Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM

The Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM is a super-telephoto prime lens for Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras. With the longest native focal length in Canon’s lineup, a lightweight and weather-sealed L-series build, up to 4 stops of Optical Image Stabilization, and advanced autofocus, this lens is designed for professional wildlife, sports, astrophotography, and specialized commercial applications. Unicorn Films offers this lens for rental to creators seeking legendary reach and optical quality in a surprisingly portable design.

Available Coupons🏷️

About This Product

The Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM redefines what is possible for super-telephoto photography and video. Available from Unicorn Films, this native RF prime lens brings a spectacular 1200mm reach with a relatively compact and lightweight construction (just 3,340 grams), making it viable for handholding or monopod use on field assignments like never before. Advanced engineering delivers superior sharpness, controlled chromatic aberration, and superb color fidelity across every frame.

Unmatched Reach, Lightweight Form: Offers 1200mm native focal length, ideal for distant wildlife, birding, sports, surveillance, and space or aviation projects. Its body is 13kg lighter and 30cm shorter than historic EF super-telephoto predecessors, transforming ultra-long lens fieldwork.
Premium L-Series Optical System: Uses two fluorite, one Super UD, and one UD element to all but eliminate chromatic aberration and fringing, delivering crisp detail and accurate color at extreme distances.
4-Stop Optical Image Stabilizer: Provides robust shake correction for stills and video, essential when shooting handheld or tracking unpredictable, faraway subjects. The IS is fully integrated and offers up to 4 stops of compensation.
Dual Nano USM Autofocus: Advanced ring USM drive delivers quiet, high-speed, precise AF performance, complemented by two focus pre-sets, a focus limiter, and manual override tailored for fast-moving action and responsive operation in the wild.
Enhanced Close-Up Capability: Minimum focusing distance is 4.3 meters, letting you shoot larger subjects or creative close shots at this extreme focal length.
Professional Build and Handling: Magnesium alloy construction, robust weather sealing, heat-resistant white coating, and fluorine protection on the outer glass ensure reliability for long outdoor shoots or tough rental cycles.
Versatile Accessories and Compatibility: Drop-in 52mm rear filter capability, tripod collar, detachable lens hood, and compatibility with RF 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, pushing your reach as far as 2400mm with maintained AF support.
Custom Controls for Field Use: Three custom IS modes, programmable AF stop buttons, and a customizable torque-adjustable focus ring make operation intuitive and adaptable during action or static scenes.

Rent the Canon RF 1200mm F8L IS USM from Unicorn Films and access the ultimate in super-telephoto imaging perfect for rare wildlife, distant sports, events, science, and creative assignments pushing your gear to the limit.

Product Features

Feature	Description	Benefit
Focal Length	1200mm (native)	Ultimate long-distance subject capture
Maximum Aperture	f8	Bright enough for distant, dynamic scenes
Optical Construction	26 elements in 18 groups; 2 fluorite, 1 Super UD, 1 UD glass	Sharpness, minimal aberration or distortion
Image Stabilization	4-stop Optical IS; three modes	Handheld and monopod shooting reliability
Autofocus Motor	Ring-type USM with electronic manual override	Fast, silent, and precise AF
Minimum Focus Distance	4.3 meters	Close-up versatility at immense reach
Maximum Magnification	0.29x	Strong close-up ability for macro-style long shots
Diaphragm	9-blade rounded	Smooth background blur and bokeh
Filter Size	52mm drop-in (rear mount)	ND, polarizer, and effect filter support
Length & Weight	Approx. 432 mm length; 3,340g	Lightest ever for its class
Accessory Package	Tripod collar, lens hood, lens cap, case	Full pro setup, ready for rental
Weather Resistance	Sealed structure, fluorine coated elements	Confidence for outdoor, wildlife, travel rental
Mount Compatibility	Canon RF mount	Works natively with EOS R-series
Teleconverter Compatibility	RF 1.4x & 2.0x	Extend reach to 2400mm with maintained AF
Special Features	Spherical aberration correction glass, custom preset focus recall, focus limiter	Adaptable, fine-tuned operation in any setting

Frequently asked questions

What makes the RF 1200mm significantly lighter than older super-telephoto primes?

Canon reengineered the lens by placing the magnification optics near the camera mount rather than in the front, combined with new lightweight materials, reducing the size and weight by almost 13kg and 30cm compared to legacy EF 1200mm models.

How effective is autofocus performance at such extreme reach, especially with teleconverters attached?

Autofocus is fast and accurate on Dual Pixel CMOS AF Canon RF cameras, even with Extender RF 1.4x (giving 1680mm) or Extender RF 2x (up to 2400mm). The focus area remains high (up to 80% coverage), making this lens practical for sports and wildlife subjects that move unpredictably.

What stabilization modes assist shooters at super-long focal lengths?

Three different IS modes cover general stills, panning for moving subjects, and exposure-only mode for specialized applications. The lens’s stabilization is optimized for field use, but does not use IBIS coordination due to the optical design.

Why is the minimum focus distance (4.3 meters) valuable at 1200mm?

This unusually close focus at such a long focal length allows creative close-ups and detail-driven work on subjects that would be unreachable for most other lenses—ideal for shooting small, well-protected wildlife, specialized sports, or remote events.

How durable is the Canon RF 1200mm for on-location use?

With full weather sealing, fluorine coating, and heat-resistant paint, the RF 1200mm handles rain, dust, and sun, making it practical for rental clients tackling field assignments, safaris, and environmental extremes.