I’m well into my seventies and don’t think the weight of the RF 200-800 will be a problem. Unfortunately I may die of old age before Canon fills my order. I’m curious to see how it compares to my RF 100-500 L lens. Good video!

Thanks for your insight on this lens. The more I see about this lens, the more I am tempted. I was shooting the Rf800 yesterday and had several moments where I could have used a smaller reach to fit my subjects. Great images and video. Video clips seemed very smooth for hand held.

awesome! great information and wonderful footage shot!

Excellent video on the 200-800mm. Thanks.

Nice video, Matthew.

First off, you got some really nice shots (and video) and yes, this lens does have fantastic image quality :) I had it as a rental for a week, and I LOVED it ! The only thing that would make it feel heavy to me, is that I have used the "featherweight" 800 F11 for going on 2 yrs. So compared to that, it felt a bit heavy, but doable. Now here is where it gets interesting. I ALWAYS use a tripod, even for my super light 800 F11 > obviously not because its too heavy to handhold, but rather, for stability with these rather slow lenses. This allows me to really slow my shutter speed down "when I have to". Also, using these lenses on my R7's gives me the equivalent reach of 1280mm. Unless a person has shot with this kind of reach, they might not realize how hard it is to get a small bird in the frame, and keep it there. A tripod helps SO much with this. Now, here's the two edged sword.... Yes, my 5 lb tripod increases the weight of my combo from 5 lbs (with the 800 F11) to 10 lbs ! 12 lbs with the 200-800. However, if I ever start to get a little tired, I swing it up onto its legs, and take all the breaks I need, hands free :) Also, while my arm might get a bit tired and shaky carrying it, as soon as I put it down on its feet, and actually start shooting... read: when it really matters, my lens is super stable :) Unfortunately, I had to pass on the 200-800 for now, for multiple reasons, mostly $$$. But also, while its great to have all the capabilities of this lens "in one package"... their is really not much of anything it can do that my 800 F11 and my RF 100-400 + 1.4 TC cant do, together. Just about 95% overlap. Might still get this lens in the future though.... when its "in stock" and maybe even refurbed for $500 off :) ✝

Thanks for these videos, they’re breathtaking. I have a Cotton Carrier harness which I love and I’ve been waiting for the 200-800 that I ordered but unfortunately there is limited stock but hopefully it’ll be available soon. How were you able to get one?

People complained about the large EF lenses being too heavy. When the RF lenses were introduced they complained they are too plastic and cheap feeling. Unless you're too young or old lenses shouldn't be an issue. I'm 65 and don't have any issues with toting my camera backpack and tripod around.

great video on the real-world use of this lens, I have a Sigma 150-600 on an EOS T3 and 10k is me slacking being a line cook and after 3 or 4 hours of walking around my local park I am beat, an extra few pounds doesn't feel like a lot till you get board and have to lug it back.

Some very nice images Matthew, were these shot wide open at f/9 or did you stop down a bit?

One thing I haven't heard anyone talking about...how does the crop factor effect the f/stop of the 200-800 on the R7? My understanding is that, just like the focal length is multiplied by the 1.6 crop, the aperture must also be multiplied to get the proper f/stop rating. That would make the 800mm f/stop 14.4, not 9. Is that correct?

Thanks for the video!! I originally snubbed this lens because of the f9 aperture but I realized I was wrong. At f9 with a cleaner background this lens can be very beneficial! With my big 600mm and the tc to 840mm at f5.6 I can produce awesome images, but for optimum sharpness with depth of field, this lens can actually help a lot. Plus there are many times I gotta get my tripod into position and I miss that moment. I’m hopefully going to pick up one soon. If I can find one!!

I have mostly used my Cotton Carrier with this lens while walking, so while I have had the lens since it was first available I haven't walked around with it that much. I often have 2 cameras, and R5 and an R5, one with the RF 100-500, the other with the RF 200-800. I highly recommend the Cotton Carrier for this. You absolutely correct about this lens. The images are very good if not great. I highly recommend this lens as well. I have met plenty of Canon shooters that want this lens.

I need those gloves/mittens! Where did you get them?

Using a camera strap fixed to 1) Camera & 2) the lens would probably help, it also takes the pressure of the lens to camera attachment 🤷🏼‍♂️ I can walk for hours with the weight distribution across the body, well the RF 100-500, still waiting for a RF 200-800 😢

At 70, weedy and not that fit I've wondered about purchasing this lens, with my R7 it would weigh about 2.7kg. As a birder I walk round with a spotting scope, a digiscoping adaptor and an M50 which weighs in at 2.5 kg, I also carry a carbon fibre tripod and head a bit over 2kgs and a backback with bits like hide clamps in so I'm carrying 5kgs, the R7 and lens looks a weight saver to me. The closed length is the same as a scope.

R7+100-500L seems also a better combination? eq to 160-800 view angles and about 800g less in weight.

I think the issue is more upper body strength. I do walk 10K steps a day but after a couple hours, even the 800 f/11 makes my arms fatigued. So, I usually have a monopod with that lens. I’m guessing your arms and shoulders are much stronger than mine.

How do you think this lens will perform in bad light with the R7 for birds in flight compared to the 100-500 F7.1?

i recieved my lens 200-800mm about 10 days ago. i find the turning of the zoom. to be well over stated by all i have seen on u tube. it is far better then my old 150-600 sigma c.as i have had that for 5-6 years. it has never loosened up and is at stiff as it was when brand new. the lens is again much lighter and is better balanced along the length of the zoom. all in all the picture quality of the animals i have taken to be even early morning at f9 and here where i live on very dull day sat 6.40 ish am. to be very brilliant.I have not yeh had a session on what i like the most. which is fast militery jets. but it will be this week for sure. For those people that have a medical problem and can't walk far or are in a wheel chair etc. it is not that big that once you have your self comfortable. i think you will get along ok. So you no where i'm cameing from I was given end of life with cancer 5 weeks ago. Dont let it beat you and medical problem. get somebody to get you out and just take pictures from the car or van. good shooting everybody. Phil

I'm in my 70s and the last time I saw the inside of a gym I was at school, but I like to keep active. Unfortunately due to winter weather and other consideration, like you, I've only been doing probably about 4,000 steps recently, often less, but occasionally up to 10,000+. I've had my 200-800 for three weeks now and I'm enjoying it. Weight isn't a problem with me either, and I easily put in a 4 hour session two days running a couple of weeks ago when I was giving the lens a try-out with my R7 on the first of those two days, and the R5 the next day. Those 4 hour sessions would have been longer if the daylight had been longer, but it's February at 55 degrees north. As you say, it's a great lens for getting close to the subject without getting close to the subject and yesterday I was getting shots of a group of shelduck feeding on a mudflat that showed every detail as they filter-fed on the mud and squabbed with one another, totally disregarding my presence as they got on with their day-to-day lives. I'm loving this lens.

1.7kg is my max weight for camera with 200-800mm 😊

For over 50 years since the end of world war II nearly all cameras came with a fixed 50 mm lens with varying apertures of one two one eight and so on. The images produced by those cameras and photographers during those 50 years is nothing short of incredible. Then the interchangeable lens body came out because the manufacturers listened. Those early lenses were made of metal some plastic they were big they were heavy. Certainly heavier than the EF lenses and heavier than the RF lenses. If these lenses are too heavy for you then you might need to change a style of your photography go back to using the nifty 50 and you can still take landscape photography you can still take wildlife photography you just not going to be able to get us close.

Your point is well taken , this is the reason I am not going to get this lens it's just too heavy . The other thing about this lens nobody even makes a camouflage cover for it yet .