Great rain covers! Go, VOLS!!!

Finally a real video with the 200-800. Thank you for some real content!

Great work Phil and Heather. Amazed at the colors on some of those birds 🙏👍

Beautiful!

Thank u so much for sharing your views on this comparison!

Some wonderful images thank you fir sharing

Hello Phil! Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always 👍

Amazing photography. Keep it up.

Thanks for sharing another video. You are both skilled photographers and you both were struggling in the low light and rainy conditions. I would like to see the new lens on the R7, and I am looking forward to seeing more videos from you, when the light is better. Thanks for being one of the very first (if not the first) to share your use and experience on the new lens. Keep pressing that shutter!! Greetings from Per,, Denmark.

Awesome photos and setting, though the gear comparison is also interesting (though I prefer the images 😊). I like my RF 100-500 on the R7, and I use the 1.4x TC when I need extra reach). So I can't really make a case for the 200-800, though I would love to see you compare the two lenses on the R7. Keep up the great work.

I get mine tomorrow! Thanks for the video, excellent photos and the image quality looks great on the new lens.

Thanks for this great early review! I just found out that mine is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow!

Great shots! I like the raincoat for your lens. I hope to put out a few sticks and a feeder in my backyard this winter.

We had a similar problem with our Hide (Blind) and we just put an overhang extention on the hide and that solved the problem, great video again.

Very nice setup! So many great birds in a backyard. It’s about like anywhere else, you just have to wait. It’s very nice to see images from both cameras as I’ve picked up a used R7 recently as I’ve wanted a backup and I’ve always been intrigued by the back wheel and joystick up top. The 200-800 images seem great and it was much lighter when I tried it in store with the Canon reps. I have the 100-500 and the micro 4/3 200 2.8 + 1.4 tc and the 150-400 so i don’t need the 200-800. But it’s definitely not a bad bargain if one doesn’t already have a telephoto in this range.

Thanks.

I was kind of doubtful about the new 200-800 lens. But after seeing the pictures that you took, I made up my mind for it. Wonderful work. Keep it up. 💯

That look on your face when you talk about the 200-800 in the intro...priceless. I love seeing those Yellow Bellied Sapsucker too I have managed a few good shots of them so far this year. That lens looks pretty good at 800mm som "reviews" noted it wasn't terribly sharp at 800. Mine is supposed to ship today from B&H but I'm not sure I ordered early enough to get in on the first shipment. Thanks so much for sharing.

Love your hide, I have one too but it is a hunting blind from the store. Like yours better. Awesome video again

Definitely going to be picking a 200-800 up to pair with an R6ii that I'm getting as a second body and quite possibly my primary along with the R7 which is quite capable and formidable as well.

Great video...and photos! When I was looking for the RF200-800 pre-order, I found a new 100-500 at exactly the same price (2400euros)...I wish there were more comparison 200-800 vs 100-500 (without teleconverter) out there to help me deciding. I ended-up taking the 100-500 since more convenient (I would shoot more 100-200 than 500-800 I believe, and it is easier to travel with). At the end of the day, if you shoot with any of those two lenses, your photos are amazingly sharp as long as the focus is right.

Aloha from Maui! Oddly enough, the most common bird on my lanai feeders are… house finches. The males are all shades of yellows, oranges and reds. We’re lucky to have northern cardinals, warbling white eyes, red crested cardinals, Java sparrows and many other Asian songbirds. Hopefully my 209-800 ships tomorrow morning from B&H.

Hi Phil and Heather, really enjoyed watching this as the 200-800 definitely interests me, but the 100-500 still tempts despite having decided that, as I already own an EF100-400 Mk 2 + 1.4 extender, I can't really justify the outlay. I've only so far used this on an R6 (Mk 1) but I also have an R7 so now I'm thinking this + the EF combo to give almost 900mm at f8...? Anyway, the UK release has slipped to April next year so far, so plenty of time to ponder. Merry Christmas, both

Nice capture by Heather of the yellow belly. Has a bird ever landed on one of the lenses? Haha!

I see custom-printed Phil Thach Bokehfied-brand rain covers in our future! (Coming soon to B&H?) Way to improvise, Phil! Very nice images. Thank you for this.

Great video. What is the trick to be able to shoot below 1/100 shutter speed? 😂 I have second thoughts every time i go below 1/800 but i shoot handheld. I would like to learn your technique to be able to drop my iso even further. 😂

Always enjoy your video posts. How do you like you 200-800mm so far? I have one on preorder but want to know what your thoughts so far?

Another great video Phil! I wondered of you guys could help me make my mind up. I am debating between an rf100-500 or 200-800 to pair up with my r6ii. If i had a crop camera i would no doubt get the 100 500. I dont know wether to get the 100-500 and maybe one day canon will bring out a better crop than the r7, or to get the 200-800 with slower f. Would loce your thoughts. Best regards Simon(uk)

This makes the decision hard cause both look so good 😂. I have an r10 with 100-400 for birding and there was an osprey above a nest in a dead tree across the bayou (in ocean springs MS.) 400 with 1.6 crop was not enough and not sure the 500 would have been either

Thank You So much❤❤ do u really recommend to buy this for canon R7?

I can't justify a 200-800, but using the 100-400 Lii with a 2x extender does the job. As I will never know if the new lens is any sharper I can survive, there is always Topaz A! sharpen after all.

So what’s your impression of the 200-800. How does it compare to the 100-500 as far as AF, IQ etc. Thanks

I picked up my RF 200-800 this morning and just had a chance to take a couple of test shots. It is overcast and I was shooting handheld at 1/500. The ISO went as high as 5000 but the images looked great. A lot of detail. I was using my R5, not my R7. I am posting a few to IG now. I can't wait to get a brighter dryer day to see what it can really do.

Which lens is sharper before processing? 200-800 or 100-500.

Thanks for this comparation! What do you suggest? I have no mirrorless equipament. Buy a R7+ 100-500 or R5+ 200-800? Until now I use 7D +1,4x+ 300f4 IS Canon, and I really love my ancient lens!

Hey Phil, both combo's seems to be getting similar good shots, as long as someone doesn't use sabotage to prevent the other from shooting the song sparrow 😛

How about 200-800 vs 100-500 autofocus speed and accurate performance? Thank you!

Nice images. The 200-800 produces some nice images, but you can easily see the 100-500 is much sharper and renders the colors better. I have the R7 and R8 along with the 100-500 and was considering the 200-800, but for now I think I'll stick with the 100-500 and maybe add a 1.4x extender. Great video as always!

Hi there! Just curious which one do you like personally 100-500 or 200-800?😊

How do you think the 200-800 compares to the 800 f11?

Great photos, as usual. Isn't the 200 - 800 weather sealed?

Thanks for the interesting video. I also have the Canon R6II that I use with the Sigma EF150 600S, I was considering replacing the Sigma with the new Canon RF200 800 therefore, it would be useful for me to have as much information as possible on the quality of the raw images it produces coupled with the R6II. From the video I can appreciate the quality of your beautiful photos, I also like the blurry, but to get a more precise idea, some raw would be needed. It would be nice to be able to download some raws of your shots in the rain with slow times and medium/high ISO to evaluate them in post production, I would certainly get a more precise idea before purchasing, I would be grateful. In any case, congratulations both for the new 200 800 and for the photos which I find very beautiful, Kind regards from Italy

the 200-800 is absolutly amazing, not L lens, but look at the images, SHARP.

It would be cool if u tested the 200-800 with bird in Flight 🦅

it would seem both lenses do the same job even when you compare apsc vs ff

Silly question here, do you think the 200-800 can be used for daytime outdoor sports?

Hate to tell you but Heather's cap is a lot prettier than yours!. We took a stick and ran it thru the suet cage, It sticks out about a foot on either side. Gives the birds a perch

I had watched this on my phone last evening (which I know is kind of pointless) but today I'm watching it on my 27" 4 K screen, and these look absolutely fine > especially in consideration of the low light conditions. Id love to see similar shots, but in more light, with the lens stopped down to F11... or even F13. JMPO, but I think a LOT of folks are going to feel like they have to shoot at F9 (while wishing they could shoot at F4) But I'm thinking, that as long as I can avoid bad diffraction, Id rather get more of my bird in focus > especially, with the potential to be shooting little birds at 11 to 14ft,. Just having a sharp eyeball, is not enough for me. I'd sure like to see one of you shooting with the 800 F11, beside the other using the 200-800. In any case, I'm liking what I'm seeing so far :) TYSM for the video :) OH btw, sucks for me, but if the weather report is correct, I will probably be getting my 200-800 rental, just in time for days of rain as well :( Oh well. I'll have it for 8 or 10 days, and should be able to catch some sun popping out at some point :)

Hi, did you delete your unboxing video as it no longer shows up in the searches? Thanks

Nice to see you trying out the new 200-800 but I can't understand why you're using such slow shutter speeds. Even perched birds are constantly moving so it's essential to have at least 1/400s or preferably more. High iso is not a problem: I never restrict my iso on my 1DX mark ii and are often shooting at 25,000 or even 40,000 or 50,000 and so long as you have correct exposure noise isn't that bad and is easily dealt with using DxO pure RAW or similar software. You can't fix motion blur though

You ever tried the Canon R8?

10,000 iso that's pretty high

Phil, As a fellow east Tennessean and bird photographer I enjoy your videos very much and appreciate the information. My current bird "go to" gear is a Canon R3 or R5 with a Canon 100-500, usually with a 1.4 extender. I am waiting on the 200-800 to arrive at my house. As we all know when trying to place groceries in a Walmart plastic bag ... they are thin and tear easily (garbage). Please invest in a couple of quality rain covers for your gear. Remember that you need to set a good example. :-) Thanks once again for your videos, very much appreciated.

I am so happy that I didn’t spend extra money on 100 500 a few years ago and waited until this 200 800 came out. The quality of 200 800 looks good for me and I feel like the image quality difference between these two lens from this video are way smaller than the price difference. Hopefully there won’t be a delay of my preorder.

the RF200-800 looks just as sharp as the 100-500 at 800mm, which is encouraging.

I wonder how this lens 200-800 is performing with the RF 1.4 Extender

That’s why I don’t like the 200-800, at f9 pictures are either noised or out of focus because your lower shutter speed.