At the moment I am feeling tempted to pick-up the 500L during one of my planned trips to a cheap L glass country (Thailand or US). Common sense tells me to be happy with my fantastic 300mm f2.8L and the 1.4x or 2x, but I don't like common sense
I am especially interested in full body shots of people, cars, motorbikes and larger animals to get a feel for the bokeh at longer distances and even shots with the TC's
Please tempt me and make me feel my life is incomplete without it
For what it's worth I had a 500mm too (I had a 500mm twice in fact) and I sold both due to the lack of true portability. But that's just me, anyways you should consider the point too.
For what it's worth I had a 500mm too (I had a 500mm twice in fact) and I sold both due to the lack of true portability. But that's just me, anyways you should consider the point too.
I have a 600 and recently picked up a 500 as well precisely because of its portability. I guess different people have different perspectives on portability...
I noticed that there is a big weight difference between the 400 f2.8 and 600 f4 compared with the 500mm. An there is a big price difference as well It makes the 500 appealing as a good value super-tele which is part of the reason I am getting interested in it
JameelH how far from the bear were you? 200-300 feet?
Sep 18, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
What did you replace the 500 with when you found that it wasn't very portable??
I assume that you wanted the reach. Did you replace it with a heavy 400 DO?
Actually yes. I first had a 500/4.5 that I quickly found too heavy and too large to walk for miles with. Sold it. Got the 400/4 DO, fantastic lens but I sold it as I lost interest in birds and I thought I would never come back. Last spring the interest raised again, got another 500/4.5 as I am in better shape than before. But still I quickly got tired of it Sold it two days ago, I should have kept the DO!
Now I have a 400/5.6 that I mostly used with a 1.4x on my 1D2. Good combo, and I can walk all day chasing birds with it and still be top shape when I come back home in the evening. YMMV.
thedigitalbean wrote: I have a 600 and recently picked up a 500 as well precisely because of its portability. I guess different people have different perspectives on portability...
That's pretty obvious, yes. It all depends on your shape, and what you call portability. To me "portability" means : be able to walk 5 miles uphill with my tripod on a shoulder, pro camera, flash, bracket, cord and still have a backpack with spare lenses, water, food, etc. The 500mm did not qualify.
For others "portability" means going from the parking lot to the beach 100 yards away, and sit there all day with a 6-pack I understand even a 600 must be fine then.
My God, I don't know what I was thinking opening this thread...
Amazing shots everyone. This is such a fascinating lens, one I'm sure my wife will give me hell over once the UPS man delivers it and she sees the receipt.
I have a 600 and recently picked up a 500 as well precisely because of its portability. I guess different people have different perspectives on portability...