Both RF600mm f/11 and RF800mm f/11 were reviewed together with the Canon EOS R3 full-frame mirrorless camera. Inside my Canon EOS R3 review article, I shared on bringing the RF600mm f/11 and RF800mm f/11 lenses out for photography walks and wildlife shoot, part of my own short visual stories collection titled, “A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R3 Explorer Series Production”.    

Interesting lenses, why does Canon design and manufacture such type of prime lenses? That got me thinking, I finally got to test and review both lenses, let me share with you my experiences, thoughts and views.

During my photography walkabouts, I alternate between those two lenses to bring out with my other Canon lenses. The RF600mm f/11 is more versatile as it can cover more areas beside wildlife photography, it can be used for cityscape and landscape photography. However, for wildlife photography, a longer focal length is always preferred and most welcomed, thus the RF800mm f/11 is stronger in the wildlife photography segment.

Pros 

• Lightweight, compact and portable 
• Not expensive compared to the L lens 600mm and 800mm counterparts 
• Output is sharp for the f/11 lenses when shot in good light conditions
• Paired with a fast and accurate AF camera such as the Canon EOS R3, it makes RF600mm f/11 and RF800mm f/11 easy to use in good light conditions

Cons

• It’s f/11 only
• Not a fast prime lens 
• Struggle in low light situations – photos output quality is not good and autofocus (AF) is slow 

600mm f/11 vs 800mm f/11, how to choose?

Choose 600mm f/11 for both cityscape / travel / wildlife, it’s a more versatile lens that can do a good mix of photography genres when traveling overseas.

Choose 800mm f/11 for dedicated wildlife photography, the field of view is a lot more cropped and tight. 

Thoughts and Views

• Both Canon RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM lenses are good starter prime lenses for photographers starting to enter into wildlife photography.
• When used in good light conditions, it’s easy to use and can produce decent sharp photos
• The price point for both lenses, it’s value for money without breaking your personal bank owning telephoto lenses. Owning a large aperture / fast prime telephoto lens such as RF400mm f/2.8L IS USM, 600mm f/4L IS USM lenses or RF800mm f/5.6L IS USM lenses, you need the extra funds as they are very expensive.
• Both are ideal travel photography / wildlife photography lenses, it’s really lightweight, compact and portable, easy to use.

In my personal humble opinion, for those are who are looking into owning the Canon RF600mm f/11 IS STM or RF800mm f/11 IS STM lenses, a key point to take note is to know and understand the limitations of f/11, how you can make the best of those two prime f/11 lenses, and making the best use of light and timing to ensure its strengths are being tapped upon.

If you would like to view more photos shot with the Canon RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM lenses, you can visit my Flickr collections and check them out! Do also check out my Canon EOS R3 photography album too! 

I would like to thank Canon Singapore for the opportunity to review the Canon RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM lenses. 

The post Canon RF600mm f/11 and RF800mm f/11 Review appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

From the modern iconic Marina Bay, Gardens By The Bay, Changi Airport, to our heritage buildings and districts such as our museums, those images are some of the cityscapes that would come to your mind when we mention Singapore. 

For a country that is small in land size, do we have the wide landscape view that allow us to use our telephoto lens such as a 70-200mm to compose and isolate tight landscape scenes that we photographers enjoy when we travel overseas? How about using longer telephoto lenses such as 600mm or 800mm for cityscapes or landscapes? Is that even possible? 

I have been photographing Singapore Cityscapes for a period of time, through my documentation and exploration perspective, from photographing iconic famous landmarks to the heritage, cultural and the heartlands in Singapore, usually through my work horse lens, the wide angle zoom (now 16-35mm, formerly 17-40mm). 

We may be a small country, the changes in Singapore’s built and natural landscapes have been ongoing. This is like a perpetual documentation project to photograph Singapore Cityscapes as it changes over the years.

My recent review adventure with the Canon EOS R3 brought me revisiting different locations in Singapore, along with RF600mm f/11 IS STM lens and RF800mm f/11 IS STM lenses that I am also reviewing as well. Lenses with focal length such as 600mm or 800mm are usually associated with sports and wildlife photography. Are they even suitable for landscape/cityscape photography?

Here are some Singapore Cityscapes shot with the Canon EOS R3 with RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM lenses. 

Stay tuned for my upcoming review articles (and more photos) on the Canon EOS R3, RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM lenses! 

* A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R3 Explorer Series Production * 

The post Singapore Cityscapes (600mm and 800mm perspectives) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

“With the seamless integration of camera and lens technology in the EOS R platform, we are able to design and produce new concept lenses that were not possible before. The compact and lightweight super telephoto lenses, and the portrait lens that comes with a half macro feature are all designed to be affordable. These lenses will open up a whole new world of photography for our EOS R users,” said Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore.

The RF85mm f/2 IS STM offers more flexibility with its ability to shoot both portraits and macro, while the RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM offers super telephoto focal lengths of 600mm and 800m respectively at an affordable price.

Lightweight, compact and affordable super telephoto lenses

Telephoto lenses are usually associated with big aperture prime lenses and they can be pretty expensive, big and heavy in weight. The RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM lenses are going to change this mindset, designed to lower the barriers of entry for photographers to own super telephoto lenses by making them more affordable, compact and lightweight.

By working together with the DIGIC X image processor and high-performance CMOS sensor in the EOS R series cameras, the RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM are capable of delivering high image quality even at high ISO settings despite their affordable price. All made possible with the RF mount technology that made lenses previously impossible to design possible now. Utilising a single DO (Diffractive optical element) lens instead of the traditional use of multiple lens elements at the front of the RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM has contributed to the lighter lens weight. The single DO lens not only has the optical characteristics of multiple lenses but is able to produce high image quality with reduced chromatic aberration.

High-strength plastics are used for the main construction of both lenses, contributing further to the lightweight design whereas metal parts are used on parts like the lens mount and tripod ring where strength is crucial. The fixed f/11 apertures of both lenses, which omits the need for an aperture adjustment mechanism, also helps reduce the weight. The incredible reduction in weight of the two super telephoto lenses make them possible for handheld use. In fact, the RF600mm f/11 IS STM is approx. 30% of the weight of the much bigger and heavier EF600mm f/4L IS III USM lens. Similarly, the RF800mm f/11 IS STM is approx. 28% of the weight of the EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens.

On top of the significant weight reduction, both lenses have a retractable structure which makes them a lot more portable. Users can easily stow the lens away without having to get a dedicated bag just for the lens. The lens barrel can be extended when shooting, while retracting can be done by rotating the lock ring on the mount before storing the lens away.

When retracted, the RF600mm f/11 IS STM is 45% of the length of the EF600mm f/4L IS III USM lens. Meanwhile, the RF800mm f/11 IS STM is 61% of the length of the EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens when retracted. With the significant downsize, it makes transportation and storage of these lenses a breeze.

The RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM are also compatible with the new Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x for RF lenses, making it possible to achieve a maximum reach of 1600mm (when RF800mm f/11 IS STM is paired with Extender RF 2x).

Image Stabiliser (IS) function to assist in handheld shooting

The RF600mm f/11 IS STM and RF800mm f/11 IS STM are equipped with Canon’s Optical Image Stabiliser feature. The RF600mm f/11 IS STM achieves an image stabilisation (IS) effect of up to 5 stops (based on CIPA standard) and the RF800mm f/11 IS STM achieves an IS effect of 4 stops (based on CIPA standard). The IS function significantly reduces camera shake, which is particularly noticeable in super telephoto shooting and helps to stabilise the image, making it effective to control focus.

Stunning portraits and creative possibilities with macro function

The EF85mm f/1.8 lens has been one of Canon’s best-selling EF lens line up, and the RF85mm f/2 IS STM continues that legacy with its large f/2 aperture, with macro function and Hybrid Image Stabilisation for added performance. The 85mm focal length is ideal for portraits while the large f/2 aperture results in dreamy bokeh and low light shooting capabilities.

With a minimum shooting distance of 0.35m and the ability to achieve 0.5x magnification, the RF85mm f/2 IS STM opens up more opportunities for more creative and unique images. This comes in especially useful for wedding photographers who wants a portrait lens that could double up to shoot details of rings and decorations.

When the RF85mm f/2 IS STM is used with the EOS R5, up to 8 stops of image stabilisation can be achieved in tandem with the In-Body Image Stabiliser. This feature greatly expands the possibilities of expression especially when a tripod is not available or cannot be used.

Pricing and Availability 

The RF600mm f/11 IS STM will be available at $1,169 while the RF800mm f/11 IS STM will be available for $1,509. Both lenses will be available for sale from 30 July 2020.

The price and availability of the RF85mm f/2 IS STM will be confirmed at a later date.

* Information and pictures courtesy of Canon Singapore and GLOO PR *

The post New Trio of RF-mount Prime Lenses appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.