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Lens Debate – Canon 500mm, 600mm or 800mm?

June 24, 2009 By 1 Comment

Canon 500mm f 4.0 LL IS LensFor about 6 months now, I’ve wanted a long lens….one that will get me tack sharp images of birds and wildlife.

If i had $12K laying around as pocket change (or I was a professional photographer), I’d buy the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Super Telephoto Lens big boy lens.

But alas…I don’t have the cash laying around for that one.   Even if I did, I’d not use it enough to get the real use out of it.

So…what’s an amateur photographer who wants the longest reach he can get supposed to do?  Write a blog post about his options I guess :)

What are my options?  Well…I’ve already determined that I want to stay in the Canon “L” Prime lens family. Tamron and Sigma make good stuff but I’ve tired them and gone back to Canon “L” lenses.  I’m a poor enough photographer that the glass DOES make a difference :)

Options:

I’ve also been flirting with the idea of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Lens for ~$4000. Add a 2x teleconverter to this lens and you’ve got a 600mm f/5.6. not bad for $4000 + 2xTC.  I’m leaning away from this lens due to other reviews but it might give me the most range.  a 300mm and a 600mm lens just by remove the TC.

What to do? What to do?

Now…before you go thinking that I’ve got a ton of money laying around…I don’t.  I’m saving up some cash to make my next purchase. Currently, I’m leaning toward the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens mainly due to cost but my longer term plan is to pick up the EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Lens.

It will be either one of these lenses or another camera body (either the Canon EOS 5D Mark II or the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III. :) I just can’t make up my mind :)

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  • http://www.theroguewoman.com Rogue Woman

    I have the 100-400 lens and was debating in the same boat as you; the 400,500 or 600. In the end i am going with the 500mm. The ease of mobility and cost being my two top requirements after the fact that I refuse to not get a L lens. So if you want my vote the 500 is the way to go. Getting the 400 does not make sence, you already have that with the 100-400, not prime I know but you need that extra reach. I already bought the 2x teleconverter and the gitzo tripod and whimberly head. Now to save save save.
    My recent post Camera Gear – The 2x Tele-converter