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Archive 2012 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6

  
 
JimN
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Prior to receiving my new Canon 600mm lens, I started a thread here speculating that the new 600mm lens would pretty much make the 800mm obsolete. What I mean by that is that I could not see a compelling reson to select the 800mm over the 600mm lens. Now that I have my new 600mm lens, I beleive this more strongly than ever. Here are the reasons for selecting the 600mm over the 800mm.

1. The 600mm has more focal lengh flexibility. You can shoot at 600mm F4 or smaller, 840mm with a 1.4xTC at F5.6 or smaller, or 1200mm with a 2xTC at F8 or smaller (if your body focuses at F8). The 800mm choices are: 800mm at F5.6 or 1120mm at F8 (again if your camera body will focus at F8) If you are using a non pro body or the 1Dx, the F8 options are not available with AF.

2. The 600mm is lighter weight.

3. The AF speed and image quality of the 600mm+1.4x (840mm F5.6) is very similar to the 800mm F5.6 and gives slightly longer reach.

4. The AF speed and image quality of the 600mm+2x (1200mm F8) is very similar to the 800mm+1.4x (1120mm F8) and gives slightly longer reach.

5. 600mm wins for the reasons above for about the same price as the 800mm.


Below are some examples images made with the new 600mm. 3 of the 8 images were made using the 600mm+2x. Can you tell which ones? No cheating via EXIF data allowed. All of the images were made with a Canon 1D Mark IV camera body and were hand held. I even included a couple of PIF shots for Petcal.

What do you think?

1 Bald Eagle in Flight with Fish
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/POST/V61.jpg

2 Limpkin Banking in Flight
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/POST/V62.jpg

3 Ringed Turtle-dove in Flight
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/POST/V63.jpg

4 Red-shouldered Hawk
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/POST/V64.jpg

5 Eurasian Collared-dove in Flight
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/POST/V65.jpg

6 Female Snail Kite with Crayfish
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/POST/V66.jpg

7 Snail Kite Dispute
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/POST/V67.jpg

8 Snail Kite with just captured Snail
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/POST/V68.jpg









Oct 01, 2012 at 09:52 AM
Ed Peters
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Well, I'm impressed! Just ordered a TC 2X III for my 400mm. Hopefully I'll be able to get results similar to yours.. Thanks for sharing..


Oct 01, 2012 at 10:02 AM
dolina
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Just buy both and be done with it.

I tell people to buy the 600 over the 800.

I dont own a 600....



Oct 01, 2012 at 10:14 AM
3iron
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


That's why the 600 is my choice over the 800.


Oct 01, 2012 at 10:24 AM
sinners
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


gr8 flight shots... can u share some settings on the 1d mk iv. do u use Back focus & how ? Thanks n congrats on the new 600


Oct 01, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Doctorbird
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


You just graphically corroborated my preference for the 600 - if I can locate this elusive lens. It's rare as pigeon's teeth. I am tempted to spring for the 400 f/2.8 II in the interim.

Thank you.



Oct 01, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Harry.C
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Nice post Jim and I pretty much agree with your assessment. I was able to correctly pick out two of the 600mm + 2.0TC shots you posted but without seeing 800mm + 1.4 TC examples that really does mean much.


If you are using a non pro body or the 1Dx, the F8 options are not available with AF.

I admit to being out of the loop in regards to the 1Dx, but are you really saying that it can't AF a 600mm with a 2.0 TC attached? As someone who is thinking of upgrading to the 1Dx that is a huge issue for me if I understand you correctly.



Oct 01, 2012 at 10:37 AM
JimN
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Harry.C wrote:
Nice post Jim and I pretty much agree with your assessment. I was able to correctly pick out two of the 600mm + 2.0TC shots you posted but without seeing 800mm + 1.4 TC examples that really does mean much.

I admit to being out of the loop in regards to the 1Dx, but are you really saying that it can't AF a 600mm with a 2.0 TC attached? As someone who is thinking of upgrading to the 1Dx that is a huge issue for me if I understand you correctly.


The 1DX will not focus at F8 with any lens. I think this is an artificialy imposed limitation from Canon that could be corrected via a firmware update. Why Canon doesn't do this is beyond me.



Oct 01, 2012 at 10:41 AM
big country
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


1dx will AF @f/8 with the kenko 1.4x DGX tele and 800mm 5.6.




Oct 01, 2012 at 11:19 AM
JimN
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


big country wrote:
1dx will AF @f/8 with the kenko 1.4x DGX tele and 800mm 5.6.



Only because the camera is fooled by the Kenco TC. It would probably work with both of the Canon TCs if you taped the pins. You can probably also achieve AF with stacked TCs.



Oct 01, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Your argument is wrong When saying the 600mm has more focal length flexibility, because you can shoot at 600mm. No people buy a 800mm lens if they like to shoot at 600mm.
A bare lens will always beat another with TC.
Your # 3 & 4 are wrong

With your kind of argument the 400/2,8 will be even better



Oct 01, 2012 at 12:45 PM
PetKal
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Lars Johnsson wrote:
Your argument is wrong When saying the 600mm has more focal length flexibility, because you can shoot at 600mm. No people buy a 800mm lens if they like to shoot at 600mm.
A bare lens will always beat another with TC.
Your # 3 & 4 are wrong

With your kind of argument the 400/2,8 will be even better


That's right....besides, is JimN still playing with a half a deck of cards ? Comparing two lenses based on having used just one of the two. ?



Oct 01, 2012 at 02:49 PM
JimN
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


PetKal wrote:
That's right....besides, is JimN still playing with a half a deck of cards ? Comparing two lenses based on having used just one of the two. ?


I have used the 800mm on many occaisions including a 5 week bird photography expedition in Australia, and I now own the 600mm.



Oct 01, 2012 at 04:37 PM
JimN
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Lars Johnsson wrote:
Your argument is wrong When saying the 600mm has more focal length flexibility, because you can shoot at 600mm. No people buy a 800mm lens if they like to shoot at 600mm.
A bare lens will always beat another with TC.
Your # 3 & 4 are wrong

With your kind of argument the 400/2,8 will be even better


If you saying that desired subjects are never at a range that is good with the 600mm, but too close for the 800mm, then it is you who is wrong.

There are many lens+TC combinations that are as good as or better than bare lens. The 600mm + 1.4xTC vs 800mm is an example of this. Another example is the 300mm F2.8+1.4xTC compared to a 400mm F5.6 oe a 100-400mm F5.6.

When I look at the raw images on my monitor, I can't tell the 600mm images from the 600mm+1.4x images unless I look at the exif data. I hope you aren't trying to tell me that the 800mm is sharper than the new 600mm.

As far as your comment about the 400 F2.8, that is a completely different topic. This topic is about shooting in the 600mm to 1200mm range.



Oct 01, 2012 at 04:45 PM
dolina
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


It would've been great if canon stuck a built-in 1.4x extender onto the 600. That would make me trade in my 800.


Oct 01, 2012 at 04:54 PM
Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


JimN wrote:
As far as your comment about the 400 F2.8, that is a completely different topic. This topic is about shooting in the 600mm to 1200mm range.


Your comments and arguments doesn't make sense. NOBODY buy a 800mm lens if they like to shoot at 600mm.
Of course a 600 will be better at that focal range. You can't shoot with the 800.
It's like saying a 100mm lens will be better than a 135mm lens when shooting from 100 to 200mm



Oct 01, 2012 at 05:11 PM
Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


JimN wrote:
When I look at the raw images on my monitor, I can't tell the 600mm images from the 600mm+1.4x images unless I look at the exif data. I hope you aren't trying to tell me that the 800mm is sharper than the new 600mm.

As far as your comment about the 400 F2.8, that is a completely different topic. This topic is about shooting in the 600mm to 1200mm range.


If you saying that desired subjects are never at a range that is good with the 400mm, but too close for the 600mm, then it is you who is wrong (exactly the same as you wrote will fit here)

And I'm not saying the 800 is sharper than the new 600. But I'm saying the 800 is better than the 600 + extenders. That's what you are comparing.

Every month you start the same thread why your 600mm lens is best at all focal lengths. If your are shooting most at 600mm that lens is the best. If 800mm is your normal distance then that lens is the best. And the same goes for 400 or 500........



Oct 01, 2012 at 05:18 PM
RobAmy
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


First off congrats on the new gear, I own the new 300mm and it is amazing. I am sure the new 500mm and 600mm are also amazing pieces of gear.

I personally traded my 600mm in for the 800mm and never looked back. I personally got tied of paying thousands of dollars for a lens that always had a TC on 90% of the time. At least where I live 600mm is often just to short. Maybe the new 600mm and TC is on par or even better image quality wise then the 800mm but to me I still prefer the 800mm.

I think saying the 800mm is obsolete is silly but each his own. If is still a great tool of the trade.

I like the fact that the new 600mm is lighter for sure but that is not enough for me to give the 800mm up, I personally think the 800mm is just a great lens and a pleasure to use.

However if the 600mm with TC's work for you then you made a wise purchase. At the cost of these lenses they are all great and we should pick the tool that works best for us.




Oct 01, 2012 at 05:29 PM
Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Well of course everyone is wrong, as we all know the new 500 is better than all of them

http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/bliss.gif



Oct 01, 2012 at 05:31 PM
RobAmy
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Canon 600mm F4 IS II vs Canon 800mm F5.6


Pixel Perfect wrote:
Well of course everyone is wrong, as we all know the new 500 is better than all of them

http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/bliss.gif


But you did not say the 500 with a TC is the best, now did you



Oct 01, 2012 at 05:36 PM
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