This entry was posted on Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at 9:17 am and is filed under Camera, Photo & Video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Site Search:
February 28, 2010
- EF mount; super telephoto lens
- Fluorite and Ultra-low Dispersion-glass; image stabilizer; internal focusing; full-time manual focus
- 500mm focal length
- f/4 maximum aperture
- Ring-type UltraSonic Motor (USM)
Product Description
Next-generation super telephoto L-series lens with an Image Stabilizer, it’s one of the world’s best lenses for wildlife and nature photography. The optical system is newly designed with a maximum aperture of f/4. One fluorite element and two UD-glass elements effectively correct aberrations resulting in sharp and excellent delineation.
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
read comments (5)
February 28th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I am very limited on my picture taking knowledge, but bought the Canon EOS Rebel XTI and want more lenses. When I read what people have taken time to write in about I have to say I feel better educated before making a purchase and want to THANK all of you!
I take pictures at weddings. So, inside shots are a must and evening light for receptions. I bought the Canon Speed;ote 430EX flash and LOVE it. Easy to handle and not blinding everyone as I expected. Easy to put on and take off.
Then I bought the Opteka Bgrxt Grip and LOVE IT! The camera is small and yet with the addition I feel safe holding it in any position. I read where others had problems with it not being tight but my fit is perfect. I also like very much the battery storage allowing me to shoot without changing anything.
My next purchase…..lenses. I want to take outdoor shots of wildlife and notice the EF 100-400 mm constantly mentioned. I am going to bite the bullet and purchase this item soon.
PLEASE anyone out there reading my note, please suggest another lenes for weddings. The past wedding I used my new gadits and my pictures were better than the person hired to shoot the wedding. I have an eye for taking pictures but am not a smart cookie when it comes to knowing what lenses to use. The numbers, settings confuse me totally.
THANKS!
Rating: 5 / 5
February 28th, 2010 at 11:51 am
I bought this lens fronm B&H Photo Video. The service is excellent and the lens is awesome. The best lens for nature and sports photography. Un paralleled in image quality.
Sandeep.
Rating: 5 / 5
February 28th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I’ve bought several lenses from Adorama, two of which include a new 300/2.8 IS and the other, this 500/4 IS. All of their deliveries were prompt and well packed. I have zero complaints with them. I dealt the John (Green, I think is his last name) via email. I highly recommend them.
As for this lens, it is incredible. Wide open it creates a wickedly sharp subject against a wonderfully soft background (good bokeh). AF is very fast. This lens is extremely good and will still AF when used with the 1.4x converter. (AF works up to f5.6.)
Rating: 5 / 5
February 28th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Deciding between this lens and the 600/4L IS was indeed a chore – but I convinced myself that if I were to buy the 600/4, I would not even bother taking it on hikes due to the extreme weight. I would also need to upgrade my tripod to a heavy Gitzo GT3541LS Series 3 Long 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Systematic Tripod with G-Lock – Replaces GT3540LS, and get a full proper Wimberly II Gimbal Head.
(I currently use a Gitzo GT2542L Series 2 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Tripod with G-Lock – Replaces GT2541L, and a Jobu Design BWG-LW2 Black Widow Lightweight MK-II Gimbal Head for 200 f/2.8, 300 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8 Lenses for my gimbal needs)
Though if I had the money, i’de go for the 800/5.6L IS instead due to the extreme reach on a FF body, and no longer the need to use a crop body (you lose the outer “bokeh” and vignetting).
==============
1-month update
==============
After being able to use it for 1 month now, it simply confirms that the 500mm f/4L IS was the right choice over the 600mm f/4L IS. Though often I wish I didn’t have to use extenders on my 1Ds III, I quite like the fact that I can hand-hold this lens all day for nature photography.
One day soon i’ll get the 800mm f/5.6L IS, but until then the 500mm f/4L IS is an excellent lens for the price you pay.
Rating: 5 / 5
February 28th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
I don’t know what I could say that has’t already been said but here goes. This is an absolute beast of a lens in quality, price and weight. It’s 8.6 lbs put it just on the edge of being handholdable, which I’ve managed to do on a two hour boat wildlife safari (with breaks of course). If you need 500mm, get it because once you get the hang of shooting with a supertele, you won’t be disappopinted with the photos.
The biggest problem with the lens is the unwanted attention and questions. I’ve already missed some opportunites because I was answering questions instead of paying attention to the action, a raptor and shorebird aerial fight!! Oh well, I’ve come to accept that the attention is just going to come with the territory. I’ll have to work on my game face so I don’t get interrupted too much.
Rating: 5 / 5