Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM

A fast 800mm prime telephoto lens that will provide high performance for sports and wildlife photographers.Canon's EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens is a 'big gun' in many ways. Weighing 4.5 kilograms and almost half a metre long with its lens hood attached, it's a challenge to shoot with. However, it also has a maximum aperture of f/5.6, which is outstanding for a lens with such a long focal length. Not unexpectedly, it's priced accordingly at just under $17,000 and comes in a specially-designed, lockable lens case with a contoured interior and Velcro tie-down.

Looking for a Canon 800mm lens review? Read on to find out what we uncovered in our objective optical lab tests.

The arrival of the new Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens was a case of perfect timing as within a few days I’d be on the road for a couple of weeks photographing the abundance of wildlife at the Blackwater Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland. From there I planned to drive to a favorite haunt of mine for some spectacular railroad photography near Sand Patch, Pennsylvania. The last time I used an 800mm lens was Sigma’s offering, which also has a constant aperture of f/5.6 and for the money is one sharp optical product.