is excellent. You feel the weight after a few hours of photos without a tripod even if there is no comparison with the weight of the fixed ones. In any case, excluding the very high-end zooms, I think this lens is perfect and versatile for almost any situation and almost always allows you to bring home the result. I noticed that, since the focus works very well, the number of photos rejected due to focusing errors is far lower than on the EF 100-400II. Now let's say that the discarded photos are almost exclusively due to incorrect composition. At 800 mm it is difficult to frame distant subjects in flight; in this case I think it varies according to the skill of the photographer. For distant and moving subjects, it is usually necessary to start at 400 mm and zoom deeper; Unfortunately the ring requires more turns to increase the mm and in winter with gloves it is uncomfortable especially because fast subjects certainly do not wait for the photographer's times. In general, I am satisfied with the purchase and recommend this lens for wandering hunting but also for hut hunting. A bit difficult to use in low light |
 | sent on 03 Luglio 2024 Pros: Image quality, detail, customizable buttons, lens hood provided, shoulder strap provided, tropicalized, consistent price. Cons: Carrying bag not included, tripod ring not removable, AF distance limit switch not present Opinion: As a former owner of the EF 100-400 I find this lens more challenging to use due to its larger footprint and weight, but being well aware of this, I consider it a very high performance lens. The quality of the images that can be obtained are of the highest quality and well above 100-400 for sharpness. The build quality is good, comparable to the L-series, and the lens hood (which is by no means a given) and shoulder strap are provided. At full zoom the dimensions are remarkable, especially with the lens hood installed, but inevitable, considering the not indifferent focal length. The autofocus is good and fast, although in particular situations at 800mm I found it a bit inaccurate, probably due to the AF settings of the camera body. Combined with the R7 it churns out very detailed shots, even if in low light conditions the digital noise becomes quite evident (a relative problem, however, as with the new noise removal techniques via software it is possible to obtain clean images). In the barrel there are two freely assignable buttons, which can be configured according to your needs from the camera body. The autofocus distance limitation switch is not present. The tripod ring is not removable, and the locking screw is made of plastic material that does not inspire much solidity. The zoom friction ring never locks the barrel extension, even if it's all tightened, and there's always a chance it might move. As it is not an L series, the transport bag is not included and must be purchased separately (130 euros): I highly recommend it to safeguard the precious object during transport and excursions. Finally, this lens is practically impossible to find at the moment - I had to wait more than three months, with the dealer jumping through hoops to get it for me. The same goes for the transport bag. |
 | sent on 11 Marzo 2024 Pros: Portability, focal abstention, af speed, use of CT scans from as early as 200mm Cons: Non-removable tripod ring Opinion: An exceptional optics from every point of view!. Fast and accurate AF, light even at 200-800mm, easily usable handheld for stray hunting, full compatibility with TCs already at 200mm. The comparison is almost obligatory with the 100-500. I find the 100-500 (holy grail for many) an outclassed lens by this new all-rounder zoom. I have had the opportunity to compare the 100-500 and the 200-800 and I can say that (without heresies) the 200-800 is better in everything. Starting from the focal range, weight, size, ease and manageability of use to get to the final result: the files. Very detailed files, remarkable qi and a very fast, responsive and accurate af. In short, today if I had to choose between a 100-500 and a 200-800 I would have no doubts, the 200-800 is the right choice for stray hunting, it is a zoom that allows you to go from a close subject to a subject over 50 meters away in a very short time. Don't be fooled by the fact that it's not an L series, it's that at 800mm it's an f/9. The 100-500 with Tc 1.4x stops at 700mm and becomes f/9 While this gem still has 100mm of focal range available. It also performs admirably with the Tc 1.4x. I am very satisfied with the price/quality ratio. |
 | sent on 05 Febbraio 2024 Pros: Autofocus Speed - Sharpness - Versatility (since with a single lightweight and portable lens, you have from 200mm to 800mm) qualitatively superior to 100-500mm for animal photography. Cons: Zoom with external excursion (the only solution to reduce weight and bulk) Opinion: I've had this lens for about a week, used to the fixed 300mm 2.8 400mm 2.8 - 500mm f4 - 600mm f4 (beautiful lenses but today not very versatile) I needed a wide zoom for wandering hunting to accompany my fixed 2.8 lens. Extremely versatile lens in terms of focal length, weight and size. Really sharp and a very fast autofocus thanks to full RF system compatibility, sharper than the 100 500 RF. This lens should be understood as a 150-600mm f4.5-6.3 with integrated 1.4x multiplier = 200-800mm f6.3-9, but with the advantage of being integrated, therefore sharper, faster and better stabilization. Excellent to associate with R5 or R7 For those who are "afraid" of ISO at 800mm f9 calculations that compared to 500mm 7.1 (2/3 stop difference) are widely exceeded by 300mm more, ergo you avoid a lot cropping of the photo, with a lower ISO noise. Or at 455mm the 200-800mm is still at 7.1 (45mm doesn't change anything on 500mm) Rating for animal photography: RF 200-800mm = 9.1 RF100-500mm = 7.9 (N.B. these ratings are based on my experience in nature photography, taking into account the needs in the field, having as a reference the best lenses on the market, including the new fixed RF telephoto lenses) If you are interested in seeing the review on You Tube in Italian = Canale Elia Dallari |
 | sent on 11 Dicembre 2023 Pros: Focal range that, already excellent on FF, becomes a real game changer on APSC (320-1,280); IQ in line with the price of the lens; can be used at TA at any focal length; MAF and tracking speed thanks to the Nano USM linear motor; tropicalization; good balance; low weight; presence of customizable buttons; Smooth/Tight clutch to modulate the fluidity of the Zoom; brightness @800mm equal to that of its competitors with the TC 1.4x; (relatively) low price; Customisable bezel. Cons: External zoomed; there are only two selectors (AF/MF and Stabilizer ON/OF) those for stabilization in modes 1-2-3 and one for the MAF limiter are "missing". Opinion: I was impressed by this 200-800, it seemed to me to be a lens with a good Q/P ratio. I tried a pre-production copy on the 24 Megapixels of the R3 (FF) and enjoyed the exceptional 4x focal range up to @800mm. This focal range on an APSC becomes a 320-1.280, an impressive range and very useful in birdlife. On the AF side I found myself very well, the Nano USM motor combined with the R3 does its duty and returns a lens that moves with great speed and excellent tracking ability. In terms of IQ it seems to me that this specimen I tested, I repeat from pre-production, is an excellent copy and returns the detail that you would expect from a € 2,500 Zoom, also excellent performance @f11 where there is no trace of diffraction. In my opinion, the Canon RF 200-800 is a very useful lens for those who want to approach birdlife where, as is well known, mm are never enough with the obvious awareness that, given its starting (f6.3) and arrival (f9) apertures, when the light goes down, the ISO will rise with all the consequences of the case. Being aware of this, organizing to shoot at the best times and wanting to opt for a single lens, the focal range of the 200-800 is, in my opinion, ideal. Not mounting multipliers will be very convenient in many contexts. In terms of brightness, @800mm is an f9, an aperture equal to that of the various 180/200-600 with the 1.4x TC inserted. |
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