Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM Lens

The Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM brings extraordinary super-telephoto reach to photographers in a remarkably portable and approachable design. Its fixed 800mm focal length is ideal for filling the frame with birds, wildlife, aircraft, the moon and other subjects that are too distant to photograph effectively with conventional telephoto lenses.

Canon’s Diffractive Optics technology and retractable barrel help keep the lens compact, while four-stop image stabilization and quiet STM autofocus make handheld photography practical in suitable light.

⭐ Key Benefits

• Extraordinary 800mm super-telephoto reach

• Compact retractable construction

• Weighs approximately 2.8 pounds

• Fixed f/11 aperture

• Diffractive Optics technology

• Up to 4 stops of optical image stabilization

• Smooth and quiet STM autofocus

• Compatible with Canon RF 1.4x and 2x extenders

• Customizable RF control ring

• Useful 0.14x maximum magnification

• Built-in tripod socket

• Accepts 95mm filters

• An accessible alternative to professional 800mm lenses

🦅 Extraordinary 800mm Reach

An 800mm lens provides an extremely narrow angle of view, allowing distant or very small subjects to occupy a substantial portion of the frame.

This exceptional reach is ideal for:

• Small birds

• Distant wildlife

• Aviation and air shows

• Field sports

• Boats and water sports

• Moon photography

• Distant landmarks

• Telephoto landscapes

• Outdoor performances

The 800mm field of view can require practice when locating a moving subject. Starting with both eyes open or using a red-dot sight can make subject acquisition easier.

🔭 An Approximately 1280mm View on APS-C Cameras

When mounted on a Canon APS-C EOS R camera, the RF 800mm F11 provides an angle of view comparable to approximately 1280mm on a full-frame camera.

This combination offers tremendous apparent reach for small birds and extremely distant subjects. Good atmospheric conditions and careful camera technique become increasingly important at such narrow angles of view.

🎒 Compact Retractable Design

The lens retracts to reduce its size during storage and transportation.

Before taking photographs, the barrel must be unlocked, extended into its operating position and locked again. The camera will not capture an image while the lens is in its retracted position.

At approximately 1,260g, or 2.8 pounds, it is dramatically lighter than traditional 800mm lenses and practical to carry on hikes, nature walks and trips.

🔘 Fixed F11 Aperture

The RF 800mm uses a fixed f/11 aperture rather than an adjustable diaphragm. This contributes to its compact construction, relatively low weight and accessibility.

Exposure is controlled using:

• Shutter speed

• ISO sensitivity

• Exposure compensation

• Available light

The lens is best suited to daylight and other well-lit conditions. Modern EOS R cameras can automatically increase ISO when necessary, while the electronic viewfinder maintains a usable viewing image at f/11.

✨ Diffractive Optics Technology

Canon’s dual-layer Diffractive Optics system helps correct chromatic aberration while reducing the physical length normally required for an 800mm lens.

The optical formula uses 11 elements arranged in eight groups. Canon’s Super Spectra Coating helps reduce flare and ghosting while maintaining natural contrast and color.

Diffractive optics can produce colored flare around extremely bright light sources in certain conditions. Using the correct lens hood and avoiding intense light near the edge of the frame can help.

🛡️ Four-Stop Image Stabilization

The built-in Optical Image Stabilizer provides up to four stops of shake correction under Canon’s specified testing conditions.

At 800mm, tiny camera movements are highly magnified. Image stabilization helps provide a steadier viewfinder image, makes framing easier and improves the likelihood of sharp handheld results.

Stabilization reduces camera shake but does not freeze subject movement. Birds in flight, athletes and moving animals will still require sufficiently fast shutter speeds.

⚡ Smooth STM Autofocus

A stepping motor provides smooth and relatively quiet autofocus for still photography and video.

When paired with a compatible EOS R camera, the lens can work with subject detection and tracking for birds, animals, people and vehicles.

Because of the fixed f/11 aperture, autofocus coverage may be concentrated toward the center of the image rather than extending across the entire frame. The exact coverage depends on the connected camera and extender configuration.

🔭 RF Extender Compatibility

The RF 800mm F11 accepts both Canon RF extenders.

With Extender RF 1.4x

• Becomes a 1120mm f/16 lens

• Autofocus remains available with compatible cameras

• Image stabilization remains available

• Provides extremely tight framing of distant subjects

With Extender RF 2x

• Becomes a 1600mm f/22 lens

• Autofocus remains available with compatible cameras

• Image stabilization remains available

• Provides an exceptionally narrow field of view

Extenders reduce available light and make camera movement, atmospheric haze and heat distortion more noticeable. Bright conditions and stable support are strongly recommended.

🔍 19.7-Foot Minimum Focusing Distance

The RF 800mm F11 focuses as close as approximately 6m, or 19.7 feet, and provides approximately 0.14x maximum magnification.

While it is not a close-up lens, it can record considerable detail in birds and wildlife while preserving a comfortable working distance.

🎨 Telephoto Background Separation

Although its aperture is fixed at f/11, the extreme 800mm focal length can still produce pleasing subject separation.

For softer backgrounds:

• Work as close to the subject as practical

• Keep the background far behind the subject

• Choose clean, distant foliage or open sky

• Avoid positioning subjects directly against distracting objects

The long focal length also produces pronounced visual compression, making distant background elements appear larger and closer to the subject.

🌙 Excellent for Moon Photography

The 800mm focal length is especially well suited to photographing the moon. It produces a substantially larger lunar image than shorter telephoto lenses without requiring an extender.

The lens can also create dramatic landscape compositions in which the moon appears behind buildings, trees or mountains.

Never point the lens directly at the sun without a properly certified front-mounted solar filter. Ordinary neutral-density filters do not provide safe solar protection.

🌫️ Atmospheric Conditions Matter

At 800mm, the lens photographs through a considerable amount of air. Heat shimmer, humidity, haze and airborne dust can soften distant subjects even when the lens and camera are functioning perfectly.

The clearest results are often obtained:

• Early in the morning

• During cooler weather

• Over grass rather than hot pavement

• At shorter subject distances

• When humidity and haze are low

🎥 Super-Telephoto Video Capabilities

Quiet STM autofocus and optical stabilization make the lens useful for recording distant outdoor subjects such as:

• Bird behavior

• Wildlife activity

• Aircraft

• Boats

• Outdoor sporting events

• Moon footage

• Distant performances

A tripod or monopod will generally provide smoother and more consistent results during extended video recording.

🎛️ Customizable Control Ring

The dedicated RF control ring can be assigned to frequently used camera settings such as:

• Shutter speed

• ISO

• Exposure compensation

Because the aperture is fixed at f/11, assigning the control ring to ISO or exposure compensation is particularly useful.

📋 Technical Specifications

📸 Ideal For

• Bird photography

• Distant wildlife

• Aviation and air shows

• Moon photography

• Field and water sports

• Telephoto landscapes

• Backyard nature photography

• Outdoor wildlife observation

• Photographers wanting 800mm without professional-lens weight

• APS-C photographers seeking extreme apparent reach

🆚 RF 800mm F11 vs RF 600mm F11

Choose the RF 600mm for lighter weight, easier framing and greater versatility. Choose the RF 800mm when filling the frame with small or distant subjects is the priority.

🆚 RF 800mm F11 vs RF 800mm F5.6 L

The RF 800mm F11 offers the same focal length in a much lighter and more accessible package. The RF 800mm F5.6 L gathers four times as much light and provides professional optics, autofocus, close focusing and construction.

🆚 RF 800mm F11 vs RF 200-800mm

Choose the RF 800mm F11 for portability and straightforward long-distance photography. Choose the RF 200-800mm for brighter performance, closer focusing and the flexibility to follow unpredictable subjects.

📦 In the Box

• Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM Lens

• Canon E-95 Front Lens Cap

• Canon RF Rear Lens Dust Cap

• Manufacturer documentation

The Canon ET-101 lens hood and compatible lens case are available separately.

🎒 Recommended Kit Additions

Consider pairing this lens with:

• Canon ET-101 Lens Hood

• A 95mm protective filter

• Properly certified front-mounted solar filter for solar photography

• Lightweight monopod

• Tripod with a gimbal head

• Remote shutter release

• Extra camera batteries

• High-speed memory cards

• Comfortable camera strap or harness

• Rain cover for outdoor use

• Red-dot sight for locating fast-moving subjects

• Canon Extender RF 1.4x for exceptionally distant subjects in bright light

🏬 Why Buy from Cameragraphics?

Cameragraphics is an authorized Canon dealer staffed by professional photographers who understand the challenges of bird, wildlife, aviation and moon photography.

We can help you choose the right EOS R camera, lens hood, support system and carrying solution for this extraordinary super-telephoto lens.

Cameragraphics — Serving Auburn Since 1974.