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

Eric D. Brown — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:18:54 +0000

For 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:

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Super Telephoto Lens for $1199. This is a great lens that takes a teleconverter well…but I have a 100-400 f4/5.6 already. Still not a bad option.
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for $6800. GREAT lens but heavy and not really much more reach than I have…it takes a 2X teleconverter well though to get up to 800mm.
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for $5800. This is really the direction I’m leaning. a 500mm lens with 2x teleconverter gets me 1000mm This is supposed to one of THE best lenses on the market.
Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for $7600. This lens is an amazing lens but I think is a bit too much length, weight and cost. Great lens though.

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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Photography Minute » Cameras

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

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