Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM

[Mr Roboto]

That Wikipedia article states: "Since the amount of atmospheric refraction is a function of the temperature gradient, temperature, pressure, and humidity (the amount of water vapor, which is especially important at mid-infrared wavelengths), the amount of effort needed for a successful compensation can be prohibitive."

Good points to keep in mind

 

[LoneRider]

Just a quick shot from this morning. Really looking forward to getting out with this lens as the weather starts to improve.

This was in the shade, with the 1.4x TC. R5M2 eye control AF is amazing! Immediately locked on to the bird’s eye even through the branches. Cropped to 1/4 of the frame.

 

[Jan1977]

Shot with a 2x extender in harsh light with the subject in a bit of reeds:

 

[MSH411]

 

[shinksma]

Shot with a 2x extender in harsh light with the subject in a bit of reeds:

Zoinks! Nice shot, in such challenging conditions! And it looks like the AF tracked well.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

A couple of buntings today...

Reed bunting...



Yellowhammer....



Both fierce crops of the full 800 mm. The yellowhammer was away up high in a tree and was practically in silhouette. So, I had to ramp it up to +3EV and blow out the sky. But it was that or an underexposed bird.

 

[Jan1977]

Zoinks! Nice shot, in such challenging conditions! And it looks like the AF tracked well.

Af was doing well with plenty light, although a limited area available and not the full sensor (a square in the center)

 

[Jan1977]

Some shovelers, again with the 2x mounted.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

The moon at 15:45 this afternoon...

 

[gossamer88]

Available Refurbished for First Time:

Available Refurbished for First Time: RF 200-800mm for $1709.10 | Canon Camera and Lens Deals - Canon Price Watch

www.cpricewatch.com

 

[Mr Roboto]

Hi, gang. I recently purchased this lens for the spring warbler season which is about to start.
I'm looking forward to see how it will work out for me.

My expectations:
1) image opportunities should be increased due to the lighter weight and closer focusing distance (warblers will often forage within 15' during peak times)
2) image quality will most likely take a slight hit from my usual 500mm f/4L + 1.4xTC combo
3) portability/packability should be greatly improved
4) background bokeh may be unacceptable under certain situations

Thanks for all the samples images and discussions here. I'm excited to try it out!

 

[Mk1Racer]

The moon at 15:45 this afternoon...

View attachment 147596

What an amazing shot!

 

[Mr Roboto]

Took the lens out last week for its initial trial. Focus speed was better than I expected. Size & weight made it a pleasure to handle. Chromatic aberration is surprisingly low.

But the vignetting - wow - you all getting this too? Never seen anything like it before. Granted I'm testing it in the worst way possible - wide open, max zoom, full-frame, against a uniform background. The shape and non-linearity of the graduation of the vignette made it very difficult to remove in post. Sample SOOC images below.

I did a second round of testing yesterday and enabled Peripheral Illumination Correction, Distortion Correction, Digital Lens Optimizer (I have never enabled any of these in any of my cameras before). I will view those files later when I get some time to compare.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

Took the lens out last week for its initial trial. Focus speed was better than I expected. Size & weight made it a pleasure to handle. Chromatic aberration is surprisingly low.

But the vignetting - wow - you all getting this too? Never seen anything like it before. Granted I'm testing it in the worst way possible - wide open, max zoom, full-frame, against a uniform background. The shape and non-linearity of the graduation of the vignette made it very difficult to remove in post. Sample SOOC images below.

I did a second round of testing yesterday and enabled Peripheral Illumination Correction, Distortion Correction, Digital Lens Optimizer (I have never enabled any of these in any of my cameras before). I will view those files later when I get some time to compare.

I never noticed it before, as I have 'use profile corrections' permanently switched on in ACR.

This is an uncropped shot at 1120 mm with the x1.4 TC...



So, I tried switching it off to see what it looks like...



Yeh - point taken. I switched it back on!

 

[Mr Roboto]

I never noticed it before, as I have 'use profile corrections' permanently switched on in ACR.

This is an uncropped shot at 1120 mm with the x1.4 TC...

View attachment 152572

So, I tried switching it off to see what it looks like...

View attachment 152573

Yeh - point taken. I switched it back on!

Thanks for the example!
Yes, looks very similar.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

Today, first time using the 200-800 for butterflies. I used to go out looking for either birds or butterflies with the EF 100-400 plus x1.4 TC. Great to have that super-close minimum focusing for the butterflies. I wasn't sure how the 200-800 plus x1.4 TC would do, being twice the focal length, but decidedly further away. It was certainly more shaky, trying to hold focus on the eye at 1120 mm, but I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

Comma...



Holly blue...

 

[Mr Roboto]

Apparently the Peripheral Illumination Correction, Distortion Correction, Digital Lens Optimizer only work if one is shooting JPEGs. I guess that's why I never enabled those before.

I feel that I found a good starting point for processing images taken with the 200-800. Not only do I have to enable Auto Profile Correction, but I also have to further manually adjust vignette to +22~+27 with midpoint of 0. This results in the corners being somewhat even but the 4 sides are still undercorrected with a pincushion effect.

 

[Mr Roboto]

Getting the lens dialed in. Pleasantly surprised how sharp it is wide open - very usable.
Stopping down to f/10 to f/11 may be the sharpest range but even then it's very close to wide open.

Belted kingfisher


double-crested cormorant

 

[Mr Roboto]

Dark-eyed junco at minimum focusing distance

 

[Mr Roboto]

willow also near MFD


maple from a bit farther away