Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM price, specs availability announced

Canon has announced the RF 200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM, a full-frame super-telephoto lens designed for enthusiast wildlife and sports photographers using a Canon EOS R-series camera such as the canon R5 or R6 Mark II. The Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM is the first ever supper-telephoto zoom lens to feature a focal length of 800mm.

Read our hands-on Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM review

The lens construction comprises 17 elements in 11 groups, with three UD (Ultra-Low Dispersion) elements for exceptional image quality. A combined focus and control ring simplifies operation, and at 2,050g (314mm in length), it’s relatively lightweight for a super-telephoto zoom.

Canon’s Super Spectra Coating also reduces ghosting and flare, preserving image clarity.

While the RF 200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM isn’t a Canon L series lens, it features the widely recognised white coating to mitigate the impact of sunlight and the consequent heat. The less is also weather-sealed, making it suitable for use in challenging conditions.

At the 200mm end, the lens can focus on subjects just 0.8m away from the sensor, but at the 800mm end, the closest focusing distance is a more substantial 3.3m. At 400mm, the closest focusing distance is 1.8m, while at 600mm it’s 2.8 m.

The lens is also compatible with Canon’s 1.4x and 2x RF teleconverters, offering even greater reach when needed, taking the focal length to a maximum of 1600mm.

According to Canon, the Nano USM technology ensures fast and smooth autofocus performance, which is vital for capturing moving subjects. Also, unlike the Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM and RF 600mm F11 IS STM, the RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM the whole AF area is available on the camera when the lens is mounted directly. However, this changes when a teleconverter is used as follows:

On the Canon EOS R3 / R5 / R6 / R6 Mark II / EOS R8 with the RF 2x Extender, the camera’s AF area is reduced to approximately 40% horizontal and 60% vertical coverage of the image area.

On the Canon EOS R7 / R10 / R50 / R100 with the RF 2x Extender, the camera’s AF area is reduced to approximately 60% horizontal and 80% vertical coverage of the image area.

On the Canon EOS R3 / R5 / R6 / R6 Mark II / EOS R8 / R7 / R10 / R50 / R100, with the RF 1.4x Extender, the camera’s AF area is reduced to approximately 90% horizontal and 100% vertical coverage of the image area.

Optical image stabilisation (IS) is also onboard offers up to 5.5 stops of shutter speed compensation for hand-held shooting. At the 200mm end, this can rise to 7.5 stops when the lens is paired with a camera with in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) at 200mm.

The lens features two AF stop buttons, which are customisable, and the zoom ring torque can be adjusted to determine the speed with which the focal length can be changed.

Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM price and availability

The Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM price is $1899 / £2299.99 / €2,619.99, and it’s set to go on sale in December 2023.