Is a Canon RF 200-500mm f/5.6L IS USM a possibility?
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Yep, that is a PF lens. The Canon RF 800 f/11 is as well and also much less expensive than you might expect for its reach and size. The Nikon is 1-2/3 stops faster and has an iris for 5x the price. Seems consistent with what you would expect given the cube law scaling of mass that occurs with increased aperture in telephotos.
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I think someone in this thread mentioned a 200-500mm f/5.6 with a built in 1.4x TC. I have to say that would be attractive depending on size/weight I think. That would give you a 700mm f/6.3 with the TC engaged which would be nice. I think I would buy it in that case, but just a 200-500mm f/5.6 would not interest me too much. Maybe if it was somehow a HUGE step up in quality from the 100-500 but I doubt that would be the case.
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A 200-500mm f/5.6 with the 1.4x TC engaged would be a 700mm f8, not f6.3. I hope that doesn’t dampen your enthusiasm
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It might sound silly, but I know someone who primarily shoots Canon but they did purchase the Z8 and 800 mm f6.3 PF lens. An excellent setup for small birds / mammals.
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Several differences here. The EF 400 DO II is all metal and the Nikon 800 PF is largely plastic, but the big difference is the change in DO/PF technology between 2014 and 2022. The RF 600 f/11 and 800 f/11 are very inexpensive and quite good. The much earlier EF 70-300 DO was pretty expensive at introduction and not all that great optically (I have one). The quality got better with the original 400 DO and much better with the 400 DO II, but the cost was still high. The RF 600 and 800 f/11 are minimalist, but optically quite decent. Most importantly, the price is hugely lower. Now if we look at the metal vs plastic issue, the RF 200-800 is a very good lens and by Canon standards quite cheap for what it is, and it is not DO, but the it is made of engineered plastic.
Nikon has pushed the envelope with PF lenses at higher price and performance points, but the trend is still there. If Canon decides to make a higher end DO Telephoto, I suspect it will be quite competitive with what Nikon is offering.
For reference, I also have an EF 800 f/5.6 and it is still hard to beat after more than a decade, but the first real element (behind the protective glass) is a huge chunk of fluorite and that is what made it so expensive.
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At this stage of the RF lens lineup, the only two additional lenses that I am considering are a fast super telephoto zoom (e.g. 200-500 f4) and a DO super telephoto lens that is lightweight (e.g. 400-500 mm DO f4-f5). It will be interesting to see what lenses Canon releases in 2025 and beyond.
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Not silly at all.... if you have the disposable income and can justify (in your own mind) the usefulness of a specific combo in a difference ecosystem then all power to them. At least you wouldn't need to worry about the zoom ring direction as the 800/6.3 PF is a prime.
Similarly, If you are running a business and a combo from another ecosystem covers the cost with sufficient profit from sales then go for it.
Canon doesn't have options for wide/fast primes on FF so not ideal for wide angle astro. The fastest Canon is f2.8 which is reasonable but can't compete with an A7Siii with either 14/1.8 or 14/1.4 from Sigma giving either a 1 1/3 or 2 stop advantage in either acquisition time or ISO reduction.
The best option are the obsolete Siggy EF20/1.4 and/or the venerable Samyang 14/2.8 (or f2.4).
I can't justify the Sony setup for what I do but I am sure that some people would be able to.
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I wish they would make a 100-300 lens that was not as large or as expensive as the one they have now. F4 would work well for it. I may pick up a 1.4 extender and just use my 70-200Z and get the same zoom to see how well it works.
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The 70-200Z looks pretty nice with extenders https://www.the-digital-picture.com...meraComp=979&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=0
Good enough to make a 100-300 f/4 redundant. Even with 2x extender it is very good.
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