500mm F/4L II vs 600mm F/4L II

[Richard Lane]

I have been waiting on these lenses for some time. My question on deciding which to go with was which would give me the longer focal length using an extender, and still give IQ good enough to be acceptable.

It appears that the 500mm will be able to give decent IQ at 1000mm, and the 600mm will not at 1200mm. In some ways this makes the 500mm the longer acceptably usable lens.

Thoughts?

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=2&APIComp=0

I agree the center is sharper on the 600mm +2X @1200mm in the "above comparison," and it looks like the 500mm +2X@1000mm is sharper in the mid-frame and corners.


http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=459&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API= 1&LensComp=748&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp =1&APIComp=2

It also looks like the 600 +2X is sharper (link above) than the bare 800mm at the center, so just based on the above crops, it seems like the 600mm is pretty darn sharp at the center.

I guess you have to decide which focal length you need. I thought I had it all figured out too, but if you think you will eventually get a 1DX, then that has to be taken into consideration too. I think the 500mm would be better for the 1DMKIV and the 600mm would be better for the 1DX.

I'm torn too, I wanted the 1DX two years ago, and as you know I bought the MKIV about 1 and 1/2 years ago, now I don't know which lens that I would buy either. I like the reach of the MKIV, but I would eventually like full frame and I know bodies don't last forever.

I would like f/2.8 so I would like the 400mm f/2.8L IS II, but I think it's a little too short for birds, wildlife, and surfing, but I could always add the 1.4X as a compromise for the focal length since I can't add f/2.8 to the other lenses.

I originally bought the 300mm f/2.8L IS for the 7D (1.6X) and then when I upgraded to the MKIV, I just added the 1.4X extender, so now if I go FF, then I would need the 400mm or 500mm. I was also thinking that if Canon came out with an improved 7D MKII, then I could always keep my bare 300mm f/2.8L IS for sports. I know I could still use my current 7D, but I prefer the MKIV.

I would love to decide between a 400mm, 500mm, 600mm or 200-400mm Extender 1.4X zoom. I may eventually sell my 300mm f/2.8L IS too. The 500mm seems very attractive to me because of the weight, but I don't want to own a 400mm and a 500mm, or a 500mm and a 600mm. I can eventually (in a couple of years) see owning 2 of the lenses on my wish list and one has to be f/2.8 for when that is needed.

If I keep the MK IV, then I would want a 300mm f/2.8L IS and 500mm f/4L IS II.

If I bought a 1DX, then I would want the 400 f/2.8L IS II and a 600mm f/4L IS II, which would be my ultimate goal.


I hope I didn't confuse you even more!

Rich