Canon L IS USM 1200mm
Combining a 1200mm f/8 constant aperture with 4-stop image stabilization and full weather sealing, this lens offers extreme telephoto reach in a durable package. At 3311g, it’s relatively portable for its class, and fluorite plus Super UD elements deliver high contrast and sharpness even wide open. Best for professional wildlife and sports photographers who require autofocus and stabilization to capture distant, fast-moving subjects.
Focal length 1200mm
Aperture f/8
Mount Canon RF
stabilization Yes
Weather Sealed Yes
Weight 3340 g
af type Autofocus
lens type super-telephoto
45 Overall Score
Price CA$31,109
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong optical (97th percentile) 97th
- Strong stabilization (93th percentile) 93th
Cons
- Below average build (6th percentile)
- Below average social proof (7th percentile)
- Below average macro (17th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews — so you can see whether early praise held up.
Owner sentiment has improved over time
Based on 9 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 1200 |
| Focal Length Max | 1200 |
| Elements | 26 |
| Groups | 18 |
| ED Elements | 2 |
| Coating | Super Spectra Coating, Fluorine Coating, ASC |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/8 |
| Min Aperture | f/64 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Canon RF |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 kg / 7.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 52 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 4300 |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Canon L IS USM 1200mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR | Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 | Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 1200mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-400mm | 50-200mm | 50mm |
| Max Aperture | f/8 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony E | Fuji X | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 3340 | 615 | 92 | 726 | 655 | 369 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | HLA | VXD linear motor | STM | linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | super-telephoto | zoom | zoom | zoom | telephoto | Wide-Angle |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon L IS USM 1200mm | 54.5 | 62.7 | 5.7 | 17 | 97.3 | 61.3 | 34.2 | 7.4 | 92.6 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.5 | 84.3 | 59 | 85.9 | 98.9 | 76.9 | 99.6 | 78 | 99.1 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.3 | 74.9 | 96.6 | 87.7 | 74.6 | 76.9 | 99.2 | 83.1 | 81.3 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Compare | 86.9 | 77.8 | 51.6 | 81.3 | 97 | 71.2 | 98.9 | 83.1 | 98.3 |
| Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 Compare | 98.3 | 86.1 | 55.3 | 23.1 | 95.9 | 83.7 | 88.3 | 65.9 | 96.4 |
| Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime Compare | 86.9 | 96.1 | 63.7 | 95.6 | 39.6 | 92.8 | 34.2 | 50.2 | 81.3 |
Price
Value & Pricing
From CA$31,109
B&H Photo 1 offers From CA$31,109
May 12, 2026 CA$31,109
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
