Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens USA

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

As a long time amateur photographer, growing up with National Geographic, I have dreamed of owning this lens for many years. Three years of saving and sacrifice - owning this is a dream come true - this beast is worth every penny. The IQ is stunning, the AF is as quick as my other telephotos, CA is neglegable. Most importantly the shots speak for themselves. Kudos to the B and H staff who guided me through the whole process - maybe I have arrived!!!!

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

I use this lens for mainly wildlife and especially birds. I has extremely fast autofocus and great IS. I upgraded from the canon 100-400mm, which is also a great lens, but the 600mm is much faster and gives me more reach. The only downsides are the price and weight. It doesn't fell to heavy until you try taking it on a 3 mile walk. Over all a incredible lens.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

I use the 600 specifically for birds in Hawaii. But for covering surfing and sports it will come in handy. I wanted more reach over the 500/4.5 lens that I've been using.The 500 is a great,sharp and hand holdable lens btw.
The added reach,being able to use the 1.6 crop bodies to af with the 1.4 ext. The IS is invaluable when shooting subjects in less than ideal light conditions.
The weight and bulk is manageable and once setup on a wimberly head it's a breeze.
You can't get around the weight,bulk and cost.
In the end,it's the pleasure you derive from using such a quality tool for shooting your passion.
Aloha,
Mike

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

This lens is amazing. Autofocus is fast, great IS. It is heavy, so you need a good monopod or tripod.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

I use this lens mainly for wildlife/sports. I have a Canon 1d Mark IV and let me just warn you that yes, it is heavy, but I knew that before I bought it. This lens is fast focusing, built like a tank, and the color rendition is awsome!! The IS is unbelievable. I have shot in such low light it is rediculous. Add a 2x teleconverter and you have a 1200mm lens but you'll lose 2 stops of lighting. Overall, I would definately buy it again and I would recomend you to buy this if you can handle the price and the weight of this lens.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

Although i get a bit pain carrying this beast around but i love output.All picture are sharp with nice bokeh @ f/4[...]

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

Wildlife.
The reach.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

I bought wild birds to take it.
The ferry of hawks became the photograph with the force. As for hawks, there are many kinds, but can distinguish it precisely if I use this lens.
In addition, I was able to take it to the place that a kingfisher dived and caught a small fish and took it, and lived and was able to express it with a beautiful color.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

I'm an amateur photographer, but have looked for an opportunity to buy this lense for many years. My websites needed updating and rather than buy stock photos... I decided to jump in and take my own. [...] The travel case that is included with the lense is very, very nice. While the whole thing is big and heavy... you get what you pay for.I bought a monopod thinking 12 pounds can't be all that bad... let's just say I respect any photographer who can hand hold or use a monopod with this lense. Next up... a tripod. The few shots taken have proven the capability of this lense. I personally enjoy shooting motorsports and given the advent of catch fences, additional run off roon and sand traps the size of football fields... 200mm even 400mm do not get the shot anymore. This lense will capture everything you could possibly want.Fantastic piece of equipment that while expensive... is worth every penny.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

This lens is the ultimate for wildlife enthusiasts, sports, and outdoor event photography.

A word of caution however, to keep your investment safe while it's on a tripod, buy an Arca Style capture head. My own recommendation for this would be the Whimberley Gimbal Head with the lens foot replacement plate.
This will lower the center of gravity of your camera and lens, help with stability, and have the positive capture attributes of the Arca Style head. This setup will keep your lens from inadvertently falling off your Tripod if you are doing your job.

Other accessories: Canon 580 EX Flash. With your flash, buy the Better Beamer flash extender, a whimberley flash arm designed to fit directly on your Whimberley Head, and a Canon Off shoe camera cord. With the setup just described, you can add fill flash, and catchlights to the eyes of your subjects from long distances depending on your ISO selection.

Last but not least, the image quality of this lens is incredible. When I compare my images to some of my friends that have the 500 f4, my images are just as sharp-no difference. Most importantly, my image magnification is larger. This can make a huge difference, especially when you are photographing small birds.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

Best of best. Excellent water fowl pictures with light/speed. Not too heavy. Glad I purchased 600 rather than 500 as almost always use 1.4 with full frame camera.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

After developing an interest in bird photography, my 100-400 left me wanting more reach and better low light capability. I don’t hesitate using the 600 at f4, and haven’t noticed much if any drop off in the IQ when shooting wide open, albeit on a 20d.

Since getting the lens I have photographed everything from eagles to song birds, and have been very pleased with the results. BIF (birds-in-flight) with this lens is still a challenge (read talent limitation on my part). Birds really move fast at 12x magnification.

Size and weight, of the 600, were discussed in most of the articles I read during the long research phase. For me, neither is as big a deal as I expected them to be. I will turn 60 this year and am of medium to small build (5’ 8” 180 lbs). The caveat here is that being in SW Florida, long hikes and steep terrain are not the norm.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

Having owned the 500mm prior to purchasing the 600mm. I can say the lens weight is quite a bit more but nothing I wasn't expecting.

I shoot surfing primarily this lens is the standard lens used by most professional surf photographers so that should say something about its quality and performance. The auto focus is extremely fast accurate and smooth. If it can handle surfers speeding across a wave in constantly moving conditions birds, wildlife and anything else you can throw at it should be a walk in the park.

This lens is everything I hope it would be and more. If you are considering purchasing one you wont be disappointed.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

Super sharp and fast evern with a 1.4 converter
IS works very well. For wildlife photography espeically birds there is no substitute. The 500mm is a great lens but that extra reach is worth it

Heavy and expensive but worth it

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

Yes it is heavy. I guess my main misconception about using this lens was that I would have the ability to hand hold with image stabilization. Well it can be held held, but it is a real struggle and something that you should not consider except for abnormal circumstances. If you plan on using this lens you really need a good tripod along with the Wimberley Mount. This is going to add around another $1300.
Also, this lens will attract attention. You will be noticed by everyone, including bad guys if you are in isolated locations, so your security should be something to be considered.
I have read numerous comments about this lens being difficult to carry. I personally have not found this to be the case, but when you are shooting with this lens, this will be what your trip is all about. There won't be a lot of opportunities for other activities.
Finally, this lens takes unreal pictures. The photos this lens produces are of the highest levels. Totally satisfied! I would rate the picture quality higher than my other two Canon L lens which are the 28-70 f/2.8 and the 300mm f/4.
As a final thought, besides wildlife and sports use, I have found this lens produces some fantastic portraits.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

Nature photography is my passion especially birds. I consider myself a serious amateur having had my work published in several well known magazines. That being said the Canon 600mm opened up a whole new world for my passion. No longer would I stare helplessly at a subject I knew would be a potential cover shot only to be too far out of range for my existing lens to capture the subject. This lens now allows me to literally enter into a new dimension of wildlife photography. With a 1.4x converter the reach is awesome. One major temporary setback was that within weeks of having taken delivery of the lens a focus motor burned out. The motor failure occurred as I was about to photograph an endangered species in a very restricted military base that had issued me a special security clearance to enter the site. Canon repair had it fixed within 7 days. However I live within driving range of a major Canon repair facility. To mail it would have been a mega hassle!

Expertise: Serious Amateur

Problems Encountered: One major temporary setback was that within weeks of having taken delivery of the lens a focus motor burned out. The motor failure occurred as I was about to photograph an endangered species in a very restricted military base that had issued me a special security clearance to enter the site. Canon repair had it fixed within 7 days. However I live within driving range of a major Canon repair facility. To mail it would have been a mega hassle!

Items I Recommend: Gitzo 3530 , Wimberly Head, Lowepro Backpack, 52mm polarizer

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

I purchased this lens on 3-2-07. When it arrived I had know idea just how large a lens it was.My wife thinks it is a weapon (RPG),people duck when they pass by while I am photographing my son at a track meet.And it take a little while to get the feel for this massive lens.I put the circular polarized filter in and took off. The detail,color and shear powerful feeling that this lens produces is amazing.I have been able to take pictures with this lens,that prior to were a waste of time.For instance,I can be anywhere in the stands and my son anywhere on the track field,and I can get the shot.You will need a monopod for this beast,I do not use a pan head,just screw the monopod directly to the lens.The most recent accomplishment was the lunar eclipse on 3-3-07.With this lens I was abel to capture the whole eclipse phase which lasted about an hour.One of the other reviewers stated that this is a serious lens,that is special to use,and he is correct.I do not regret the expendature,and am relishing in the ability to reach out and touch what ever I can see! You can even stop action with this lens (4,000 shutter speed,f4 aperture's 1600-in daylight)ie, running,pole vaulting,high jump,etc.

Problems Encountered: No real problem's will take some practice and a monopod to get the shot,but you will be abel to get the shot.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nothing compares

Items I Recommend: bogen monopod,circular polarized filter

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 600mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens:

If you need a long fast super-telephoto it doesn't get any better than this. Purchased in 2000 soon after introduction, it has been used frequently since and has been flawless. With the 1DsII the image quality is scary sharp. It has the fast autofocus in the world, high contrast, a good minimum of focus of 15ft or less and lovely background blurring rendition. It feels special to use, it is a serious lens that does require concentration and good technique due to the weight and long focal length but once you're into it you'll treasure it.

Problems Encountered: Canon have taken a lot of weight out of this lens compared with previous versions, with the use of magnesium for the barrel and carbon fibre for the hood but it's still heavy and I'd like to see more weight taken out. Ironically though it is fractionally lighter than its smaller brother the EF400/2.8L IS so I shouldn't complain.Paying the bill for big fast teles is never easy either.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: EF400/2.8L and EF300/2.8L IS

Items I Recommend: Drop-in polarizer; LowePro600AW backpack, Gitzo 1548 carbon tripod