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500mm vs 600mm?

Started Nov 13, 2017 | Questions thread
Colin Franks
Colin Franks Senior Member • Posts: 1,734
Re: 500mm vs 600mm?
5

The new 600 is one sweet lens, but just be sure you're prepared to lug it around. Back in the summer, I talked myself into selling my [previous version] 500 f/4 IS and getting the newer one, mainly due to the lighter weight, although it's only 1.5 lb lighter (not sure how much lighter the new 600 is over the previous 600, but I believe the new 600 is the same weight as the older 500 - 8.5 lbs).

But after I found a buyer for the 500, I suddenly felt uncomfortable letting go of ~$12,000.00 CDN just to get shots of birds I've already got a hundred times already. So I decided to see if I could be happy with the Tamron 150-600 G2 which I also owned (on a 5DIV).

I gotta tell you that my shooting experience has been transformed ever since. I'm way way more agile, maneuverable and adroit not having to move around a big gangly tripod with a big heavy lens, and actually getting more keeper shots as a result. I'm less beat physically at the end of the day, and am enjoying going out shooting now more than before. I never thought this would happen, but that was my experience.

Because I still own the 1.4 III and 2X III extenders, I'm actually trying to sell my Tamron right now in order to get the Canon 100-400 II, as it is sharper. With the 1.4 extender, it's 560mm, and apparently the Tamrons & Sigmas are actually at about that reach anyway, not a true 600mm. I borrowed a friend's 100-400 II, and the focusing was much faster too.

I never thought I'd be considering the 100-400 either, I always felt that it was just not enough reach, but if you put just a little bit of effort into getting closer to the birds, like using a blind for example, the 100-400 (with or without 1.4 extender) can work quite well, in fact, it's an insanely sharp lens. Yes, it's f/8 with the extender, but when close to the birds, even f/8 has a razor-thin DOF.

Is the Tammy just as good a big prime? Not a chance, but there's always trade-offs with anything. Just thought I'd share my journey.

Pacific Wren

Canon 5DIV; Tamron 150-600 G2; f/6.3; ISO 3200; @450mm; -.3 exp; 1/40 sec;  hand-held

 Colin Franks's gear list:Colin Franks's gear list
Sony a1 Sony 2.0x Teleconverter Sony 1.4x Teleconverter Sony FE 600mm F4 Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3
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