Today is my annivarsary!....sort of.

[Canon_Bob]

Today marked one year with my 600mm f/4. Not that I was keeping track, but by freak coincidence I noticed that the same trip I made a year ago was the last shoot I had at that place using my 100-400. I was there today in search of Bald Eagles, Whooping Cranes, and then later...Scub Jays. I found none of these today, but had plenty of other subjects to make it a fine trip. Anyway, today marks one year since that beast arrived. I guess I'm now qualified to express an opinion on it. It has become my primary lens (on the 1DsMII). The positives? razor sharp, fast, and built like a tank. When coupled with the Wimberley II gimball head on a 5 series Gitzo tripod, it can handle most any type of shot quite easily. The negatives? Cost and weight. That's it. You'll notice I didn't mention the minimum focusing distance as a negative. It isn't. You NEED that 16 feet (Canon says 18, but I've measured it multiple times at just over 16) to get any DOF at 600mm. I've shot mine many times with a 25mm tube on it, and that works great provided you're shooting a VERY small aperture (better be at f/11 or better in most cases when shooting at less than 16 feet). IMO, anyone with the means to purchase this lens should also have a second body that they will mount with a smaller lens. My 40d does that job quite nicely. If you have the means, and are a serious nature photographer with a pro body, then I recommend this lens highly. You will not be disappointed. Note that I do NOT recommend this lens for the prosumer grade cameras. I find the 1.6 crop factor to be too much on the 600, and it becomes fairly difficult to manage. You'll lose a lot of shots trying to find things in the viewfinder. The 500mm f/4 is a better choice IMO for the prosumer bodies.

I have also created a couple ways to deal with the weight of the lens quite well. After several tial-and error sessions with various carts, I designed my own for boardwalk type trails. It is a triangular cart with 8" pneumatic ball bearing wheels. The rig mounts at-the-ready to it. It is perfect. It's quiet, and literally glides along with just one hand! For non-boardwalk trails, I use the LowePro Street and Field belt and harness system instead of a vest. I use the Manfrotto monopod belt holster on this belt to support one leg of the tripod and distribute the carrying weight. It works perfectly. What I do is just shorten one of the tripod legs and stick it in that holster. the weight is then evenly distributed on my hips and shoulders. It also creates a fairly steady shooting platform by simply setting the front legs on the ground, and I act as the third leg with the short leg still in the holster.

Anyway, here are a few images from today with the 600mm f/4 and 1DsMII. I know Loupey realizes how hard it is to get an Eastern Meadowlark to pose like this, so I wanted to include a few of this fellow for him to enjoy:

[AgingEyes]

Thanks for the review and sharing those great photos!

BTW, Nikon USA says the Nikon 600 f4 VR has a minimum focus distance of 16.4 ft. I'd not be surprised that the Canon's has pretty much the same focus distance as you have found out.

[Loupey]

Thanks for the write-up, Canon_Bob. Let me just say that I'm thoroughly impressed with those meadowlark shots (especially #3) - those birds are just SOOOO hard to approach.

I've had no regrets with my 500mm. I can understand why you would need the additional accessories transporting your 600mm. My 500mm is right at the limit of my monopod (never tried shooting it with a tripod yet). In fact the ball head is starting to show some significant wear and I've had the head slip and slammed my finger - once (once is enough). I do plan on buying a Wimberley head for my new, only-used-once tripod that has been in the basement for about a year

I'm glad to hear that you think that the 600mm is a bit much for a 1.6x body. My intent was to eventually get a 1.3x (1DmkX) sports body for the 500mm so your assessment is in-line with my original thoughts.

Good shooting.

[SenorNikonMan]

Happy belated anniversary (and congrats on your post #500). Those are great pics! And so sharp! I'd love to be able to afford a lens like that someday. My big lens right now is a Tamron 400mm f/4 lens. That is what I shoot almost all of my bird photos with but there are times that I wish I had bigger glass.

Do you have a website or somewhere that I can see more of your photos? I checked your gallery but it is empty. I'd love to see more of your work.

[Canon_Bob]

Happy belated anniversary (and congrats on your post #500). Those are great pics! And so sharp! I'd love to be able to afford a lens like that someday. My big lens right now is a Tamron 400mm f/4 lens. That is what I shoot almost all of my bird photos with but there are times that I wish I had bigger glass.

Do you have a website or somewhere that I can see more of your photos? I checked your gallery but it is empty. I'd love to see more of your work.

LOL - I didn't even realize that was my 500th post! Thanks for pointing that out! I guess I should build a gallery here one of these days! In the meantime, you can pretty much just do a search on my user id, and you'll see lots of images posted here. You can also jump out to www.catcheroflight.com and browse my website. I'm woefully behind in posting new work to it, but I try and keep it rather small anyway.

I have fairly large portfolios up on several of the major stock photography sites, so that's another good spot to see most of my current stuff.

[paulnj]

Those meadowlarks are breathe taking Bob!

[Canon_Bob]

The Meadowlark was shot at first light. It was perfect for that bright chest. I've got a little trick that lures them out of cover pretty well.

[panthrcat]

excellent review on something that's wayyyyyyyy out of my field, but it's good to dream, right? your photos have made an impact on me Bob, you do very good work! the clarity is amazing. I have a rinky dinky EOS 40D purchased recently, and do photography for "fun" so I'm limited to what I can spend :cryin:

Sue

[scott-devon]

Happy anniversary Bob. Those meadowlark shots are amazing!

[nps474]

Bob,

You really appear to be one of the best bird/wildlife photographers I have ever encountered.

Have you any published books or other works that showcase your skill level?

The quality of your pics is always to remarkably professional looking.

I can't imagine that you do this soley as a hobby?

[Canon_Bob]

Bob,

You really appear to be one of the best bird/wildlife photographers I have ever encountered.

Have you any published books or other works that showcase your skill level?

The quality of your pics is always to remarkably professional looking.

I can't imagine that you do this soley as a hobby?

Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad my work inspires people. It truly is a passion for me. However, I must take the humble road here, and show you who I'm learning from, and give you a new basis for comparison: www.birdsasart.org . If you think my work is good, then you'll be blown away by Artie's Not only Artie, but an entire network of world class photographers here in South and Central Florida. I know many of them quite well. I'm just a face in the crowd here....but fortunately, it's a fairly small crowd :thumbsup:

I do also sell most of my work. I am affiliated with several stock agencies, and have recently been approached to "anchor" a new one (go out to www.mystock.com, and you'll see me (Robert Blanchard) linked off the front page of the site that is set to go live next month). I'm also preparing to begin some gallery work here in Florida. It may become a full time gig someday, but for now it's just a weekend thing (that I happen to love). I just keep feeding the passion, and the rest will take care of itself.

[paulnj]

Not to detract from this thread, but do you know Alex Calzadilla by chance?

Having followed Artie for many years early on and even crawled next to him on the beach, though he did know me, I can say you are not too far behind Bob~~~

[Canon_Bob]

Not to detract from this thread, but do you know Alex Calzadilla by chance?

Having followed Artie for many years early on and even crawled next to him on the beach, though he did know me, I can say you are not too far behind Bob~~~

Thanks for that compliment Paul!

Can't say I recognize the name Paul, but that doesn't mean I don't run into him regularly, and just don't know his name. There are probably 15 to 20 photographers that I regularly encounter. 2 of my more regular ones are Maxis Gamez (a real up and comer), and Rod Wiley (Rod is THE expert on Corkscrew Swamp). Both are just awesome photographers, and great guys.

[paulnj]

I just found out that Alex passed away a few years ago... sad, as he was amazing.

You should study his work because he had a awesome eye for detail and knew his birds well.

[Canon_Bob]

I just found out that Alex passed away a few years ago... sad, as he was amazing.

You should study his work because had had a awesome eye for detail and knew his birds well.

I Googled him and found out that he passed from a car crash just before I moved here. That's too bad, because from what one of his friends wrote, he frequented many of the same spots that I always go. Chances are excellent that I would have known him had he still been with us. I searched for some of his work, and found some bears he photographed in Canada/Alaska - Amazing work. I don't see any of his galleries out there, though. If you come across a link to his work, let me know please!