After a delay because of the ineptness of Fedex who destroyed the shipping label, I got my RF200-800 on Jan 10, 2024.
As for Canon's ability to find a product that will fit a need and sell very well, probably more than you may think, I might agree with the pick of #1 for 2023 due the creation of the lens.
I would not pick it as #1 as the best, that may be the 24-105 f/2.8 or the 100-300 f/2.8, I don't know, I don't own either.
Immediately following my possession of this gem, we were hit with 60+ mph and up winds which took down trees in my yard, so that took precedence and then this past weekend, 3-4 feet of snow and a driving ban. So, I have only been able to take 17 photos with it, on nothing of importance, lacking color in the snows and white outs.
I can say it does focus very fast and welcoming accurate. I had to shoot at 1000 ISO due to no sunlight help and F9 is a NON-ISSUE.
I wish all of those here and on youtube who poo-poo it and Canon for making it would A. Buy it with their own money, and B. Use it like it is worth the hype and desire or reasoning you bought it with.
I claimed before I had the 800mm f/11 and the ability to zoom 200 and out and use any aperture available I wished for made it a 1 second decision to replace the 800mm. With little to show off or prove my claims, it is well worth it, and will sit nicely with all my other lenses in my home.