thebug
newbie
Reged: 10/09/2008
Posts: 7
|
|
I am thinking of buying this bad boy http://greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/pre-owned-gear/canon-ef-500mm-f4-l-is-usm-lens.htm
Fair price? They have a few secondhand Canon lenes and stuff. I got a 70-200 2.8 from the same place last year but really need that extra reach. I would love the 800mm, but I will never be able to afford it or pick it up!!!
|
zx9
old hand
Reged: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1039
Loc: London
|
|
Hard to say, a new one is 'only' 4K 
--------------------
ZX9 (Keith)  
My Flickr Pictures
|
Bettina
Kein Titel
Reged: 12/02/2004
Posts: 4101
Loc: London
|
|
What's wrong with a 100-400mm zoom lens? I find that fixed focal lenses can be quite restrictive. What would you use it for? How about 2x or 1.4x extenders?
--------------------
Bettina
http://www.vibrantpictures.co.uk
Vibrant Pictures on Flickr
|
beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4967
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
|
|
Quote:
What's wrong with a 100-400mm zoom lens?
"Wrong" is a relative term, it's great for what it is, but it's very slow (f/5.6) at the long end of the range and also not the sharpest lens in the series. Personally I'd rather use the 70-200 f/2.8 with a x2 extender, that's about the same weight, it's still f/5.6 at the long end and is at least as sharp.
If you need at 500mm focal length and f/4 speed, and can afford it, that's the lens to go for ... assuming the combination of 300mm f/2.8 and x1.4 extender still leaves you short. Now that is a versatile combination, optically great and still a bit cheaper than the 500/4.
Quote:
I find that fixed focal lenses can be quite restrictive.
On the contrary, I find them liberating ... one less thing to fiddle with, with the consequent risk of missing the shot. For the sort of things most people take photos of using super telephoto lenses, precise framing isn't much of an issue, the final composition is done by cropping.
|
Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37849
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
|
|
Quote:
Personally I'd rather use the 70-200 f/2.8 with a x2 extender, that's about the same weight, it's still f/5.6 at the long end and is at least as sharp.
Well, not according to any of the comparative tests I've seen. The advice on this has always been that if you principally need 200-400mm, the 100-400mm is the better choice by a bit, but if your main requirement is under that, the 70-200 and 2x is much the better choice.
--------------------
Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
|
ChrisBrookes
veteran
Reged: 05/11/2005
Posts: 1587
Loc: Oswestry Shropshire UK
|
|
I own the 100-400 and am very happy with it!!! I have been in a bird hide with a guy with the 500mm f4 with a 1.4 converter, the performance was brilliant, and the guy reckoned the 500mm F4 performed slightly better than the 600mm F4, in any case looking through his viewfinder I was very impressed, compared to how close I could get with my 100-400!! I would mention that the lens was something of a behemoth!!
--------------------
Chris Brookes
http://flickr.com/photos/chrisbrookes/
|
Straightarm
Reged: 02/05/2001
Posts: 939
Loc: Exiled in the Beautiful South
|
|
The 100-400 is fine on its own, but it's not advisable to use it with extenders, as you will either lose or have very restricted auto focus.
--------------------
Simon
|
Straightarm
Reged: 02/05/2001
Posts: 939
Loc: Exiled in the Beautiful South
|
|
Canon L lenses tend to hold their value well, so it probably is a fair price.
Those that come on the second hand market tend to sell quickly.
If you don't want to pay quite so much, the Sigma 500 f4.5 is a very good alternative. The drawbacks are no IS and no AF with extenders
http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/telephoto/500mm.htm
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod239.html
--------------------
Simon
|
numanoid
I'm 'Special'...
Reged: 27/01/2002
Posts: 10346
Loc: Co.Durham
|
|
Ooh thats a nice lens! If I had the dosh I'd have it-would be like an 800mm on a APS-C sensored camera!
Hmm, do canon do a 500mm mirror?
--------------------
An artist must have the freedom to express himself - Edward Weston
~Larry~
BSRIPN
http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/numanoid27/
|
El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9463
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
|
|
Not in EF but they did one in New FD mount in the days of manual focus....
--------------------
Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
|
numanoid
I'm 'Special'...
Reged: 27/01/2002
Posts: 10346
Loc: Co.Durham
|
|
Quote:
Not in EF but they did one in New FD mount in the days of manual focus....
Nice! I wonder how much that is in english,and how much its worth now! I had a mirror lens once,a Vivitar in minolta MD fit. It was rubbish!
--------------------
An artist must have the freedom to express himself - Edward Weston
~Larry~
BSRIPN
http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/numanoid27/
|
El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9463
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
|
|
There's 4 listed on E-bay with two having buy it now prices of roughly £100 or £150 plus one that's probably worth nowt (mould).
Optically it's probably better than the Vivitar.........
--------------------
Nigel
Completely BSRIPN
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
|
Gordon_McGeachie
Joke Historian
Reged: 19/01/2007
Posts: 4138
Loc: East Yorkshire,
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Not in EF but they did one in New FD mount in the days of manual focus....
Nice! I wonder how much that is in english,and how much its worth now! I had a mirror lens once,a Vivitar in minolta MD fit. It was rubbish!
You should have got the Tamron mirror, that was a belter of a lens 
--------------------
She (Avro Vulcan XH558)Took To The Sky Like A Lovesick Angel.
|
Wheelman
Reged: 23/11/2002
Posts: 831
Loc: Kent/Sussex border
|
|
Must get my one of those out for an airing.
Never used it that much although it is quite interesting with a 2 x extender on.....
--------------------
Colin
IRIPN
When you don't know where you are going then any road will do
|
numanoid
I'm 'Special'...
Reged: 27/01/2002
Posts: 10346
Loc: Co.Durham
|
|
Quote:
You should have got the Tamron mirror, that was a belter of a lens
Aye i know but it was a second hand lens at Jessops,Wolverhampton ages ago,the only one in the window so i bought it,for 60 quid
--------------------
An artist must have the freedom to express himself - Edward Weston
~Larry~
BSRIPN
http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/numanoid27/
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
