The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 1200mm F8L and the Canon 800mm f5.6L IS USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon RF 1200mm F8L is the longer of the two lenses at 537mm. The Canon 800mm f5.6L IS USM with a length of 461mm, is 76mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon RF 1200mm F8L also has a larger diameter of 168mm compared to the Canon 800mm f5.6L IS USM's 163mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon RF 1200mm F8L weighs 3340g, which means it is 1160g (25%) lighter than the Canon 800mm f5.6L IS USM which has a weight of 4500g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon RF 1200mm F8L and the Canon 800mm f5.6L IS USM have the same Filter thread size of 52mm.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 1200mm F8L has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Canon 800mm f5.6L IS USM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Canon RF 1200mm F8L is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 1200mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
1920mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 800mm f5.6L IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 800mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 1280mm.
