Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM

BillN_33

BillN_33

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Hi Canon fans

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM - which is the model to get as I notice there is a Mk ll version ……. is the new version that much better than the original

the following just sold on Ebay for a good price

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EF-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

presumably that was a bargain

I'm a Nikon shooter but thinking of upgrading for bird photography to the 5Diii and Canon 600mm

Not worried about "mixing" as the Canon will be used mainly on the tripod for birds ………and anyway I can always sell my Nikon stuff and gradually move over …….. but the next move up in long primes will be expensive and I want to make sure I spend the money wisely
 
That looks like a clear scam. A £5k used lens for £2,300 buy it now?

A Canon 600mm f/4 MK II looks like the birding lens to get although the price is still a bit high. One was on here used for £9k not long back.
 
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Laudrup said:
That looks like a clear scam. A £5k used lens for £2,300 buy it now?

A Canon 600mm f/4 MK II looks like the birding lens to get although the price is still a bit high. One was on here used for £9k not long back.
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There are a couple from a Dutch Seller, (no I don't want to get into the "grey imports" debate), for up to £7k new Version 1 - they are physically in Holland, so VAT paid
weight 5.4kgs
 
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The Nikon 600 is getting a makeover soon I think although with Nikon pricing it will end up at NASA to work it out the RRP. The Canon 500mm f/4 MK II is also about £7,500 and looks to be an excellent wildlife and birding lens that handles TCs well.
 
Well if you've got big bucks burning a hole in your pocket Bill the MkII is the kiddie to buy.

Has a better image stabilisation (4 stops) and is lighter. Neither of which may bother you as you plan on using it primarily on a tripod.

You'd pay much more for a good MkI than the £2300 in that ad and I wouldn't touch that with a barge pole.

The other point to bear in mind is how long Canon will officially support the MkI superteles. In this case after 2018 official support ceases. If its a long term investment that may be a consideration.
 
Out of interest have you looked at the Nikon D800 + Nikon 600mm f/4VR II? The nearest to the equivalent of the 5D III + 600mm, Nikon and Canon's 600mm's are both stunning lenses, Why change to Canon when you have a decent Nikon setup?
 
Joeturner11 said:
Out of interest have you looked at the Nikon D800 + Nikon 600mm f/4VR II? The nearest to the equivalent of the 5D III + 600mm, Nikon and Canon's 600mm's are both stunning lenses, Why change to Canon when you have a decent Nikon setup?
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Hi Joe - somehow I just don't fancy the D800E - if I went that way I would splash out and get a D4S …….. but I'm not sure that I want to spend the money …… but maybe.

It looks as if both the Nikon 600mm f4 and the Canon 600mm are about the same price, around £7.5k street and both weight about 5 kg …….

A couple of points - the 5Diii seems to have better low light ISO performance than the D800, and some of the best consistent small bird images I have seen have been taken with the Canon - OK the guy is a really experienced and skilled photographer and more importantly a "birder" but he is a pro who recommends Canon and I think that he is one of the best around and I really respect and like his work.

My investment in Nikon is about £5k to £6k, (300mm f4, 300mm f2.8VR, 70 200mm f2.8, 50mm etc., TC's, D7100 and D700), I could probably get most of that back and then buy Canon used to replicate … if you see what I mean

My next purchase, however is quite a large investment, I just read good reports about Canon, (I have not used them since my A1 which I still have), particularly the 600mm and 5Diii - and I'm just exploring the possibilities. Not planning to do anything until I am next back in the UK, October, and then not maybe until the Spring as I cannot take the big stuff with me in S Africa.

Maybe I just fancy a change - the large sensor of the D800 just puts me off a little as I will have to spend £3k on upgrading my Apple stuff, but I may just get by with the small density sensor of the 5D.

Probably/possibly stick to Nikon - I suppose that I'm just thinking aloud

I also believe that there is more Canon used gear around

Not in photography seems too logical ….. and these forums don't help the bank balance
 
BillN_33 said:
Hi Joe - somehow I just don't fancy the D800E - if I went that way I would splash out and get a D4S …….. but I'm not sure that I want to spend the money …… but maybe.

It looks as if both the Nikon 600mm f4 and the Canon 600mm are about the same price, around £7.5k street and both weight about 5 kg …….

A couple of points - the 5Diii seems to have better low light ISO performance than the D800, and some of the best consistent small bird images I have seen have been taken with the Canon - OK the guy is a really experienced and skilled photographer and more importantly a "birder" but he is a pro who recommends Canon and I think that he is one of the best around and I really respect and like his work.

My investment in Nikon is about £5k to £6k, (300mm f4, 300mm f2.8VR, 70 200mm f2.8, 50mm etc., TC's, D7100 and D700), I could probably get most of that back and then buy Canon used to replicate … if you see what I mean

My next purchase, however is quite a large investment, I just read good reports about Canon, (I have not used them since my A1 which I still have), particularly the 600mm and 5Diii - and I'm just exploring the possibilities. Not planning to do anything until I am next back in the UK, October, and then not maybe until the Spring as I cannot take the big stuff with me in S Africa.

Maybe I just fancy a change - the large sensor of the D800 just puts me off a little as I will have to spend £3k on upgrading my Apple stuff, but I may just get by with the small density sensor of the 5D.

Probably/possibly stick to Nikon - I suppose that I'm just thinking aloud

I also believe that there is more Canon used gear around

Not in photography seems too logical ….. and these forums don't help the bank balance
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Fair comment, Maybe the best option maybe to look at getting the Nikon 600mm f/4 and using that with your D700 & D7100? The D700 is a stunning camera and will serve you very well! I think Markyboy.1967 on the this forum uses a D700 + 600mm as I remember him saying on a post and he gets some cracking images from that set up! If you can add a 600mm to your current setup the you are pretty much sorted! + If you need to shoot in low low light photography mite be worth getting yourself a betterbeamer as they are brill for low light shooting for fill in light. For the current time you can't get the lens until early early spring next year I would just work with what you have got and getting the best Images from your setup, I mean a D700/D7100 + 300mm f/2.8VR + 2xTC will produce some stunning shots!
 
Joeturner11 said:
Fair comment, Maybe the best option maybe to look at getting the Nikon 600mm f/4 and using that with your D700 & D7100? The D700 is a stunning camera and will serve you very well! I think Markyboy.1967 on the this forum uses a D700 + 600mm as I remember him saying on a post and he gets some cracking images from that set up! If you can add a 600mm to your current setup the you are pretty much sorted! + If you need to shoot in low low light photography mite be worth getting yourself a betterbeamer as they are brill for low light shooting for fill in light. For the current time you can't get the lens until early early spring next year I would just work with what you have got and getting the best Images from your setup, I mean a D700/D7100 + 300mm f/2.8VR + 2xTC will produce some stunning shots!
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Yes Joe - I am very very pleased with the 300mm f2.8 VR + the TC20Elll - it is just that I tend to use it 90% of the time with the x 2 TC

I have thought about the 200 400 or even the 80 400mm - being retired we have a long holiday in S Africa in the UK winter and there are lots of birds (and wildlife) out there to concentrate on - the "carry on" luggage plus general luggage weight limit is the problem - at most I can only take the 300mm f4, 70 200mm, 50mm a wide plus a couple of bodies a few and a tripod and Manfrotto 393.

Girraffe_1.jpg
 
The 600 is a big commitment to have- its heavy, needs getting used to, difficult to handhold and needs a good support to get the best from it. Saying all that- I love mine. It's very sharp, a great focal length, takes a 1.4tc very well and is fast to focus. Nothing wrong with the 2 cameras you have. I use my 600 on the D700 and an old D300 and its fine. You can pick up a used 600 around £3500 these days. I have taken mine on Ryanair and other flights as cabin luggage and all has been fine. Would save you a lot of money. I'm thinking of adding a D800 as well but not for wildlife or sell the D700 and get a D4S or a D3S.
 
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