Canon series 2 500mm and 600mm
We upgraded our lenses to the new series II 500mm and 600mm super telephotos of Canon.
Sylvia wanted more focal length than she had with her 300mm f2.8 L IS USM. She was using it with 1.4 and 2.0x teleconverters but because of the usual distance of the birds this was always a big disadvantage to my 500mm with 1.4x. She did not like the weight of the series 1 500mm f4, so she stuck with her 300mm f2.8 and she usually got a lot of the quick birds in the forest because she could leave the tripod behind and just hand hold. But she hoped Canon would come out with a 500mm f4 that was close to the weight of the 300mm f2.8. Given the amount of traveling and photography we do Sylvia was quite certain the new 500mm series II would be the correct lens for her.
It seemed like a long wait before the series II was finally released and shipped to the Philippines. Sylvia had already made up her mind long ago so she quickly got the first unit that arrived. Compared to the old 500mm it is lighter by 1.5 pounds. It was her dream lens. While slightly heavier than her old 300mm f2.8 it more than made up for the extra weight with an impressive leap in performance.
The series II lens comes with 4 stop IS compared to 2 stop for the series 1 lenses. This means more shots in focus. Much much more. Most shots are now in focus and choosing between pictures is even harder because most of the photos are in focus even in low light, hand held, or with moving subjects. The keeper rate is just much higher. People usually think about the weight savings of the new lenses first but actually it is the IS performance which shows just how much improvement has been made on the series 2 lenses. It even comes with a new IS mode 3, which is for tracking action, it does not activate until you click the shutter so the IS never gets in the way of taking a photo.
The optics are much better than the series 1 lenses. In side by side testing, same subject, same body, same tripod and head the series II 500mm produces the better photo than the series 1. I was surprised because I thought my series 1 lens was a very sharp copy and I did not think the difference in image quality would be noticeable. But there is a difference and it gets bigger the further the subject gets. The series II is sharper and has better contrast.
Focus speed is also much faster. When combined with the improvements in Image Stabilization and Image Quality the person with a series 2 lens will get more keepers that those with a series 1 lens. While the series 1 units are still very sharp and quite good, the new technology does make it easier to get consistently good shots with less effort. On several trips with a bunch of photographers we brought three series 1 500mm lens, an 800mm f5.6 and a 300mm f2.8. In this trips Sylvia's series II would consistently get the shots and get them much better.
This of course led to my getting a 600mm series II.
It weighs just as much as my 500mm series 1. Handling is basically the same except that it is longer. Minimum focus is the same as the series 1 500mm at 4.5m. It has the great IS, improved image quality and all the positives of the 500mm series 2. In my opinion 500mm series 1 was the bread and butter lens for bird photography for the last 13 years or so, but I think that title will now go to the 600mm series 2.
The main drawbacks for the new series 2 lenses is the price. It is more expensive than the series 1, but it took more than a decade for the replacement series II came out, so it may be a long time before these lenses become outdated.
The second major drawback for the 600mm series II versus the 500mm is the length. It is 2.5 inches longer than the 500mm series II. It does not fit into some of my camera bags. It does not fit in my drybox unless I take out the body. It is harder to maneuver inside a vehicle. I think the length is also causing some vibration on my 4th gen head.
The third drawback is added expense for the new tele converters that are made for these super telephotos. The Canon series 3 teleconverters are sharper and are supposed to make the auto focus faster with the new series II lenses. I have not tried comparing the series 3 and 2 tele converters, but we use the series 3 on the new lenses.
But if you can get over the guilt and or justify it to yourself the new 500mm and 600mm series 2 units are winners. Just choose which weight and length you can comfortably handle and then go on a long birding trip and take some pictures.
Read MoreSylvia wanted more focal length than she had with her 300mm f2.8 L IS USM. She was using it with 1.4 and 2.0x teleconverters but because of the usual distance of the birds this was always a big disadvantage to my 500mm with 1.4x. She did not like the weight of the series 1 500mm f4, so she stuck with her 300mm f2.8 and she usually got a lot of the quick birds in the forest because she could leave the tripod behind and just hand hold. But she hoped Canon would come out with a 500mm f4 that was close to the weight of the 300mm f2.8. Given the amount of traveling and photography we do Sylvia was quite certain the new 500mm series II would be the correct lens for her.
It seemed like a long wait before the series II was finally released and shipped to the Philippines. Sylvia had already made up her mind long ago so she quickly got the first unit that arrived. Compared to the old 500mm it is lighter by 1.5 pounds. It was her dream lens. While slightly heavier than her old 300mm f2.8 it more than made up for the extra weight with an impressive leap in performance.
The series II lens comes with 4 stop IS compared to 2 stop for the series 1 lenses. This means more shots in focus. Much much more. Most shots are now in focus and choosing between pictures is even harder because most of the photos are in focus even in low light, hand held, or with moving subjects. The keeper rate is just much higher. People usually think about the weight savings of the new lenses first but actually it is the IS performance which shows just how much improvement has been made on the series 2 lenses. It even comes with a new IS mode 3, which is for tracking action, it does not activate until you click the shutter so the IS never gets in the way of taking a photo.
The optics are much better than the series 1 lenses. In side by side testing, same subject, same body, same tripod and head the series II 500mm produces the better photo than the series 1. I was surprised because I thought my series 1 lens was a very sharp copy and I did not think the difference in image quality would be noticeable. But there is a difference and it gets bigger the further the subject gets. The series II is sharper and has better contrast.
Focus speed is also much faster. When combined with the improvements in Image Stabilization and Image Quality the person with a series 2 lens will get more keepers that those with a series 1 lens. While the series 1 units are still very sharp and quite good, the new technology does make it easier to get consistently good shots with less effort. On several trips with a bunch of photographers we brought three series 1 500mm lens, an 800mm f5.6 and a 300mm f2.8. In this trips Sylvia's series II would consistently get the shots and get them much better.
This of course led to my getting a 600mm series II.
It weighs just as much as my 500mm series 1. Handling is basically the same except that it is longer. Minimum focus is the same as the series 1 500mm at 4.5m. It has the great IS, improved image quality and all the positives of the 500mm series 2. In my opinion 500mm series 1 was the bread and butter lens for bird photography for the last 13 years or so, but I think that title will now go to the 600mm series 2.
The main drawbacks for the new series 2 lenses is the price. It is more expensive than the series 1, but it took more than a decade for the replacement series II came out, so it may be a long time before these lenses become outdated.
The second major drawback for the 600mm series II versus the 500mm is the length. It is 2.5 inches longer than the 500mm series II. It does not fit into some of my camera bags. It does not fit in my drybox unless I take out the body. It is harder to maneuver inside a vehicle. I think the length is also causing some vibration on my 4th gen head.
The third drawback is added expense for the new tele converters that are made for these super telephotos. The Canon series 3 teleconverters are sharper and are supposed to make the auto focus faster with the new series II lenses. I have not tried comparing the series 3 and 2 tele converters, but we use the series 3 on the new lenses.
But if you can get over the guilt and or justify it to yourself the new 500mm and 600mm series 2 units are winners. Just choose which weight and length you can comfortably handle and then go on a long birding trip and take some pictures.
This is a 500mm series 1 and a 600mm series 2.
The 500mm series 1 and 2 are almost the same length.
The 600mm is much longer than the 500mm. This makes it more difficult to handle, carry and transport.
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