Canon RF 1200mm F8L is a Fixed aperture Auto Focus (AF)
Super Telephoto Prime lens with Optical Image stabilization and 35mm FF max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with
RF Mount cameras .
What type of photography is the Canon RF 1200mm F8L lens good for?
The choice of photography type for which you intend to use the Canon RF 1200mm F8L is a crucial decision factor. Below, we have assessed its suitability for various photography scenarios:
Canon RF 1200mm F8L is a member of Canon's RF L series of lenses. Below you can see the latest lenses in this series.
Canon RF L Series Lenses in Canon RF Mount
Reasons to Buy the Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM Lens
Here we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM lens in a list form to assist you in determining whether it offers the features you need.
Canon RF 1200mm F8L from Amazon B&H PHOTO
Lens Mount
Canon RF 1200mm F8L is compatible with cameras that have a Canon RF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon RF lenses are Canon R6 V , Canon R6 III and Canon C50 .
Size, Weight and Filter Thread
The size and weight are crucial factors to consider when searching for your next lens. Canon RF 1200mm F8L has a maximum diameter of 168mm and a total length of 537mm . It weighs 3340g / 117.8 oz .
Check the size of the Canon RF 1200mm F8L when attached to RF Mount cameras :
Below, you'll find a scaled side-by-side image comparing the sizes of the Canon RF 1200mm F8L and the Canon RF 800mm F5.6L , offering a better understanding of their dimensions in real life. Check the detailed comparison of these two lenses here .
Comparison image of the Canon RF 1200mm F8L and the Canon RF 800mm F5.6L Size and Weight
Canon RF 1200mm F8L has a Drop-in type filter holder with a filter thread of 52mm .
You can also check All Canon RF Mount Lenses with 52mm Filter Thread Size
Focal Range
Canon RF 1200mm F8L has a fixed focal length of 1200mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 1920mm .
Teleconverter Compatibility
Canon RF 1200mm F8L is compatible with the Teleconverters below. With the use of these TC/extenders, you can find how the total focal reach and effective aperture of your Canon RF 1200mm F8L changes below:
Canon RF 1200mm F8L Focal Range and Aperture Change with Teleconverter
Weather Sealings
Weather Sealings of the Canon RF 1200mm F8L
The Canon RF 1200mm F8L is a weather-sealed lens, which provides extra protection to prevent water and dust get inside the lens and camera body under light rain, snow and wind. In order to have effective protection, you have to pair the Canon RF 1200mm F8L with a weather-sealed camera body such as the Canon R6 V , Canon R6 III and Canon C50 .
Optical Image Stabilization
The Canon RF 1200mm F8L features an optical image stabilization system which helps to reduce the blur that occurs due to shaking during hand-held shooting. Canon RF 1200mm F8L's stabilization system is effective up to 4.0 stops .
Tripod Collar
With a total length of 537mm and a weight of 3340g, the Canon RF 1200mm F8L is a large lens. Fortunately, it comes with a tripod collar which you can use to attach the lens directly to a tripod or monopod instead of attaching the camera. This connection helps to better balance the lens/kit combination.
Canon RF 1200mm F8L MTF Charts
Below you can find the MTF chart of Canon RF 1200mm F8L which would give an idea of the its contrast and resolution from the center to its edges.
MTF Chart of the Canon RF 1200mm F8L
MTF Chart of the Canon RF 1200mm F8L
Maximum Magnification Ratio
Canon RF 1200mm F8L has a Max Magnification Ratio of 0.29x with a minimum focusing distance of 4.3m . For a non-macro lens, the 0.29x is considered a high magnification and will come handy for close-up shots.
Below are the 3 Super Telephoto Prime type Canon RF mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios :
Aperture
The Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM features a maximum aperture of F8 and can be stopped down to a minimum aperture of F64. While a maximum aperture of F8 requires a bit more ambient light or a bump in ISO when shooting indoors, it keeps the physical size of the lens much smaller and easier to carry. At 1200mm, this lens provides a natural perspective, and opening up to F8 offers clean background separation for typical everyday shooting. The minimum setting of F64 is excellent for deep depth of field work like macro photography, though you may want to avoid the absolute smallest settings to skip the sharpness loss caused by optical diffraction.
Optical Formula
Canon RF 1200mm F8L's optical formula consists of 26 elements in 18 groups . The following special elements are used in this design:
2 Fluorite 1 Super UD Lenses 1 UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) Lens Hood
Canon RF 1200mm F8L comes with a removable lens hood which is handy to reduce lens flare and glare in your photos. The model number of the hood is ET-160 .
Canon RF 1200mm F8L Lens Hood
What's in the Box of Canon RF 1200mm F8L?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Canon RF 1200mm F8L:
RF1200mm F8 L IS USM Lens Cap E-185C Lens Dust Cap RF Drop-in Screw Filter Holder 52(WIII) with 52mm Protect Filter Lens Hood ET-160(WIII) Lens Soft Case LS1200 Lens Wide Strap B
Recommended Accessories for the Canon RF 1200mm F8L
Now it is time to look at the Top Recommended Accessories for the Canon RF 1200mm F8L .
Body Colour
Canon RF 1200mm F8L is available in White color.
Here are the 8 most popular comparisons of the Canon RF 1200mm F8L amongst Camera Decision readers.
Top Alternatives of Canon RF 1200mm F8L Lens
In addition, it would be interesting to check which lenses from other mounts are most commonly compared with the Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM.
Top Alternatives of Canon RF 1200mm F8L in Other Lens Mounts
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