Better than I'd hoped

dcstep wrote:

I finally replaced my Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM with the Series II version of the lens. I'd borrowed one from Canon Professional Services back in 2012, but I used it mostly with a 1D X body that I'd also borrowed from CPS. I knew right off that I had to have the 1.5-lbs weight savings and the improved IS that allowed me to hand hold a 1000mm moon shot at 1/40-sec.

What I didn't see in those images was a major improvement in image quality compared to my Series I version. Maybe it was because I was using an unfamiliar body. When I received my Series II version, I'd been using my Series I lens for between 10,000 and 20,000 shots on my Canon 7D MkII body. I thought that my results had been very good, but the Contrast and Colors from the Series II noticeably POPPED when I made the switch. I simply had not thought that much improvement was possible.

I shoot mainly hand-held birds and wildlife, so the stunning IQ of the 500/f4 II combined with the small pixel-pitch of the 7D2 is giving me eye popping fur and feather details. Contrast and color are perfect and it doesn't seem to matter what aperture that I use. (I used to notice a significant improvement going to f/8.0 with my Series I, but now it doesn't seem to matter at all, other than DOF changes.

congrats on your new 500 f4.0II lens. the IQ in the new generation is probably small incremental but considering how good the series1 was i am sure it was not easy for canon engineers to make even that small amount of IQ change. the biggest improvement, aside from the optical IQ, in my opinion is the weight reduction in series2! i can imagine that the new canon 7D2 and the 500 f4.0II make an excellent couple i thought long about getting the 500 f4.0II but the reach wasn't enough for me. so i opted for the 600 f4.0II and i mount it on my 1dmk4, they too make a nice couple most of the time even 600mm is not enough reach for small birds so i almost always have my 1,4xIII TC attached to the lens and i notice that IQ really doesn't surprisingly take that much of a hit. good luck with your new lens and happy zooming

syd