Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM

Balooziggy wrote:

Fantastic prime lens, not cheap but Image Quality just blows all alternatives clear out the water, just no comparison whatsoever. If you into photographing wildlife, birds etc. this is the lens to get period. I have a bunch of other canon L series lenses and non impress me as much as this. Fast auto focus, precise quiet workings, build quality is superb and it's weight is manageable for hand held shooting, very versatile and matched with a 1.4XTeleConverter it's reach (700mm) is absolutely tops for most field work. If you still in two minds about this lens, rent one if you can and I guarantee you it's a matter of time and you'll buy one!!!

i was considering getting this lens or the new 200-400+ built in 1.4x tc, or the 600 f4II, i opted for 600 because of the reach. my experience is, when i attach the new 1.4xIII tc  to these new f4 primes, the iq takes a big hit. however, using these tcs with a f2.8 lenses, such as 300 f2.8II and 400 f2.8II, iq almost doesn't change at all the other issue with 500 f4II is that it is not long enough, therefore, the use of dreaded tc but the positive side of this lens is that it is light weight enough to be used handheld. for me, the use of  the new III tcs with the new II big primes are still inconclusive, i will do a filed test real soon and post my findings

cheerz.

Aurangabadkar wrote:

Balooziggy wrote:

Fantastic prime lens, not cheap but Image Quality just blows all alternatives clear out the water, just no comparison whatsoever. If you into photographing wildlife, birds etc. this is the lens to get period. I have a bunch of other canon L series lenses and non impress me as much as this. Fast auto focus, precise quiet workings, build quality is superb and it's weight is manageable for hand held shooting, very versatile and matched with a 1.4XTeleConverter it's reach (700mm) is absolutely tops for most field work. If you still in two minds about this lens, rent one if you can and I guarantee you it's a matter of time and you'll buy one!!!

I agree, it is outstanding in every aspect, be it IQ, AF, use with TCs, build quality etc. Afterall it is to be expected when it is priced that way! But certainly a prized possession Here are a some images for you all from my recent Masai mara trip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40906945@N08/sets/72157635352637446/

those are excellent shot, sanjeev, did you use TC with your lens, or, did you have to crop any of them? do you think a 600 f4II would have been any better than 500 f4II, from the reach point of view? i'd love to go on one of those trip, just a dream at this point but you never know

cheerz.

I am very pleased with the results I get with the 1.4x MKIII on my 500. In fact a TC is on my 500 more often than not.

Aurangabadkar wrote:

Balooziggy wrote:

Fantastic prime lens, not cheap but Image Quality just blows all alternatives clear out the water, just no comparison whatsoever. If you into photographing wildlife, birds etc. this is the lens to get period. I have a bunch of other canon L series lenses and non impress me as much as this. Fast auto focus, precise quiet workings, build quality is superb and it's weight is manageable for hand held shooting, very versatile and matched with a 1.4XTeleConverter it's reach (700mm) is absolutely tops for most field work. If you still in two minds about this lens, rent one if you can and I guarantee you it's a matter of time and you'll buy one!!!

I agree, it is outstanding in every aspect, be it IQ, AF, use with TCs, build quality etc. Afterall it is to be expected when it is priced that way! But certainly a prized possession Here are a some images for you all from my recent Masai mara trip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40906945@N08/sets/72157635352637446/

Great Masai Mara photos! I happen also there in early Sept. I ran 3 sets there, 500L (mark I however) on 5D3, 70-200L II on 1D3 and 24-70L II on 5D2 (for landscape snap).  It's an once a lifetime experience.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55485085@N04/sets/72157635553859863/

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Sanjeev

Tapeman wrote:

I am very pleased with the results I get with the 1.4x MKIII on my 500. In fact a TC is on my 500 more often than not.

Sure I found 500L on 1.4x TC III is still excellent and 500L II should be only slightly better. I am not quite satisfied the lens with 2.0x TC III however. With 1.4x TC III, AF lock on speed is noticeably slower on 5D3 but faster on my 1D3 (due to its more powerful battery).

500L with 1.4x TC III on 1DIII

Aurangabadkar wrote:

Super images thanks for sharing, yes it is a mind blowing experience ! You will love the 500 II even more.

Thanks for your nice words. Oh yeah, 500L II is significantly lighter and much better 'IS'. I got a great bargain of 500L (a story) and cannot justify the cost to upgrade to mark II. The lens sits in closet most times and I only used it occasionally.

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Sanjeev

rebel99 wrote:

i was considering getting this lens or the new 200-400+ built in 1.4x tc, or the 600 f4II, i opted for 600 because of the reach. my experience is, when i attach the new 1.4xIII tc to these new f4 primes, the iq takes a big hit. however, using these tcs with a f2.8 lenses, such as 300 f2.8II and 400 f2.8II, iq almost doesn't change at all

This has been my experience also. Early in the year I bought the 500 f4 II. With the 1.4xIII static shots were very good. But when shooting moving subjects the images were slightly soft. Not real bad, but definitely not what I expect from such an expensive lens. On the other hand, my 300 f2.8 II and 1.4xIII produce fantastic images.

BigBen08 wrote:

rebel99 wrote:

i was considering getting this lens or the new 200-400+ built in 1.4x tc, or the 600 f4II, i opted for 600 because of the reach. my experience is, when i attach the new 1.4xIII tc to these new f4 primes, the iq takes a big hit. however, using these tcs with a f2.8 lenses, such as 300 f2.8II and 400 f2.8II, iq almost doesn't change at all

This has been my experience also. Early in the year I bought the 500 f4 II. With the 1.4xIII static shots were very good. But when shooting moving subjects the images were slightly soft. Not real bad, but definitely not what I expect from such an expensive lens. On the other hand, my 300 f2.8 II and 1.4xIII produce fantastic images.

With 1.4x TC III, AF lock-on speed gets significantly hit with 500L. This is exactly what I experienced in the Jones Beach airshow this year especially with 5D3 (better on 1D3). Sharpness is still good to me with 1.4x TC III on relative still subjects but not with 2.0x TC III.  I tried that combo and had unusual high rate of blur photos.

500L + 1.4x TC III on 5D3

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http://flightlinephotos.smugmug.com
My Sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31267310@N05/sets

qianp2k wrote:

BigBen08 wrote:

rebel99 wrote:

i was considering getting this lens or the new 200-400+ built in 1.4x tc, or the 600 f4II, i opted for 600 because of the reach. my experience is, when i attach the new 1.4xIII tc to these new f4 primes, the iq takes a big hit. however, using these tcs with a f2.8 lenses, such as 300 f2.8II and 400 f2.8II, iq almost doesn't change at all

This has been my experience also. Early in the year I bought the 500 f4 II. With the 1.4xIII static shots were very good. But when shooting moving subjects the images were slightly soft. Not real bad, but definitely not what I expect from such an expensive lens. On the other hand, my 300 f2.8 II and 1.4xIII produce fantastic images.

With 1.4x TC III, AF lock-on speed gets significantly hit with 500L.

I believe that was my problem. I also used the 500 f4 II/1.4xIII combo on aviation - planes flying towards or away from me were the softest.

Aurangabadkar wrote:

My 500 II + 1.4 TC III works very well on my 5D3 with grip, better than 7D with grip. I believe this could be due to the better AF system of 5D3.

I was using my 1D4. Could be that I had some issue with the camera, lens and tc playing well together.