Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM

Features

Overview: The Canon RF600mm f/4 L IS USM is a super-telephoto lens made for Canon's EOS R Series cameras. It has the same optical design as the EF600mm f/4 IS III USM lens, introduced in late 2018 for Canon EOS cameras. The RF600mm lens is ideal for sports, wildlife, and other long-distance photography. Its Optical Image Stabilization works with EOS R series cameras to provide up to 5.5 stops of stabilization. The lens comes with a removable tripod mount, a slip-over lens cap, and a lens hood.

Canon L Series: The RF600mm f/4 L IS USM is part of Canon's L-series lenses, which can be quickly identified by the red stripe around the end of the lens. Many L-series models also have white bodies. Canon L lenses typically have wide apertures and a rugged build quality. Image quality is quite good, with excellent contrast, sharpness, color, and bokeh (background blur).

Lens Construction: The lens is constructed of 17 lens elements in 13 groups, including one Super UD and two Fluorite elements. The lens features Canon's Super Spectra Coating (SSC) which helps maintain overall image quality and color fidelity. In addition, its has an Air Sphere Coating (ASC) for reducing the occurrence of lens flare and ghosting. The front and rear elements also feature a specially-designed fluorine coating. The coating prevents water, oil, and other surface residue from sticking to the lens. RF-series lenses have a large 54mm lens mount, with large diameter elements to give you brilliant images with minimal light fallout.

USM: The RF600mm lens is equipped with a Nano USM (Ultrasonic Motor) auto focus motor, which quickly and quietly auto focus on fast moving subjects. Focus tracking is more accurately captured as well.

12-pin Communication: The Canon RF-series lenses feature a 12-pin communication system between the camera and the lens (compared to 8 pins for the EF-series). This 12-pin system is the fastest available for a Canon lens and camera combination, and provides faster AF, Image Stabilization, Digital Lens Optimizer, and more. In addition, the EOS R camera can display lens information directly to the viewfinder, making it easy to confirm the lens' focal length without looking away from your subject.

Focus Mode Switch: The lens has a 3-way Focus Mode switch that lets you choose between Auto Focus (AF), Power Focus (PF), and Manual Focus (MF). During Auto Focus, you can temporarily stop auto focusing by pressing and holding one of the two AF Stop buttons. To resume AF, simply release the AF Stop button. When Power Focus is selected, you can turn the playback ring to change the focus smoothly. This is helpful for changing focus when shooting movies. In MF mode, the focus is set by turning the focus ring.

Manual Focus Speed: The Manual Focus Speed switch lets you select from three speeds, labeled 1, 2, and 3. Speed 1 is the fastest, with 2 and 3 being progressively slower. Speed 3 is recommended for fine focusing. To enable switching with the manual focus speed switch, you must set the attached camera to "Linked to Rotation Degree" setting. When the MF focus ring sensitivity setting is set to "Varies with rotation speed", switching with the Manual Focus Speed switch is disabled.

Focus Preset: The Focus Preset feature lets you quickly select between one or two memorized focus distances. You can focus upon and memorize two separate distances, then choose between them by twisting the playback ring. For example, you can choose a closeup distance and a distance further away and quickly switch between them with a slight turn of the ring.

Focusing Distance Range: You can narrow the focusing distance range using the 3-way range selector switch. The available ranges include: Full (2.5m-to-∞), 2.5m-to-7m, or 7m-to-∞. Narrowing the focusing distance range can result in faster focusing by preventing the lens from focusing on a subject at an inintended distance.

Image Stabilizer (IS): The RF600mm lens features Optical Image Stabilization (IS) when mounted to a Canon EOS R series camera, and provides up to 5.5 stops of shake correction. Three Image Stabilization modes can be selected using the switch on the lens barrel. The IS modes include:

• Mode 1: Uses for shooting still subjects, Mode 1 provides excellent results in semi-darkened areas, such as indoors, or outdoors at night. It can also be used where a flash cannot be used, such as museums and theater stages. It corrects vibrations in all directions.
• Mode 2: IS Mode 2 is best for shooting moving subjects, including panning shots of vehicles or trains. It corrects vibrations for vertical or horizontal panning shots.
• Mode 3: Mode 3 should be used when shooting irregularly moving subjects, such as animals, or for sports photography where you cannot anticipate the subject's movements.

Lens Hood: The optional ET-160(WIII) lens hood cuts out unwanted light that can cause flare and ghosting, and protects the front of the lens from rain, snow, and dust. The lens hood slips onto the end of the lens and locks into place by twisting the hood lock knob. When not in use, the lens hood can be reverse-mounted on the lens for storage.

Security Slot: The RF600mm lens is equipped with a security slot that works with commercially-available wire-type security locks. The security slot is located on the cover for the orientation locking knob.

Optional Drop-in Filters: The RF600mm lens comes with the Canon Drop-in Filter Holder 52(WIII), with Canon's PROTECT filter. Commercially available screw-type filters (52mm) will fit into the holder, and drop in, facing in either direction. If an optional filter is not needed, the PROTECT filter should be installed in the holder and inserted into the lens.

Optional Extenders: The lens is compatible with the Canon RF1.4x and RF2x extenders which give you the following specifications:

Specifications:

• Focal Length: 600mm
• Maximum Aperture: f/4
• Minimum Aperture: f/32
• Maximum Magnification: 0.15x
• Aperture Design: 9-blade circular
• Angle of View:
  • Horizontal: 3° 30'
  • Vertical: 2° 20'
  • Diagonal: 4° 10'
• Lens Construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
• Filter Diameter: 52mm (drop-in)
• Minimum Focus Distance: 13.78 feet (165.36")
• Dimensions: Diameter 6.6", Length 18.6"
• Weight: 108.8 ounces (6.8 pounds)