Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM
Announced July 9, 2020
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM offers a remarkably lightweight and affordable way to capture distant subjects, making it a compelling choice for hobbyists who prioritize portability. That said, the fixed f/11 aperture demands bright lighting conditions and limits autofocus performance to the center of the frame.
Weighted from 14 reviewer scores
Pros
- Extremely lightweight and compact for a 600mm focal length
- Highly affordable pricing for the reach provided
- Effective optical image stabilization
- Satisfactory image quality and sharpness
- Compatible with RF teleconverters
Cons
- Fixed f/11 aperture limits light intake and autofocus area
- Lack of included lens hood and tripod foot
- Long minimum focusing distance hinders close-up shots
- No weather sealing
- Difficulty tracking moving subjects
- Launch price $699 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 600mm f/11
- Mount & coverage Canon RF Full-Frame
- Stabilization Optical IS, 5 stops (CIPA)
- Close focus (0.14x)
- Filter thread 82mm
- Autofocus motor Stepper motor
- Weight & size 930g (2 lb 0.8 oz) · 93 x 269.5 mm (3.66 x 10.61 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 14 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
Is this product missing a reputable review? Share a link to a review article or YouTube video for consideration.
-
This as something to have in my camera bag, but for most photographers out there, I think you'd actually do better spending more money getting yourself something like a 150-600mm Tamron or Sigma in EF mount and then getting the EF to R adapter.
-
The Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM Lens is a small, light, affordable lens with a long super-telephoto focal length that is ideal for wildlife and big field sports. The narrow aperture is this lens's biggest drawback.
-
Canon’s engineers were willing to overlook a number of typical design conventions and niceties to produce functional telephoto primes with massive reach and good performance at bargain prices.
-
It does have its limitations, but you won't find a much more fun lens for bird watching or going to the beach if you're anything like me and dislike gigantic lenses [...] for the convenience factor.
-
If you’re shooting birds or animals, where distance is a common issue, then the 600mm lens is going to be perfect for you.
-
You can achieve some really nice depth of field shots with this lens, even though it's f/11, if you have enough space to work with it, and that's where this lens lives. Outside on a bright sunny day is where it's going to achieve its best results.
-
[...] though, just like it bigger brother, the Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM is a refreshingly brave attempt to think out of the box and offer something genuinely new and useful.
-
The physically small size and light weight of the lens makes it excellent for handheld shooting and, overall, it’s a great choice for wildlife and sports photography, or any time you can’t get as close to your subject as you might wish.
-
The Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM has a long focal length to bring distant subjects into close view, and is priced low enough for hobbyists to afford.
-
Personally, I think the 600mm lens is really amazing simply because it's so small and lightweight and has a really good price point and delivers good autofocus performance and good enough image quality to make people really happy.
- Photo Review 9/10
The Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM lens has a light weight, effective stabilisation, and an affordable price, making it a ‘no-brainer’ for keen photographers of birds and other types of wildlife.
-
This 600mm is an ultralight way to get a great ultratelephoto at a great price. This is a brilliant lens.
-
In summary the Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM is a remarkably compact and lightweight super telephoto lens, which is perfect for capturing a variety of distant subjects.
-
As far as this lens is concerned, I do recommend it if you are on a strict budget. It is very well built, it is very light, and I think it's an incredible value.
