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Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM · Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF1200mm f8L IS USM w Hood.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
Canon · RF
RF 1200mm F8L IS USM
A full-frame 1200 mm f/8 telephoto prime with ring-type USM autofocus, optical stabilisation and 52 mm drop-in filters. It focuses to 4.3 m, reaches 0.29× magnification and supports both RF extenders.
- Mount
- Canon RF
- Focal length
- 1,200 mm
- Max aperture
- f/8
- Stabilisation
- Yes
- Weight
- 3,340 g
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specOptics
- Lens type
- Prime
- Focal length
- 1,200 mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/8
- Minimum aperture
- f/64
- Optical construction
- Twenty-six elements in eighteen groups
- Special elements
- Two fluorite elements, one Super UD and one UD element
- Coatings
- Super Spectra and ASC; fluorine coating on the front element
- Aperture detail
- Maximum f/8; minimum f/64
- Diaphragm
- Nine circular blades
- Angle of view
- Full-frame diagonal 2°05′; horizontal 1°45′; vertical 1°10′
Mount and compatibility
- Mounts
- Canon RF
- Image circle
- Full frame
- Compatibility
- Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras
- Teleconverter support
- RF 1.4× gives 1680 mm f/11 with 0.41× magnification; RF 2× gives 2400 mm f/16 with 0.60×; AF and IS operate with either extender
Focus and stabilisation
- Autofocus
- Yes
- Minimum focus distance
- 4.3 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.29×
- Optical stabilisation
- Yes
- Autofocus detail
- Ring-type USM; electronic full-time manual focus requires compatible body settings; original EOS R, RP and Ra are unsupported, and R5/R6 require firmware 1.3.0 or later
- Focus distance detail
- 4.3 m minimum focus; full range, 4.3–30 m and 30 m–infinity limiter settings; three manual-focus speeds and two stored focus presets
- Magnification detail
- 0.29× maximum magnification; approximately 241 × 161 mm subject fills a full-frame image at minimum focus
- Stabilisation detail
- Four-stop optical IS with EOS R, R5 or R3 under CIPA yaw/pitch conditions; modes 1, 2 and 3
- Video features
- Aperture control in 1/8-stop increments; power-focus mode with two speeds selected by playback-ring rotation
Design
- Dust and moisture resistant
- Yes
- Filter diameter
- 52 mm
- Maximum diameter
- 168 mm
- Length
- 537 mm
- Weight
- 3,340 g
- Controls
- Focus and playback rings, AF/PF/MF selector, focus-speed and preset switches, and four lens-function buttons
- Filter detail
- 52 mm drop-in screw-type holder 52 (WIII), supplied with a clear Protect filter; compatible with optional drop-in polariser and gelatin holder
- Weather resistance
- Dust- and moisture-resistant construction with heat-reflective paint
- Dimensions detail
- 168 mm maximum diameter × 537 mm length
- Weight detail
- Approximately 3,340 g excluding the tripod collar; Canon Japan states the collar weighs approximately 160 g
- Tripod mount
- Supplied tripod collar and support foot
- Lens hood
- ET-160 (WIII) included; shorter ET-160B optional
- In the box
- Lens, drop-in screw-type filter holder 52 (WIII) with 52 mm Protect filter, E-185C cap, RF dust cap, ET-160 (WIII) hood, LS1200 soft case, Lens Wide Strap B and user manual
- Release detail
- First sale in Japan on 26 May 2022, stated by Canon Japan support; the original announcement promised late May
Pros and cons
Pros
- 1200 mm focal length
- Optical stabilisation
- RF extender compatibility
Cons
- 3,340 g before the tripod collar
- 537 mm barrel length before the hood
Closest rivals
Model | Mount | Focal length | Max aperture | Stabilisation | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon RF | 800 mm | f/5.6 | Yes | 3,140 g | May 2022 | |
| Canon RF | 800 mm | f/11 | Yes | 1,260 g | Jul 2020 | |
| Canon RF | 600 mm | f/11 | Yes | 930 g | Jul 2020 |
Sources
- canon.co.uk/store/canon-rf-1200mm-f8l-is-usm-lens/5056C005
- personal.canon.jp/product/camera/rf/rf1200-f8l/spec
- faq.canon.jp/app/answers/detail/a_id/103292/~/%E3%80%90%E4%BA%A4%E6%8F%9B%E3%83…
- downloads.canon.com/nw/lens/rf1200-2022/RF1200mm-F8-L-IS-USM_Spec-Sheet.pdf
- corporate.jp.canon/-/media/Project/Canon/CanonJP/Website/corporate/newsrelease/…
- Side view: personal.canon.jp/-/media/Project/Canon/CanonJP/Personal/product/camera/rf/rf12…
- Lens fitted with included ET-160 (W III) and optional ET-160B hoods, maker configuration comparison: store.canon.jp/img/goods/8/5056C001.jpg
- Canon RF1200mm f8L IS USM w short hood, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF1200mm f8L IS USM w short hood.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
- Canon RF1200mm f8L IS USM, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF1200mm f8L IS USM.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
