I conclude that the 600 II ~$13K is marginally optically better per Canon's MTF charts than the 600 I that I am selling here (~6.5K). $6500 better? or twice the price better? Well that is something you have to decide for yourself. That extra little bit of perfection sure does cost a premium. Just how much more are you willing to pay to get Turbo Timmy's signature on a dollar bill just right?
What I see is not a big difference in the center of the frame between the 600 II and 600 I. That's where you have the money shots in wildlife and sports most of the time. But on the edge of the frame the 600 II is sharper. Most people using a 600 don't care about the edge of the frame. But if you do cycling for example where edge-to-edge performance is critical - maybe you'll drop the extra $6.5K for the 600 II. Rare I know. These are just my opinions.
I would add that I found the 300 II was also sharper on the edge but not in the center versus my 300 I which I sold here. The 400 II was also sharp edge-to-edge. It seems like Canon is working on evolutionary edge performance increases and succeeding. But the center of the frame out resolves the 24MP sensor already and no performance boost in the SuperTele lens will help at the center of the frame until we get greater than 24MP sensors on the Canon side. That's just my opinion.
Yes, this shows very graphically what can happen when long lens collecting passion turns terribly wrong.
So far the deadly affliction is without cure........even our resident psychiatrist DocsPics has fallen victim himself, badly in need of counselling which I have been providing to him regularly on a pro bono basis.
Be that as it may, in my opinion buying stuff from Roland should be as safe and pleasant as it gets.
I'm still holding out for the Canon 100MP 8-1200mm optical implant rumored to ship next year.
You guys crack me up!
Quick note - There is a 600 II available at an authorized Canon reseller this morning. My sales guy there just told me about it. If anyone wants it send me a PM and I'll get you in contact with my sales guy there. Make sure you let me know you are interested in the new 600 II and not my 600 I so I don't get confused. I'm not taking any sort of cut on this just helping on a fellow FM'er who may be having withdrawal symptoms from all the 600 II pictures I've been posting.
Thatspeck wrote:
Nice and thanks for taking the time to post all this
Slight exposure/white balance differences. Autofocus microadjust?
What I'm seeing is the price of the mark 1 going up even more...
Let me check in Lightroom...
The two comparison photos were both taken with the same settings:
f/4.0
1/3200 sec
200 ISO
0.0 EV
However the color temp was set to auto and the vers II was 4950 and vers I was 5200. Good eye!
I wanted to rule out microadjust issues during my tests of the 600 I and 600 II and the 500 I and 500 II. So I took about a dozen shots for each sample using liveview mode which uses contract detect auto-focus on the imaging sensor and bypasses the phase detect autofocus system and any misalignment it may have. I verified focus using 10x liveview using a SmallHD EVF LCD. However, I found that using contract detect auto-focus on a stationary target with these lenses on a 5D3 was far more precise and consistent than I could ever hope to achieve even at 10x in liveview on the SmallHD EVF on the 5D3. Oh and I also used a Canon Wireless remote trigger. This is the best method I've come up with to isolate just the effects of the optics and a Gitzo Series 5 Tripod with Gimbal head.
netexpress wrote:
I wanted to rule out microadjust issues during my tests of the 600 I and 600 II and the 500 I and 500 II. So I took about a dozen shots for each sample using liveview mode which uses contract detect auto-focus on the imaging sensor and bypasses the phase detect autofocus system and any misalignment it may have. I verified focus using 10x liveview using a SmallHD EVF LCD. However, I found that using contract detect auto-focus on a stationary target with these lenses on a 5D3 was far more precise and consistent than I could ever hope to achieve even at 10x in liveview on the SmallHD EVF on the 5D3. Oh and I also used a Canon Wireless remote trigger. This is the best method I've come up with to isolate just the effects of the optics and a Gitzo Series 5 Tripod with Gimbal head. ...Show more →
Wow, nicely done! Did not know that about liveview mode
netexpress wrote:
I wanted to rule out microadjust issues during my tests of the 600 I and 600 II and the 500 I and 500 II. So I took about a dozen shots for each sample using liveview mode which uses contract detect auto-focus on the imaging sensor and bypasses the phase detect autofocus system and any misalignment it may have. I verified focus using 10x liveview using a SmallHD EVF LCD. However, I found that using contract detect auto-focus on a stationary target with these lenses on a 5D3 was far more precise and consistent than I could ever hope to achieve even at 10x in liveview on the SmallHD EVF on the 5D3. Oh and I also used a Canon Wireless remote trigger. This is the best method I've come up with to isolate just the effects of the optics and a Gitzo Series 5 Tripod with Gimbal head. ...Show more →
Roland, you do not seem able to forget about business contracts even when you play with your gears. I think that speaks volume of the situation gravity.
I'll be posting a Canon 500mm f/4L version II as soon as B&S let's me post another thread. But for now it's on Craigslist for $10,300 for local pickup:
I think that speaks volume of the situation gravity. 
