Painted Bunting at 1200mm

[Canon_Bob]

Hey all,

Another new visitor has shown up in my neighborhood. these were all shot with the 600mm L and 2x TC, with canon 580ex and Better Beamer attached. I need to get my blind set up, and maybe then I can get them in better light, and no flash. I couldn't decide which pose I like best of the first two, so I posted them both.

[SmartWombat]

I was wondering how sharp that lens would be with the 2x - it's amazing !

I've seen some pretty good photos with stacked converters, TWO 2x converters on a 600mm.
But that means manual focus, and my eyesight isn't that good ..

[Canon_Bob]

No worries Paul. It holds up VERY well. I haven't tried stacking the TC's yet, but Art Morris does it all the time around here. The 1DsMII will still auto focus with the 2x on, but it is significantly slower than without.

[SmartWombat]

I'm looking at a 500mm IS right now, if I can get a good idea of the condition second hand.
A little lighter and easier to carry than the 600, and apparently still as sharp.
Only $6000

[Canon_Bob]

The 500 is a great lens. It is every bit as sharp as the 600, and much less weight. You just lose 100mm in FL. Most sensors will compensate for that. Since I shoot a full frame sensor in the 1DsMII, I decided the extra 100mm would be a big difference for me. I think I was right.

[paulnj]

Good old Art leaves that 600 home alot and takes his 500 He's not as young as he once was when he was crawling through Jamaica bay with a T90 and a 800 F5.6 L FD.

That second image is the most pleasing of the bunch to me.

[Canon_Bob]

Good old Art leaves that 600 home alot and takes his 500 He's not as young as he once was when he was crawling through Jamaica bay with a T90 and a 800 F5.6 L FD.

That second image is the most pleasing of the bunch to me.

Thanks Paul. Very true about Art, but he still bums a shot or two off anyone in his group who was crazy enough to lug one along

I'm actually taking one of his IPT's in March. Decided to try a five day one here in SW Florida.

BTW - Rumor has it that Canon will be releasing a 800mm 5.6 L IS for the EOS line very soon. Will post more as I know it. I have the 800 5.6 FD lens as well (I went from a pair of F-1 bodies straight to digital). Certain people I know who have Canon's ear have been pressing for a 150 to 500mm f/4.5 DO Zoom as well. That would be one sweet wildlife lens!

[paulnj]

If my reptile breeding goes as planned, I will buy both lenses mentioned above and mount them directly to a new toyota sequoia and drive down and play for a week next fall ;)

[Canon_Bob]

LOL - Sounds like a plan! Get them lizards busy! - LOL