First Shots with my new 600mm f/4 L lens.

[Canon_Bob]

Hi All,

Finally got my "Big Glass" setup, and got the opportunity to start using it yesterday. Took it kind of easy, and just wanted to get a feel and experiment with it. The images of the spoonbill below are a real testament to the quality of this lens. This shot was taken HAND HELD! I wanted to see if the IS was any good on this lens or not. Suffice it to say, I'm convinced. This is a VERY sweet lens. It will take me some time to get familiar with it (as it is with any new lens). The biggest challenge right now is the very different DOF on this beast. it is very tight when up close. I will definitely need to develop a "feel" for it. The only PP work below was sensor dust removal, and obviously the crop on the second one. The sharpness you see is all from the lens.

Here is the uncropped image:



And here is just a head crop (but still quite large - about 4.5mp:

[SenorNikonMan]

Wow!!! That was handheld? That is very sharp! I am very impressed!!!

[mn shutterbug]

Absolutely stunning.

[Dylan8i]

wow! bet your going to have fun with that lense.... i'm jealous

[SmartWombat]

You convinced me
I just missed one on ebay for £2800 ($5600) and I'm annoyed I missed the final bid.
Maybe I could have got it for only £200 more ...

[Alison]

WOW! I want one lol

[Knight]

Very impressive Bob , cant wait to see more

[scott-devon]

That is a very impressive result! I'll be looking forward to your shots with this lens.

[Canon_Bob]

You convinced me
I just missed one on ebay for £2800 ($5600) and I'm annoyed I missed the final bid.
Maybe I could have got it for only £200 more ...

I looked for a long time for a used one, and the only ones I could find were the NON-IS version. Typical price was around $4800.00. $5600.00 for the IS version would have been a great price! The IS adds about 2k to this lens, but there are really none to be found!

Typical new prices (street) were $7000.00 to $7200.00 ($200.00 difference for grey market - which I avoid).

The other considerable expense with this beast is the transport and support systems. Plan on spending at least $2000.00 more for that if you don't have it already. A full Wimberley (version II) on a Gitzo (3 series or better) is really a necessity with this lens. You'll also want a LowePro AW Trekker 600 backpack, and some form of cart for walking longer diatances with this.

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

:thumbsup: AMAZING !!!!!!!!

[Speed]

You won the lottery!

Or did a rich uncle pass away?

;-)

Congrats on your new glass! Your first shots are fantastic.

Now you've got to get to the gym to build up the arm muscles for toting that beast around.

[Loupey]

Thanks for posting these. That big gun certainly delivers.

My big lens is next up for me too (before any new camera body or accessory). You make a good point about the support equipment. I think I'll start with it perched on top of a sturdy monopod tho.

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks for posting these. That big gun certainly delivers.

My big lens is next up for me too (before any new camera body or accessory). You make a good point about the support equipment. I think I'll start with it perched on top of a sturdy monopod tho.

I know you've been considering the 500 f/4 L IS. That should be much more manageable from the monopod. The 600 is a beast. You'll at least want the Wimberley "Sidekick" for the 500, though....if not the full gimball.

[Skollie14]

Great shot's. I could have used all that glass on my last trip to South Africa. We went whale and penguin watching in Cape Town and only got back last week.

Have you used this lens on field trips? What do you carry and more importantly how do you carry it?

On this last trip I carried the Canon 1D3, EOS 30D (to keep SWMBO amused) with EF 24-70 f2.8L, EF-s 17-85, EF 70-200 f2.8L IS and the EF 100-400 L IS with a 1.4 converter. Accessories were carbon fiber tripod and and a monopod.

This is a lot of gear to carry so how do you do it?

[Lava Lamp]

Congrats. What did you think about carrying it around?

I've been thinking about going to a 600mm for a while, but aside from cost, the size, weight, and lack of portability has put me off. I have a 50-500mm Sigma which is manageable, but not what I'd like in optics. I have a 300mm f/2.8 AF-S (I shoot Nikon), which is a bear. I've shot it some with a 2X TC and haven't been happy with the results.

A secondary concern is the paparazzi effect. When I shoot with the 300mm f/2.8 (hood on) or even the Bigma, people tend to come up and ask what newspaper I shoot for. Was that a concern of yours?

[Canon_Bob]

Congrats. What did you think about carrying it around?

I've been thinking about going to a 600mm for a while, but aside from cost, the size, weight, and lack of portability has put me off. I have a 50-500mm Sigma which is manageable, but not what I'd like in optics. I have a 300mm f/2.8 AF-S (I shoot Nikon), which is a bear. I've shot it some with a 2X TC and haven't been happy with the results.

A secondary concern is the paparazzi effect. When I shoot with the 300mm f/2.8 (hood on) or even the Bigma, people tend to come up and ask what newspaper I shoot for. Was that a concern of yours?

Yep, no doubt about it.....Size and weight are something you must consider. You really have to commit to the entire system on a lens this size. That includes the support and transport systems as well. I'm a big guy, so I can "manhandle it" for short periods. I walked about a mile with it over my shoulder (attached to tripod) on Saturday. Wasn't the most comfortable, but was tolerable. I have a friend who has the 600mm Nikon. He likes it, but his doesn't have any type of image stabilizer in it. I'd have never been able to make this hand-held shot without IS. NOBODY can hold a lens this size perfectly still.

[Canon_Bob]

Great shot's. I could have used all that glass on my last trip to South Africa. We went whale and penguin watching in Cape Town and only got back last week.

Have you used this lens on field trips? What do you carry and more importantly how do you carry it?

On this last trip I carried the Canon 1D3, EOS 30D (to keep SWMBO amused) with EF 24-70 f2.8L, EF-s 17-85, EF 70-200 f2.8L IS and the EF 100-400 L IS with a 1.4 converter. Accessories were carbon fiber tripod and and a monopod.

This is a lot of gear to carry so how do you do it?

Backpack or cart. That, or I bring my 22 year old son along as a Sherpa.

[SmartWombat]

A full Wimberley (version II) on a Gitzo (3 series or better) is really a necessity with this lens. You'll also want a LowePro AW Trekker 600 backpack, and some form of cart for walking longer distances with this.

I have a Manfroto 679 tripod and Manfrotto 190pro monopod.
For racing I expect to use the monopod almost exclusively.
I will probably replace aluminium with carbon for the weight saving for le Mans 2008.

I'd buy new at only £3600 ($7200) the shop price is £5574 ($11148) here for the IS !
Or was that price for the non-IS ?

[Canon_Bob]

I have a Manfroto 679 tripod and Manfrotto 190pro monopod.
For racing I expect to use the monopod almost exclusively.
I will probably replace aluminium with carbon for the weight saving for le Mans 2008.

I'd buy new at only £3600 ($7200) the shop price is £5574 ($11148) here for the IS !
Or was that price for the non-IS ?

Good Lord!!! That's outrageous!!! Would be worth a trip to New York and a stop into B&H or Adorama and pick it up, then mail it home. The $7200.00 is for NEW IS here. For that price, you'd almost be able to get the 600L AND the 500L here!

[SmartWombat]

The $7200.00 is for NEW IS here. For that price, you'd almost be able to get the 600L AND the 500L here!

I'd consider the 600L IS F4 and the 300 IS L 2.8 as my ultimate telephoto pair.
The 300 plus 1.4x for "normal" motorsport telephoto, and the 600 for wildlife and long corner shots compressing the field.
I don't like the 2x converter, I think it takes too much out of the image quality. Though it was useful on the 70-200 before I got the 100-400, the only reason I'd use it now would be in the rain, when the 100-400 gets waterlogged very quickly..