When it comes to birding, the longer is almost always better. Still, Canon managed to significantly reduce the weight of this lens without making much smaller in size. The 500mm f4 IS has been my all time favorite super tele from canon for over a decade. 300 f2.8 can easily become a superb 600mm by using the 2.0x III. 300mm is too short. The redesigned Mark II lens is about the same weight as our original 500mm f/4, meaning it can be handheld in the real-world, making this the ultimate wildlife lens for those with the budget. For travel and hiking this lens cannot be beat. The lens seems to AF slower with the series III tele converters vs the series ii. Now, on to my subjective observations on the performance of the lens. You may have to register before … you can convert the 600mm to a 840mm prime with using a 1.4xIII with very slight hit in IQ. SLRgear Review October 8, 2012 by Andrew Alexander. Thinking about size/weight/reach is an important factor when you select a super-tele. My reasoning to get the 500mm originally, and to stick with the same focal length when upgrading to the Mark II, was the following. The canon 500mm II is a masterpiece. The optical scheme comprises 16 elements in 12 groups (1UD+2F). Version I was as well, but somehow, some way canon managed to shave 1.5 lbs off of this lens. Canon 500mm F4 version I versus II If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. So keep that in mind. Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS II USM is a autofocus prime lens with image stabilization and ultra-sonic motor for SLR cameras. Why 500mm? Take a more detailed look into the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Compact lightweight super-telephoto The EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM features a lightweight magnesium alloy and titanium construction, which reduces weight without compromising on strength and build quality. In February 2011, Canon announced the next iteration in its super telephoto primes; the 500mm and 600mm ƒ/4 II lenses. Being able to use the teleconverters with only a minimal loss of image quality is an immense improvement; I highly recommend this lens to wildlife photographers. canon 500mm is an odd ball for birding, IMO. Buy Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens featuring EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format, Aperture Range: f/4 to f/32, Two Fluorite & Four Aspherical Elements, Sub Wavelength Coating, Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System, Optical Image Stabilizer, Power Focus, Focus Limiter, Focus Preset, Weather-Sealed Design, Fluorine Coating, Detachable, Rotatable Tripod Collar, Rounded 9-Blade … The Canon 500mm f/4 L IS USM II is a lot lighter and easier to handhold; it has improved focus and more effective image stabilization, and it is the state of art in terms of image quality. Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM Canon EF 600mm ... i settled for canon 600 f4.0 II and 300 f2.8 II plus canon 1.4x III and 2.0xIII. For weight alone, the upgrade wasn't worth it, it's noticeably lighter, but the real reason to upgrade is optical performance. Thanks to the 9-bladed aperture, the subjects located outside the … Canon 600mm f/4 L IS II, about $12,000 new and not really available used. For all the technical specifications for the Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS II USM, visit the specifications page on the Canon USA website. The improvements in weight were more significant with the 400 and 600mm lenses, but that's because the 500mm was already close to ideal.