Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
 WOW! A game changer September 6, 2010
Don Sausa (Florida USA)
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TQ3Z4OCA8PZ6 I wanted to show this lens being unboxed. The video will show the contents of this lens package, plus a comparison shot between this lens and the Canon 300mm f/4L IS.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE: This is an awesome lens, expensive but worth every penny. I've done handheld shots at 1/100 secs and were able to produce very sharp keepers, wide open. The image stabilization is the best of Canon's lens line up. I've taken shots in wildlife sanctuaries under the heat of the sun and wet weather -- this lens continues on. I've uploaded some of the images on the customer gallery.
PICTURE QUALITY: One of the sharpest lenses I've used, especially with your subject distance is within 10 meters. I often do bird photography and you can see the veins of these birds!
EASE OF USE: If you have used L class lenses before that have image stabilization, this is no problem. Otherwise, you'll want to learn about the differences between the two modes.
-Don Sausa Studios
Unbelievable quality, portable size September 1, 2010
E. Martin (Miami, FL USA)
I saved for 6 years for this lens, and when it came time to purchase, I debated for months whether to get this or save a little more for the 600. After trying out the 600 for myself, I quickly discovered that it was just too much bulk for me. I immediately bought the 500. After my first shoot with it, I knew it was worth every dime. Image quality is unbelievable. Sharp as a tack wide open and stopped down, autofocus is superb, takes the 1.4 teleconverter beautifully, and the best part about it is that I can pack it up with me nearly anywhere. It fits in my Pelican 1510 for air/car travel. It also fits in numerous larger backpacks on the market unlike the 600. I can also sling it out my car window (not easy to do for a little car like mine) and shoot from the vehicle. I LOVE this lens. With it, I am opening a whole new chapter of my wildlife and bird photography.
I predominantly use it on a Wimberley head on either a monopod or tripod. I cannot handhold this lens. I know some people can, but I cannot. If you have back problems or are not strong in the arms and especially the upper back, I'd highly advise getting a monopod and the Wimberley head.
If you are on the fence about whether this lens is worth it or not, just go ahead and tip on over the fence. It is!
The only thing I'd caution potential buyers about is that you should also be prepared to invest another $1,000 at least in support equipment (Wimberley head + Wimberley flash bracket if you use flash + good tripod legs + good monopod + lens plate/replacement foot + optional lenscoat cover). You should further invest in good accidental damage and theft insurance.
What an upgrade from the 100-400mm May 31, 2010
Jon F. Lutz
I purchased this lense as an upgrade from the 100-400mm zoom lense I had been using for bird photography. I now use the 500mm lense in combination with a 1.4x extender for most of my shots (with a 7D camera). Autofocus works great, even with the extender, and the improvement in picture quality over the zoom lense is obvious and very satisfying. It is a big lense, but I am getting used to tracking birds using a monopod. I recommend the lense without hesitation.
So good it feels like I'm cheating April 18, 2010
David C. Stephens (Colorado)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I only got deep into bird and wildlife last summer when I purchased Canon's EF 400mm f/5.6L. That's a fine lens and I thought that the image quality was very good, but I longed for more "reach" and a faster aperture that would autofocus with my 1.4 teleconverter.
A professional photographer freind let me handle his EF 600mm f/4L and his EF 500mm f/4.5L (both are older models) and the added length and weight of the 600mm focused me totally on the 500mm for my bag. My friend is using his 600mm on a full-frame camera while I'm using my 500mm on a 1.6 crop-sensor Canon 7D. On that sensor the 500mm gives a field of view equivalent to 800mm (1.6X500). When I add my 1.4TC II the equivalent focal length is 1,120mm!!! That's amazing power for a lens that will fit in my LowPro backback.
For stunning pictures at all shutter speeds and shooting over an extended periods of time, a stout tripod and gimbal is suggested. I'm using the eight-ply, carbon fiber Induro C414 tripod with an Arca-Swiss Z1 ballhead and the Wimberley Sidekick half-gimbal. This setup is extremely stable and you can turn off the lens' IS. I leave it in mode 2 for panning. That said, this lens yields very sharp images when handheld. The IS is truly effective. To see it, just focus on something stationary without pushing the shutter button to activate the IS. You'll see the image moving and shaking, then push the shutter button and the subject almost "locks" into place, as if it's on the tripod. Yes, there's still small movement, but at 1/1000th to 1/2000th shutter speeds typical in bird photography, everything is sharp. (Remember the old rule, for every 100mm of focal length you need 1/100th second of shutter speed, so the minimum with this lens would be 1/500th, even when shooting something that's not moving. (Factor in a crop-sensor that might be 1/800th second). At those speeds the IS gives very clear results.
The auto focuse of this lens is really fast and mostly "snaps" instantly into focus. You DO need to be aware of the subject distance and move the switch for a close subject and remember to move it back for a distant subject. Be aware of your camera's AF mode. For instance, for birds in flight I use 9 sensors in a square box in the middle of the sensor. For birds in the bush, I use single point in order to look past twigs and such. For things like a passing boat or car it hardly matters which mode your camera is in. When used with my 1.4TC II, the AF snaps seemingly just as quickly.
My Flickr site is [...] Cut and paste if you want to see examples, Tagged "EF 500mm f/4L IS"
I see much superior image quality to my EF 400mm f/5.6L. A big part of this is the effective focal length over 1,000mm when used on a crop-sensor camera and with the 1.4TC, which gives you a frame-filling subject. I still need to crop many of my bird images, but it's mainly for compositional values. This lens is large and does attract a crow (probably the biggest negative) but it gets the job done.
Great lens for the price/weight! January 13, 2010
Bryan Matthew
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Deciding between this lens and the 600/4L IS was indeed a chore - but I convinced myself that if I were to buy the 600/4, I would not even bother taking it on hikes due to the extreme weight. I would also need to upgrade my tripod to a heavy Gitzo GT3541LS Series 3 Long 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Systematic Tripod with G-Lock - Replaces GT3540LS, and get a full proper Wimberly II Gimbal Head.
(I currently use a Gitzo GT2542L Series 2 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Tripod with G-Lock - Replaces GT2541L, and a Jobu Design BWG-LW2 Black Widow Lightweight MK-II Gimbal Head for 200 f/2.8, 300 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8 Lenses for my gimbal needs)
Though if I had the money, i'de go for the 800/5.6L IS instead due to the extreme reach on a FF body, and no longer the need to use a crop body (you lose the outer "bokeh" and vignetting).
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1-month update
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After being able to use it for 1 month now, it simply confirms that the 500mm f/4L IS was the right choice over the 600mm f/4L IS. Though often I wish I didn't have to use extenders on my 1Ds III, I quite like the fact that I can hand-hold this lens all day for nature photography.
One day soon i'll get the 800mm f/5.6L IS, but until then the 500mm f/4L IS is an excellent lens for the price you pay.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
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