Canon • Lenses • Press Releases

Canon Announces Two Super Telephoto Lenses in RF Mount: RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM and RF1200mm F8 L IS USM

2022-02-24
by photoxels
5 min read
On the surface, the battle for mirrorless supremacy may seem to be between the flagship cameras. However, for pros who shoot sports, wildlife and news, there is always the need for that long super telephoto lens that can bring a far away subject or scene close. And that is where the major camera and lens companies have a leg up on their competitors. Canon has shown that today by announcing its longest super telephoto lens yet, the RF1200mm F8 L IS USM. Add the RF1.4x or RF2x extenders, and the focal length of that lens reaches 1,680mm and 2,400mm, respectively. If you absolutely need that kind of reach in your field of work, then the lens basically determines which mirrorless system you are standardizing on.

PRESS RELEASE

Go Long: Canon Introduces the RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM and RF1200mm F8 L IS USM Super-Telephoto Lenses

The Newest RF Lenses are Ideal for Outdoor Sports, Motor Sports, Wildlife Photography, Photo News Journalism, and More

MELVILLE, NY, February 23, 2022 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce that the Canon RF lens family is growing by two, with the addition of the Canon RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM, and the longest focal length RF lens yet, the RF1200mm F8 L IS USM. Both super-telephoto fixed focal length lenses are quite light for their considerable abilities, and share many of the same features such as Super Spectra Coating (SSC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to help minimize ghosting and flaring, compatibility with both the RF1.4x and RF2x extenders and a customizable electronic focusing ring with manual focus capability during Servo AF.

Additional features shared by both lenses include:

  • Two focus presets, with the ability to instantly switch between memorized focus distances
  • Circular nine-bladed aperture providing photographers with exceptionally beautiful and soft blurred backgrounds and bokeh
  • Renowned Canon L-Series durability and construction with dust and water resistance, plus fluorine coating on the front element for easy cleaning

Canon RF800mm F5.6L IS USM

Canon RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM

Canon RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM

The RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM weighs in at just 6.9 lbs and features a minimum focusing distance of 8.53ft/2.6 meters — maximum close-up magnification is a superb 0.34x, allowing wildlife image creators to fill the frame with small subjects, such as birds, at its minimum focusing distance. Optical image stabilization is up to 4.5 stops* of shake correction and includes three IS operation modes. When using the RF1.4x or RF2x extenders, users can experience enhanced effective focal lengths of 1,120mm and 1,600mm respectively.

Canon RF1200mm F8 L IS USM

Canon RF1200mm F8 L IS USM

Canon RF1200mm F8 L IS USM

The RF1200mm F8 L IS USM is the most powerful super-telephoto lens in the Canon RF lens line. It weighs in at 7.4 lbs — an outstandingly light figure for a super-tele lens of this type — and features a minimum focusing distance of 14.1ft/4.3m. Optical image stabilization is up to 4.0 stops* of shake correction and, similar to the RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM lens, includes three IS operation modes. When using the RF1.4x or RF2x extenders, users can experience enhanced focal lengths of 1,680mm and 2,400mm, respectively.

Pricing and Availability
The Canon RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM and Canon RF1200mm F8 L IS USM are both scheduled to be available in late May 2022 for an estimated retail price of $16,999.00 and $19,999.00, respectively**. For more information please visit usa.canon.com.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.6 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), as of 2021 has ranked in the top-five overall in U.S. patents granted for 36 consecutive years† and was one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2022. Canon U.S.A. was featured in Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces list for 2021, ranking among the top 100 companies for employee happiness and satisfaction at work. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.


† Number of patents for 2021 are based on figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2020 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
* Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) standards. Testing performed using the EOS R, EOS R5, and EOS R3 cameras.
** Specifications, availability and prices are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.

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