Suitable SLR Body for EF 500MM

Currently I have chosen to make use of Canon EOS 7D along with CANON EF 500MM F/4L IS II USM LENS . But not sure if this is the best body that suits with this . This is the retailers specification ( http://www.smifu.com/canon-ef-500mm-f4-usm-ii.html ) given about this lens. Can anyone suggest regards the SLR Body to be used along with this lens, also a advice or suggestion regards to photography using this lens are welcome.

What are you shooting? Do you need the extra "reach" given by the crop factor of APS-C or APS-H? Will you be using the series III teleconverters?  If you are a birder, I might suggest a good used copy of the 1D4 (which has more volts to power the lens AF), or a good used copy of the 7D. Then when the 7D2 comes out late this year (supposedly), you might buy it for the expected better image quality in comparison to 7D original.

If you can get enough subject magnification using a FF camera, the 1DX is the best action camera out there for Canon. 12 FPS! Focus on the 5D3 is said to be equally good, although the frame rate is slower.

Are you hand-holding it? Does the weight of the camera body matter?

I am a birder and I am awaiting the 7D2 to match with my "toy lens" 400mm f/5.6L, currently paired with the 60D. The toy lens and APS-C camera are capable of excellent hand-held image quality, and I barely notice that I have the camera when I am hiking - combo is 2kg.

The 7D is highly recommended by many birders, who also highly recommend the 500mm f/4. The combination gives some really stunning images that I have seen. Hopefully a 7D II will come out at some point in the near future (though nobody has heard a peep about this from Canon!) and that would be basically the ideal camera for birding, given that the image quality is bound to improve while retaining the crop factor.

Both the 7D and 1D IV will perform admirably, and neither will let you down. It's a matter of weighing up the other factors that come with the cameras.

Regardless which body you mount on the EF 500mm f/4 L IS mkI or mmii, you will be greatly satisfied with the images as these lens have a magic to them in the wildlife territory. They have the ability to suck in light that will blow you away. Of course you should consider how you will use it, and for that i strongly recommend a good gimbal head on a stable tripod. May i suggest the acclaimed Wimberley II. You'll find that setup on nearly all heavy lens regardless of the brand of the camera. If you intent to use that setup handheld, you should work on your technique a bit as it can be heavy at times and require some learning, and some muscle workout... The IS is great but will not compensate every user shake.
As for cameras, I personally use 1Dx or 5DIII but used to use a 1D4 with great satisfaction.
If you need extra reach, the TC 1.4 III or TC 2.0 are meant to be the perfect match for the 500mm. You could use that setup with EOS 7D or 70D if you need stellar function and fast image rate. But that lens is not only all about speed, it is about bokeh too. You can use it wide open and still get some incredible shots.

I have covered mine with lens coat to protect it from scratches in the wild. You may also look out for aquatech lens cover for the front optic.

It is a very addictive lens

Enjoy and show some images once you've got it running !!!

Billy2128 wrote:

Currently I have chosen to make use of Canon EOS 7D along with CANON EF 500MM F/4L IS II USM LENS . But not sure if this is the best body that suits with this . This is the retailers specification ( http://www.smifu.com/canon-ef-500mm-f4-usm-ii.html ) given about this lens. Can anyone suggest regards the SLR Body to be used along with this lens, also a advice or suggestion regards to photography using this lens are welcome.

it's old and a 7D II will probably appear the second your return period expires. I would probably match this lens to no less than a 5D3. Are you buying the 7D used?