EF 600mm f/4 IS II
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I also had several opportunities where I was able to approach perched kites for close-up shots. Needless to say, the AF is accurate and stable for static subjects (note that because action can happen at any time I never switch AF to single shot). The perched frames came out very sharp and I am impressed with the level of field sharpness I can obtain with the EF 1.4X extender III at wide open aperture (f/5.6). In the past, I have had great results with the original EF 500mm f/4L IS and 1.4X extender, but at times I would stop down to f/8 just to squeeze out a tad more sharpness and contrast. With the new lens I would only stop down for depth of field. Click here for a 100% crop from RAW of the image below taken at f/5.6 for a close inspection of details. Given the very good performance of the new lens with the EF 2X TC III at f/8 I can see this combo being useful for static frames. Unfortunately recent Canon pro cameras have dropped support for AF at f/8, but on the 1D MKIV, 1200mm f/8 is now a valid proposition.
It is worth noting that the new AF module used in the EOS 1DX and the EOS 5D Mark III cameras, all AF points remain active with the EF 600mm II plus EF 1.4X extender combo. This is in contrast with the EF 800mm f/5.6L IS where the outer peripheral AF sensors are disabled. The peripheral sensors are useful when shooting off-centered perched birds. Note that given the narrow DOF, focus-and-recompose technique will result in out-of-focus images at such focal lengths.
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Thanks for the review Ari. Amazing kite photos.
Wonderful Review and images Ari. Thank you
Your White-tailed kite series is just ASTOUNDING and would deserve a whole photo-book for itself! The 39 th just threw me off my chair!
A true GREAT series! Congrats!
Great review and awesome pictures!
Thanks for the review Ari.
Many thanks for the excellent review! I was on the fence about ordering this lens for BIF photography, but after seeing your results, I just went ahead and ordered it. I doubt if I’ll ever get images as good as your kite photos, but without this glass, there wouldn’t even be a chance.
Ditto on Chuck Murphy’s reply.
Hi Aria,
If I can not handle the 600mm there are any lenses that you can recommend. I will have the trip to Africa in this September. I have Cannon 7D and lenses 100-400mm cannon. I will take the picture of mammal and people. Which camera or lenses that you can recommend please.
Hello,
I recommend an EOS 1D series camera for best results. The 100-400 is a light lens, but its optics are not great. The new 300 f/2.8 IS II with extenders 1.4XIII and 2XIII is a better choice if you require professional quality photos.
Hi Ari,
Thanks for a great review, not to mention the fantastic pictures. As I’m thinking about getting this lens – first time to get a lens of this type, could you give some tips on how to inspect and test this lens (to make sure it is a good copy)? As other models in the Canon lens lineup often have varied quality control issues, I hope to know how to inspect a lens of this value to be confident it is of good quality.
-Jason
Hi Jason,
Thanks for your comments. Bad vs. good copy is mostly an internet myth in my view. I yet have to see a “lemon” lens after 8 years of using Canon gear. Most of the time, inexperienced users confuse their own error or bad technique with quality variation.
As long as you buy from an authorized Canon dealer you will be fine.
best
Ari
Hi Ari,
Thanks for the great review of the lens and for motivating me. Your photos are great!
I plan on getting this lens. I currently shoot 5D mk3 and 7D. Have you tried this lens with 1.4x on the 7D (is that too much… maybe for handheld the lever arm is too much) ?
Thanks again,
Ed
Thanks Ed,
yes, you can hand hold this lens with either 1.4X or 2X with no issues at all, I do it all the time. I only use with 1D bodies.
best
Great review. How hard is it to carry around the 600 iIS ii searching for birds? I am generally interested in small birds. Initially was looking at 500 IS ii, but I always have hard time on reach and think I should go with 600.
Hi Naren,
I dont’ find it difficult to carry the lens
Thanks for the reply Ari. How do you carry once you are in the field? Will you carry it on the tripod, or use a lens string or carry in a bag. I rented 600mm is ii last week and was carrying it in a bag(from lensrental) and it was hectic. Ultimately I could not find a bird that I can photograph!
Hi I don’t use a tripod, I just carry the lens attached to a black rapid II. I don’t use a bag in the field.
Hello Arash,
I need your advise again. Couple of years ago you advised me to purchase EF 100-400mm F4 II. That subsided the temptation of purchasing EF 600mm f/4 II for awhile. However, the price of EF 600mm went down recently, the new lens sales for $9.5 K now. Given that the version III of EF 600mm lens has been introduced as well as canon’s new RF mount, I would like to get your opinion whether I should further delay 600mm lens purchase or give into temptation and buy one. I don’t want to buy an expensive lens that may become obsolete soon. Any help would be appreciated.
Regards,
Amir
Hi Amir,
new lenses and cameras come out all the time, but we live in the moment. If we want to wait for the next big thing we would be waiting the rest of our lives and missing many opportunities. A lens isn’t an investment vehicle, it’s a tool to the job and any lens will become obsolete and worthless at some point. My recommendation is always to get the best gear you can afford for the goal you are trying to achieve
Best
Arash
Hi Ari,
I’ve just discovered your site and your photos are of a quality I strive to reach. Great images and I’m glad I found you.
I’m considering a couple of your guides. I have the 7D ii and am looking at your Pro Photographers Guide to Post Processing and the Canon DPP4 guide. You say Adobe Photoshop CS4 is required but I found two CS4 downloads. One is $275 and the other is for photographers and is $42. Which one? Could you also be more specific re: the Neat Image software. I’m on an HP desktop with Windows 7 Home Premium. I would appreciate a little more clarity so I get what I need the first time around.
Thank you in advance for your assistance and your expertise.
Steve
Hi Steve, thanks for your comments.Adobe Photoshop CS4 is the minimum you need, however CS4 is about 10 years old now and the new neat image plugin may not work with it. The latest Photoshop is photoshop CC and it is subscription based, i.e. $10 a month which is much better than buying obsolete software
hope this helps
Hello again Ari,
I looked at your site again and am just as blown away by your images as I was the first time I saw them.
I last wrote to you on Nov. 4th (above) and since then I picked up PSE 2020 and am wondering if this will work with DPP4 and Neat Image? I don’t really care to do the subscription thing if I can avoid it. Let me know if you think the PSE will work and I’ll order the guide.
Thank you once again,
Steve
Hi Steve
Thanks for your comments!
DPP4 is independent of Photoshop. Neat Image or any other plugin only work with the full version of Adobe PhotoShop. There is really not much you can do with Photshop elements as it lacks the sharpening and resizing algos used in the real software, if you are interested in professional quality images you need to get the full version.
best