Canon RF 600mm F4 L IS USM
Launch MSRP
$12,999- Weight
- 3,090g
- Filter
- —
- Min focus
- 4.20m
- Max mag.
- 0.15×
- Formula
- 17E / 13G
- Released
- 2021
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x Fluorite
- 1x Super UD
- ASC
- Fluorine Coating
- Aperture range
- f/4 — f/32
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 3,090g
- ⌀ × length
- 168.0 × 472.0mm
- Filter
- —
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Optical
- Teleconverter
- 1.4x · 2.0x
- AF speed score
- 9.4 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 4.20m
- Max magnification
- 0.15× (1:6.7)
Optical character
Canon's RF 600mm f/4 carries over the optical design of the EF 600mm f/4L IS III: 17 elements in 13 groups, with two fluorite elements and one Super UD element to hold down colour fringing. Canon added Air Sphere Coating against ghosting, and the barrel gains a section at the mount roughly the depth of the EF-EOS R adapter. At 3090g it is aimed at professional sports and wildlife photographers.
On the RF mount the IS is rated at 5.5 stops, half a stop more than the EF version, with three modes. Canon says the revised aperture drive allows 30 fps electronic-shutter bursts with AF/AE tracking on the EOS R3, and video aperture changes in 1/8-stop steps. The Ring USM drive, focus preset, four lens function buttons and white heat-shield coating come from the EF lens. The RF 1.4x and 2x extenders keep AF and IS working at 840mm f/5.6 and 1200mm f/8. Filters go in a 52mm drop-in holder at the rear.
Reviewer consensus
We summarise professional reviews only after reading at least two independent ones. Not enough have been published or verified for this lens yet.
Owner sentiment
Owner reviews on retail listings are few but uniformly top-rated. Buyers call it the best super-telephoto Canon makes and describe it as light, fast and sharp for a lens of this class.
The only reservation they raise is the price, which they accept as the cost of a flagship lens. The available owner reports are short and do not cover long-term durability or use with the extenders.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +2 fluorite + 1 Super UD elements for low colour fringing
- +5.5-stop IS with three modes
- +Keeps AF and IS with RF 1.4x and 2x extenders
- +Focus preset and four lens function buttons
- +Weather sealed, fluorine coating front and rear
Weaknesses
- −$12,999 launch price
- −Same optics as the EF 600mm f/4L IS III
- −Longer than the EF version by about the depth of the mount adapter
- −Drop-in filters only (52mm)
Six-axis rating
Ratings are published once at least two independent professional reviews have been read.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Canon RF · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 600mm |
| Category | Super-Telephoto |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32 |
| Construction | 17 elements in 13 groups |
| Special elements | 2x Fluorite · 1x Super UD · ASC · Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Ring USM |
| Minimum focus | 4.20m |
| Max magnification | 0.15× |
| Stabilisation | Optical |
| Teleconverters | 1.4x, 2.0x |
| Weight | 3,090g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 168.0 × 472.0mm |
| Filter thread | None |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Launch MSRP | $12,999 USD |
Sources
Verified against the pages below. Specifications come from the manufacturer; summaries only reflect reviews and owner reports we actually read.
Specifications
- canon.com.cn/product/rf600f4lisusm/spec.html
- global.canon/en/c-museum/product/rf507.html
- store.hk.canon/en/products/rf600mm-f4-l-is-usm
Launch price
- canonrumors.com/canon-officially-announced-the-rf-400mm-f-2-8l-is-usm-and-r
Professional reviews
- digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/canon-rf-600mm-f-4l-is-usm-review
Owner reports
- amazon.com/dp/B091RL6FL3
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSRF 600mm F4 L IS USM vs RF 600mm F11 IS STM
- VSRF 600mm F4 L IS USM vs RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- VSRF 600mm F4 L IS USM vs RF 800mm F11 IS STM
- Canon
RF 600mm F11 IS STM
600mmF11- WT
- 930g
- FLT
- ⌀82mm
- MFD
- 4.50m
- MSRP
- $700
AFSTAB - Canon
RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
200–800mmF6.3–9- WT
- 2,050g
- FLT
- ⌀95mm
- MFD
- 0.80m
- MSRP
- $1,899
AFSTABWR - Canon
RF 800mm F11 IS STM
800mmF11- WT
- 1,260g
- FLT
- ⌀95mm
- MFD
- 6.00m
- MSRP
- $900
AFSTAB
