Conclusion

The Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM follows exactly the same blueprint as the RF 800mm lens that we recently reviewed - it's just even smaller, shorter, lighter and less expensive whilst offering an additional stop of stabilisation and the ability to focus more closely. If 800mm is too much focal length for, then Canon still have your back with the 600mm version.

What's not to like about a stabilized 600mm prime lens for full-frame cameras that is light enough to use hand-held, compact enough to travel with, focuses quickly and quietly with the minimum of fuss, blurs backgrounds with pleasing bokeh effects, and costs less than £$850?

Well, there's no getting away from that fixed f/11 aperture which limits its use to either bright conditions or high ISO speeds (or sometimes both), the lack of any kind of weather-sealing at all may well put off more hard-core users, the tripod mount can't be rotated from landscape to portrait position, there could be some question marks over the long-term durability of the retractable design, and the essential lens hood is unfortunately an expensive optional accessory.

All in all, 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.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4.5
Features	4
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	4
Value for money	5