Don't get me wrong - I love the idea of a 7lb 500mm. The issue is will it alter my shooting style or not? If it means no tripod, then that's huge, but I just can't see myself being able to ditch the tripod. Sure I can probably handhold it a bit longer, but if I'm going to pack up all the gear I might as well get the reach.
The performance choice between 500II and 600II boils down to 20% FL difference for 20% weight difference......so you take your pick, whatever is more important to you.
I have a question about these big lenses and transport. I'm looking at two options to carry my future big lens. I've narrowed it down to the Gura Gear Kiboko 30L or the F-stop Tilopia BC with XL ICU. I currently use an f-stop Guru backpack and really like how it works and its quality. I also like how the products don't look like typical boxy camera backpacks. I like the Kiboko because of its low weight and ability to surely fit on planes easily. Also it seems like you can get a lot of gear in there with one side for the big glass and the other for all my other lenses and bodies. I just can't decide!! Please help me out although I know not a lot of people will have experience with both these bags. Any opinions are appreciated.
jkhalifa wrote:
I'm interested to know the rationale behind ordering/owning both the 500 and the 600. Can someone who is doing this chime in with their reasoning?
Justin
I had the 600mm F4 and 500mm F4 for many years.... My justification was that the 500mm was my wifes long lens Worked for me. About 2 years ago I sold the 600mm and replaced it with the 800mm F5.6L IS. Made much more sense to have a bigger FL difference.
Don't think I'd order the 500mm & 600mm. To close together. I'd probably go 600mm and look hard at the new 200-400 if and when it ever appears.. That would be a great combo! For me I'm sticking with the 800mm and will either replace my current 500mm with the new version or go with the 200-400mm.
I might upgrade my 500 to the 500II or possibly the 600II but not until prices drop. In the UK prices tend to drop by about 30% over the first 12-18 months. 300II is now available for £5400, was intially £7499 pre-order , so little sense rushing when the 500IS is so good.
willis wrote:
I might upgrade my 500 to the 500II or possibly the 600II but not until prices drop. In the UK prices tend to drop by about 30% over the first 12-18 months. 300II is now available for £5400, was intially £7499 pre-order , so little sense rushing when the 500IS is so good.
That is an astonishing difference of 2,100 pounds sterling in a matter of a few months.
Only a fool or a very desperate person would pre-order in the UK under those pricing practices.
The poll results are interesting. It would also seem that many people who do not participate in the forum proceedings on a regular basis have taken their part in the poll. After all, FM forum has tens of thousands of members, but only a few hundred active ones.
I am only aware of one regular FM member who bought both 300 II and 400 II at the same time. Now, we have no less than eight folks who are saying they are buying the 500/600 II lens pair.
Peter,
Your thread has flopped because you forgot to add a 200-400 f/4 L IS (+1.4x) in the poll for me. Anyone know the approx release date for that lens?
kirry007 wrote:
Peter,
Your thread has flopped because you forgot to add a 200-400 f/4 L IS (+1.4x) in the poll for me. Anyone know the approx release date for that lens?
Probably "When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves."
I ordered the 500 II and 600 II at the same time from B&H shortly after B&H announced back orders. I have so far received only the 500 II, but not from B&H but from another reseller. The 600 II I've called around about but I've yet to locate one.
IMO, not a good strategy to be preordering that sort of stuff from B&H or Adorama.
I have no idea why some people keep doing it. Time after time it's been proven that some smaller (and very reputable too) camera stores somehow manage to get the new stuff first.
As far as Amazon goes, this kind of product advertising makes me question their business ethics......they have never gotten a penny of my money and they never will.
I consider it a lesson learned. I'm not usually the type to pre-order. Usually I wait, hunt and pounce once I see it in stock and that has worked out well for me. This year I started to pre-order all sorts of Canon and Nikon stuff from B&H and I'll concede I've had to cancel almost all of my pre-orders with B&H because the items have been in stock at other retailers first (no pre-order required). In fact I had an item pre-ordered with B&H and they listed it in stock for *several* days in a row on their web site and still never filled my back order. I had to call them and say "um, can you please fill my back order?" And they did.
I'm not trying to bash B&H in general. I was able to get my 300 II and 400 II from them without a pre-order on the first shipping day. They have lots of current gear in stock and their website works very well and they ship fast. They have fair no haggle pricing and terms. I'm just agreeing that pre-ordering hot new items with them may not make sense if you want them ASAP.
