topic Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM in EF & RF Lenses

Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

DPS — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 17:24:52 GMT

Hi, I am shooting with a Canon RP. I bought the RF 600 mm F11 IS STM lens because I do a lot of wild photography.

I have found that the minimum focal distance for the lens is rather large an I have difficulty shooting small birds. If I go close to the small bird, the lens will not be able to focus. If I for far enough from the subject, so that the camera can focus, the subject appears too small and the focus is not so good. Yes, I see photographers using 600 mm lenses (prime, the L series) a lot. Is it possible to use the RF 600 mm F11 for small objects, or is it only for bigger objects because the the minimal focusing distance issues? I am well aware of the price difference and of the difference in the minimal focus distance that brings along with it. I am asking, because I am thinking of selling the lens in and buying an RF 100-400 mm instead, which allows me to get much closer to the subject.

Thank you

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 19:05:16 GMT

The minimum focusing distance for your lens is 14.8 ft. The $13000 EF 600mm f/4L has a minimum focusing distance of 13.8 ft.

There is a limit to what a focusing system can do. You may be at that limit.

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

rs-eos — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 19:10:32 GMT

I'll try to do some math later, but if moving to a 100-400mm, the angle of view (even at 400mm) will be greater than what you have with the 600mm. I don't know if the shorter focusing distance would full compensate for that.

i.e. at the end of the day, how much of the sensor can you fill with an object when both lenses are at their minimum focusing distance.

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

rs-eos — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 20:26:57 GMT

No math to share, but I just did a simulation in my 3D software. Positioned 400mm and 600mm cameras at their minimum focusing distance away from a 10 cm cube using a full-frame camera. The 400mm was able to fill the frame substantially more than the 600mm due to the much shorter minimum focusing distance.

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

MikeSowsun — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 22:18:03 GMT

Here are a couple of charts from The-Digital-Picture showing the Maximum Magnification of various tele lenses. The RF 600mm f/11 is the worst of the bunch. The RF 100-400 is the best of the bunch.

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

FloridaDrafter — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 02:05:53 GMT

@DPS wrote:
"I am thinking of selling the lens in and buying an RF 100-400 mm instead, which allows me to get much closer to the subject."

My wife and I shoot a lot of small birds, flowers, and insects. I do like a little reach, so I use an RF 100-500mm L on my R5, but it has close focusing abilities, roughly 4' at 500mm. My wife uses the RF 100-400 on her R6 and it works well from 3.5' to 60' on the 20mp R6 when shooting smaller birds like warblers. The RF 100-400 has excellent IQ, but the R6 is a really nice camera, so it may contribute to the quality images.

Here are some examples from the RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM on the EOS R6 taken by my wife. They were shot Raw, edited in DPP 4, cropped and reduced for the forum. All at 400mm.

1/320th, f/14, ISO 3200, distance = 4'.

Black and Red Paper Wasp.

1/400th, f/8, ISO 1600, distance - 7'.

Carolina Wren.

1/500th, f/8, ISO 2500, distance 60'.

Fish Crow.

1/500th, f/8, ISO 2500, distance = 30'.

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk.

1/400th, f/8, ISO 2000, distance 6'.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Newton

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

Wandalynn — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 02:42:30 GMT

It depends on what you mainly shoot. I went with the 100-400 because I like to photograph small things like butterflies and dragonflies, and the 3-foot MFD on the 100-400 is perfect for me. I rarely have the opportunity to photograph birds because the birds around my house tend to stay high in the trees or are very skittish. If I know I'm going to a birdy place, then I take along my 1.4x extender. The extender makes only the smallest difference in the MFD.

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

DPS — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 17:26:23 GMT

Oh, thank you SO much! That is really helpful. I was suspecting that this would be the case. Thank you for doing this!

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

DPS — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 17:27:29 GMT

Thank you so much Mike. Yes, I will go ahead and sell it and get the 100-400mm. I was happy when it first came out but the lens has so many limitations!

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

DPS — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 17:29:34 GMT

Thank you so much for the thoughtful answer and the examples. Yes, I am sure that my RP camera has its own limitations added to those of the lens. Thanks again. I love the family of photographers. People are so helpful.

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

DPS — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 17:31:25 GMT

Thank you W. I do shoot birds a lot but also squirrels, butterflies, dragonflies etc However, most of the time the birds are near me, because we live in the city. I had not appreciated the mfd issue with the 600 mm lens well enough when I bought it, but in the field it has been a real impediment for subjects near me.

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

DPS — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 17:32:46 GMT

Ricky, thank you for doing some math and 3D stimulation. The technical aspect of photography is not my forte, so I appreciate it doubl-y....I love that the family of photographers is so amazing and supportive!

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

JoeySnaps — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:35:57 GMT

The 600mm f/11 lens does have drawbacks, and the MFD is one of them. I have its 800mm brother and the MFD is even longer on that one. It comes into its own when you just can't get close to your subject so the MFD isn't an issue. Skittish wildlife is an example, of course.

I have had the RF 100-400mm lens, which focuses amazingly close, and I've now replaced that with the RF 100-500 L lens which focuses similarly close. All of these lenses can be used with extenders to get a bit more reach if you need it, of course.

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

kvbarkley — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 13:10:36 GMT

Do you have the focus limiter on?

Re: Minimum Focusing Distance Question about Canon RF 600 mm F11 IS STM

JoeySnaps — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:50:17 GMT

Minimum focus distance on the 600mm f/11 is 4.5M, with the focus limiter switched in the closest it will focus is 12M. The 800mm lens MFD is 6M and the focus limiter makes it 20M. The 100-400 and 100-500 lenses will focus to around 1M.