Canon 500mm f/4 IS vs 600mm f/4 IS

[Fast Glass]

All very sound advice. In the end I don't think you can screw up either way, you just might end up trading one for the other 5 years from now. Maybe.

It very much depends on how you use the lens, the 500 is much more convenient. Its definitely more versatile in that sense.

The 600 is a lens you need to be dedicated to using and in pursuit of the best possible shot (Think birding). I look at it as more of an enthusiast lens, convenience comes WAY before the final result.

Another thing to point out is, not only are you buying extra focal length, weight and lack of practical mobility. Your buying aperture. Because you have to take into account extenders if that is something you will use.

For example, a 500mm with a 1.4 extender will give you 700mm of reach. While a 600mm with the above mentioned combo will give you 840mm. Now you can choose between reach. Or the way I look at it, if I am at 700mm, depending on your shooting style I can creap up and frame the same shot at 600mm. Like wise if I can frame the shot at 500mm I can quite likely frame it 600mm. You can't always do this, but depending on how and what you shoot this can be a likely scenario.

What I am getting at is the 600mm is going to allow you to avoid using an extender more frequently and giving you a significant average increase in image quality.

And this is from a guy who has been shooting with a 600mm lens for well over a decade. I wouldn't call myself an expert, just an enthusiastic amateur.🙂

Happy shooting!