Hey everyone,
So I have a little dilemma that I hope you guys could help me with, please stay with me on this one. Just some background, I use Nikon cameras 95% of the time and Canon 5%. About 4 months ago I picked up a Canon FD 800mm f/5.6L for a steal at a local garage sale. I bought one of Ed Mika's adapters and picked up a used Canon 40D. I normally shoot surfing from the shore and the lens has be an absolute pleasure to use. The images I get from it are stunning to say the least. However, as the months have gone by I have gotten more and more annoyed with the Canon body. The lens is amazing but the camera is quite honestly a POS. Ergonomically I find my Nikon cameras far superior, however I can't seem to get myself to part with this magical lens. Nonetheless, the different batteries, file systems, flash system, and lens availability (since all my other lenses are Nikon) are really starting to bug me. I thought I could work with two separate camera systems, but unfortunately consistency in my gear keeps me more organized and efficient.
My question is for you folks, should I sell my 800mm FD and pick up maybe a 600mm AI-S and teleconverter instead? Should I just man up and stop being whiny? Really I'm just looking for any type of input.
you could try a different Canon body maybe - my 7D handled like a dream but the inconsistent focus finally drove me out of the Canon camp and back to Nikon
I used to do a lot of surf photography as well, and can only admire you for shooting it with manual focus.
I personally have struggled quite a bit to get decent pictures while shooting with AF, although I must say that even when shooting with the D1H/X it was usually not the camera that was to be blamed for OoF pictures. I nowadays use a 4/600 with sometimes a TC1.4 on a D3, and am quite happy with the results (not the weight though)
In my experience, having to struggle (apart from the focussing) with the camera while shooting is not the best staring point to be able to concentrate to get decent pictures. So if you don't like the Canon bodies/ergonomics best thing would indeed be to ditch the Canon lens and get a Nikon one.
But that will probably cost quite a few extra dollars, as eg in a few auctions I checked on a well know site this evening,the manual Nikon 600mm is quite a bit more expensive then the DD 800mm.
You will not have trouble selling your lens for at least a 200X (times, not percent) profit. Best 5 bucks spent at a garage sale ever. Sad to see you go, wonder what I'm missing by ignoring the Nikon body camp but I'm 30,000 invested in Canon bodies and glass so perhaps ignorance is bliss and I bet my 1D4 is a lot more fun to play with than a 40D.
First off, can you you post some shots of the lens so other's can see what where talking about
Even though I shot Nikon and have for years, the Canon 800 5.6 L was/is on list of "wants".
I read a old American Cinemaphotographer magaizine and in that issue they mentioned that many of the surfing shots where made with that lens. Converted to cini of course. So there is that.
Secondlly it's that really cool focusing knob on the side.How cool is that?
Not to mention if you using it on a DX body your used to having plenty'-o reach on the beach . Effectivlly your @ 1200 mm with the crop right? So I really doudt that a 600 mm 5.6 IF-ED AIS will be enough glass. On a Nikon D-700 you would need to slap a TC-301 on the Nikkor 600 5.6 IF-ED AIS to get to 1200 mm with that lens and than your @ F11 . Not so good.
So if your commited to stepping away from the dark side and shooting Nikon for surfing you might want to look into the Nikkor 600 4.0 IF-ED AIS or the Nikkor 800 5.6 IF-ED AIS.
The Nikkor 600 4.0 IF-ED AIS can be had from KEH for $2,300 there abouts and your going to want to get the TC 14b converter and the TC-301 as well.
If you want to get a Nikkor 800 5.6 IF-ED AIS in nice shape expect to pay close to $4,000 if not more. Not many around and those of us that have them are not in any hurry to get rid of them.
You havnt mentioned your tripod/head but that also comes to into play. However If your using the Canon 800 5.6 L I would imagine you have a wimberly or some other suitable head for panning moving subjects.
Getting back to the Canon 800 5.6 L I would seriously consider hanging on to it for a couple of reasons. First all, if you go to sell it your not going to get much for it considering what the images it can deliver. . Your going to get the usual blather about it not being AF and ..OO The fact is you have one of the fastest, sharpest super telephoto's ever made for 35 mm manual focus photography.
And trust me I used/owned many of them and I still want a Canon 800 5.6L
If it was me, I would pick myself up a T-90 or a F1n with motordrive and burn some film.
Have you ever looked through it with F1n and good screen. OMG. Even better get a sports finder. Oh baby.
Or if your commited to shooting Nikon, spend the bucks and have the mount converted to Nikon F. It will cost some money, but the images you will get will blow you away. I know the flange to focal length distance is differnt 42mm for the Canon Vs 46.5 for the Nikon but a skilled machinist could CNC something up.
And as messed up as it sounds, you can get a Nikon F/Canon AF converter, so you can shoot full frame Video with the Canon 5D2.
Look, it's fine to go on line and get advice. And your minds already made up to dump the lens. PM me and give me first considerations. Really broke right now , but I will find the money if you sell at a fair price.
But really, considering the cost of the alternative of buying the Canon 800 5.6 L AF or the Nikon 600 4.0 IF-ED AIS with converters, or yes even the Nikkor 800 5.6 IF-ED AIS , the Canon 800 5.6 L is a keeper.
Ed Mika wrote:
You will not have trouble selling your lens for at least a 200X (times, not percent) profit. Best 5 bucks spent at a garage sale ever. Sad to see you go, wonder what I'm missing by ignoring the Nikon body camp but I'm 30,000 invested in Canon bodies and glass so perhaps ignorance is bliss and I bet my 1D4 is a lot more fun to play with than a 40D.
Hey Ed,
Yes as much as I tried and forced myself to accept it, I just couldn't make do with the 40D body. Maybe a different camera body is needed. Your adapter works like a dream and I'm so glad for it! I have to sit and think this one out for sure.
Kava, thanks for posting a shots of the lens. Wow it looks new.
Nice surf shots.
As far as still being 50/50 on keeping or selling. Since you still have the lens I would say it more like 51/49 for keeping it.
Okay so I followed your link and checkout the Flicker and I have a couple of question/commmets.
First off your doing fine on your surf photography, focus wise.
How many times have you gone out?
You really need top get a full frame body and a couple of solid days practice to get good at MF moving subjects with super telephoto glass like the 800 5.6 L .
But from the looks of it you just got the lens not that long ago and already got some great images.
And got to stop saying "I suck at manual focusing. Instead repeat " I am a focus god"
No really, it just take a little time and concentration.
With the right body and mind set I am sure you could be getting some killer shots in no time.
So it looks like that lens mount converter thing, lets you have Infintiy focus. Is that correct. If so that that is really good new for Nikon shooter's, as it open up a huge selection of most excellent Canon FD L glass for picking/using.
Even thought they focus the wrong way Canon FDL glass is still amazing.
The Canon 200 1.8 L, the 300 2.8 L, the 400 2.8 L and the 500 4.5L, 1200 F11L and the 150-600 5.6L ( also on on my list) to name a few.
If you get infinity focus than if you want to shoot this Canon glass on a Nikon body, than just get a Canon AF/Nikon F mount converter and your good to go.
As far as the Canon 800 5.6L being to tight. Consider a couple of things. First off your using a cropped body so like I said your 800 5.6 L is being cropped to give the coverage of a 1200mm .
Secondly when starting to shoot with Super Telephoto's it might seem that the subject is to close. When in truth from you images you have posted you could still get tighter.
Thirdly, you can't really expect that one super telephoto is going to cover all situations and distances every time.
My advice would be keep the 800 5.6 L and get a full frame body Nikon/Canon. And shoot everything you can for a month with the 800 5.6L.
While it's great for surfing, By no means is the 800 5.6 L a one trick pony. Photograph people, go to the zoo. Do some sports and get really good at focusing and capturing the decisive moment. Consider getting some tubes, so you can close focus with the 800 5.6L.
Do some sunsets(live view) so you don't burn your eye's. Even try some abstracts.
And I would also consider getting some Canon TC 1.4 and the 2X.
It's a differnt world with 800 mm 5.6 . I notice that when out with mine my perception reaches out. I find myself looking a block down to what may be coming towards me. The 800 has so much compression and while 5.6 dosnt sound very fast, in a 800 mm 5.6 is fast.
The 800mm 5.6 is such a brialliant combination on length combined with speed and size.
As far as getting good at Manual focusing, perfect practice makes perfect. Practice perfect on people waling down the street. Cars coming at you. Air planes. And yes, birds and flight.
I have found that when using MF super telephoto's that getting "one" sharp image is always better than blasting with the motor drive and getting half a dozen of unsharp images.
I have some decent surfing shots I took while in Maui. Even though it wasnt enough glass, and I was using an 800 F 8 (what I had at the time) I got some nice stuff.
And I remember that the best shots I got, where when the surfer cut back into the wave.
And after a short while I got to know the surfer and his style and timing that moment with getting the image sharp was a snap.
Getting back to your 800 5/6 L . I am really glad it's in a shooter's hands now and not sitting there gather dust. and I for one really want to see "you" get the most out of that lens.
Looking forward to seeing more of your work with the Canon 800 5.6L
Feel free to post some more shots of the Lens. I never can see enough.
If you are looking for a long lens in the Nikon camp you could always look at using a telescope. Nikon makes some that can be mounted to DSLR's with adapters. This guy uses a Nikon telescope for birding.
A while back, there was a Nikkor 800 f5.6 that stayed on the for sale board at Nikonains for several weeks. It had been used once, then the guy had health issues that kept him from using it. Pristine would be the word. I think there is still one on there in lesser shape, but it's in Europe.
bikinchris wrote:
A while back, there was a Nikkor 800 f5.6 that stayed on the for sale board at Nikonains for several weeks. It had been used once, then the guy had health issues that kept him from using it. Pristine would be the word. I think there is still one on there in lesser shape, but it's in Europe.
I bought a 200-400 f4 VRI from the same guy.
Hey Chris, thanks for the heads up. Do you know about how much that person was asking for his lens?
Tommy_D wrote:
If you are looking for a long lens in the Nikon camp you could always look at using a telescope. Nikon makes some that can be mounted to DSLR's with adapters. This guy uses a Nikon telescope for birding.
kavawavaphoto wrote:
Hey Chris, thanks for the heads up. Do you know about how much that person was asking for his lens?
Tom
BTW, my wording was wrong. The lens I bought was from a guy in Texas who also listed his 200-400 that I bought. He is also going to list a 600mm soon. (I wish I could afford it). The foreign lens was in Portugal. I checked last night and the lens that was in Portugal was listed as sold. Sorry.
A Google search for "used 800mm f5.6 for sale" has listed a few for sale, though.
Depending on condition, you should find them for around $2,000 to $3,900.
bikinchris wrote:
A while back, there was a Nikkor 800 f5.6 that stayed on the for sale board at Nikonains for several weeks. It had been used once, then the guy had health issues that kept him from using it. Pristine would be the word. I think there is still one on there in lesser shape, but it's in Europe.
The AiS 800mm/5.6 is a superb lens on the D3/D700.It's not that much bigger than the AiS 600mm/4 (basically the tube at the camera end is longer).
It's the lens in the background. In front is the AiP 500mm/4 http://www.pbase.com/andrease/image/138645756/original.jpg
