I have a question for Douglas, Canon is supposedly releasing RF iterations of the 200-500/1.4 a 100mm longer than the one that I had in EF mount, and a 300-700 RF lenses. Having owned previous versions of most of those I should be able to answer this question, but, at this moment, I cannot. I'm about to pick up my RF 600/4 III, but I'm really conflicted. The 200-400/1.4 was an incredible lens and obviously more flexible than the 600/4 Prime, with the 1.4 kicked in it gets you to 700mm with the addition of a stop. Does it make any sense to own the 600/4 III. Back in the days of EF, the 200-400/1.4 was my go to lens at air shows. This new one is a lighter, sharper, faster version, not just an EF with a silver 1.4 slapped on the back. The other factor that has me conned is the absolutely incredible quality and performance of the RF 100-500. Really, do I need any of them? I find myself going round and round imagining dozens of scenarios in which I would use them all...............I'm bumfuled, help me clear the muddy water Douglas.
Nobody seems to have a handle on production schedules for these new RF lenses, exciting as they might be. I guess I could grab a lot of winners with the 600/4 III while I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for the zooms to ship. My 800mm amortized itself in just a few months way back when, so I'm sure the 600 would most probably do the same. Better grab it while I can and see when the others come around.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
I have a question for Douglas, Canon is supposedly releasing RF iterations of the 200-500/1.4 a 100mm longer than the one that I had in EF mount, and a 300-700 RF lenses. Having owned previous versions of most of those I should be able to answer this question, but, at this moment, I cannot. I'm about to pick up my RF 600/4 III, but I'm really conflicted. The 200-400/1.4 was an incredible lens and obviously more flexible than the 600/4 Prime, with the 1.4 kicked in it gets you to 700mm with the addition of a stop. Does it make any sense to own the 600/4 III. Back in the days of EF, the 200-400/1.4 was my go to lens at air shows. This new one is a lighter, sharper, faster version, not just an EF with a silver 1.4 slapped on the back. The other factor that has me conned is the absolutely incredible quality and performance of the RF 100-500. Really, do I need any of them? I find myself going round and round imagining dozens of scenarios in which I would use them all...............I'm bumfuled, help me clear the muddy water Douglas....Show more →
First world problem, Jim! if you are not doing a lot of birding, 600mm f4 could be an overkill, IMHO. I use my 600+1.4TC for some airshow shots to get real closeup but the vast majority of my airshow shots were taken with the 200-600mm lens. But 840mm does get me some dramatic shots sometimes. Again, for me, if I weren't shooting a fair amount of birds, I wouldn't get a $13K 600 f4 just to shoot airshows. I would say either a 200-500 with built-in 1.4TC or a 300-700 on a high resolution body would be fantastic for airshows!
Thanks Douglas. Given the fact that we have no idea when those lenses will hit the streets, it may leave me with no choice. I'm waiting for a little more insight from my Canon guy.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Thanks Douglas. Given the fact that we have no idea when those lenses will hit the streets, it may leave me with no choice. I'm waiting for a little more insight from my Canon guy.
A lens I really like is the new Nikon Z 800mm f6.3 PF, light and sharp, relatively "cheap" ($6000). If Sony makes a 200-500 f4 with built-in 1.4TC and it's not too heavy, I may even trade in the 600 f4!
Talking about shooting birds, some from today.
ILCE-1FE 600mm F4 GM OSS lens600mmf/4.01/800s320 ISO-2.0 EV
ILCE-1FE 600mm F4 GM OSS lens600mmf/4.01/800s800 ISO-2.0 EV
ILCE-1FE 600mm F4 GM OSS lens600mmf/4.01/800s640 ISO-2.0 EV
You all know Douglas has an Airport and Zoo in his backyard and that's how he's able to get all these...
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No, No, Just Kidding, Excellent shots again buddy !
Bill Gass wrote:
You all know Douglas has an Airport and Zoo in his backyard and that's how he's able to get all these...
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No, No, Just Kidding, Excellent shots again buddy !
Thank you Bill! Actually you were half right, the first 3 shots in my post were shot through the double pane patio door in my kitchen. I picked up a couple logs and drilled some holes in them, put them on the railing of my deck, fill the holes with bird feed, I get a good variety of birds, only 10' away, my version of "shooting fish in a barrel".
Jim, those F-22 in sunset shots are to die for! I just finished a book my son bought me for Christmas, "Pacific Payback", it focused on the aerial missions of the carrier pilots during the Battle of Midway, tons of details from the pilots who participated/witnessed the battle. It's hard to imagine how brave these pilots were, with the ship's AA shooting at you and the Zeros pouncing at you a the same time. A lot of them were only 19, 20, 21, 22 in age.
Douglas L wrote:
A lens I really like is the new Nikon Z 800mm f6.3 PF, light and sharp, relatively "cheap" ($6000). If Sony makes a 200-500 f4 with built-in 1.4TC and it's not too heavy, I may even trade in the 600 f4!
Talking about shooting birds, some from today.
Fantastic images brother!!!
Just super fine photography!
Dan
Bill Gass wrote:
You all know Douglas has an Airport and Zoo in his backyard and that's how he's able to get all these...
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No, No, Just Kidding, Excellent shots again buddy !
You are correct Bill!
Douglas is close to many fine places where he catches these superb images!
He also has that "early bird catches the worm" mentality that gets him to the right place while we are just going to bed!
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Boy that is the truth Dan! Douglas is out and after it way before the light starts, and his dedication and talent are rewarded.
It is indeed Jim!
Dan
I just purchased airshow tickets for both Sat and Sun for the Pocono Raceway Airshow (F-22, BA) on Memorial Day weekend, but I will go for only one day, the day with better weather. I will reserve one of the two days for the Jones Beach (NY) show (TB, F-35B). I have never seen an F-35B before. Hopefully they will be allowed to fly by that time after the recent mishap in Texas.
The earliest show I can go to will be in the first week of May at Langley AFB in Virginia, still 4 more months! The show at Barksdale in March has a tremendous lineup but that's too far for me.
led, help me clear the muddy water Douglas.
