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Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM

Canon EF Autofocus OIS

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM

Focal length
800 mm
Aperture
f/5.6
Weight
4500 g
Filter diameter
52 mm
Min. focus distance
600 cm
Length
461 mm

At a Glance

With 800 mm of focal length at f/5.6, this Canon EF telephoto prime for full frame is built for maximum reach. It has an optical stabilizer and takes drop-in filters. At 4.5 kg it is heavy, and it focuses down to 6 m. It suits bird and wildlife photography as well as sports, where distant subjects need to fill the frame.

Good for

  • Wildlife
  • Birds
  • Sports

Worth knowing

  • At 4.5 kg it is heavy: a monopod or tripod helps for longer sessions.

Derived from the manufacturer data, not from our own tests. How we check

Technical Specifications

Min. focal length
800 mm
Max. focal length
800 mm
Max. aperture (min. zoom)
f/5.6
Max. aperture (max. zoom)
f/5.6
Min. aperture
f/32
Elements
18
Groups
14
Weight
4,500 g (9.92 lb)
Filter diameter
52 mm
Min. focus distance
600 cm (236.22 in)
Max. magnification
1:7.1 (0.14×)
Length
461 mm (18.15 in)
Diameter
163 mm (6.42 in)
Released
May 2008

Manufacturer data: support.usa.canon.com, canon-europe.com

Last checked: October 13, 2026 (against the manufacturer data) · How we check

Simulate depth of field and angle of view

Compare with other lenses

Which cameras does the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM fit?

The Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM is a full-frame lens for Canon EF cameras. On full-frame bodies it uses the whole sensor; on APS-C Canon EF cameras its field of view equals 1280 mm in full-frame terms.

Canon EF cameras

With the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R the lens can also be used on Canon RF cameras.

With the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS M the lens can also be used on Canon EF-M cameras.

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM compared

Key specs side by side with the most similar Canon EF lenses.

LensCanon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USMSigma 800mm F5.6 EX DG HSMCanon EF 600mm F4L IS III USMCanon EF 600mm f/4.0L IS II USM
Focal length800 mm800 mm600 mm600 mm
Max. aperturef/5.6f/5.6f/4f/4
Weight4,500 g4,900 g3,050 g3,920 g
Filter diameter52 mm46 mm52 mm52 mm
Min. focus distance600 cm700 cm420 cm450 cm
Length461 mm521 mm448 mm448 mm
Autofocusyesyesyesyes
Image stabilizationyesnoyesyes
Open these lenses in the comparison and add more

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM: FAQ

Does the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM have autofocus?

Yes, the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM has autofocus.

Does the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM have image stabilization?

Yes, the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM has optical image stabilization.

How much does the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM weigh?

The Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM weighs 4,500 g. It is 461 mm long with a diameter of 163 mm.

What filter size does the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM use?

The Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM takes 52 mm screw-in filters.

How close can the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM focus?

The minimum focus distance of the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM is 600 cm, measured from the sensor plane.

Is the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM a full-frame lens?

Yes, the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM covers full frame. On APS-C cameras its field of view equals 1280 mm in full-frame terms.

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