Canon 500mm f4 is mk1 lens?

[stealth117]

Hi, just wanted to hear peoples thoughts on the Canon 500mm f4 is mk1 lens. I am looking at getting one second hand for around £2500.Before I do go and buy it, Is it worth the money and would I regret buying it? Have been undecided on what to do for a little while but know this is the place to help me make my mind up. I would mainly be taking pictures at airshows but also do the odd bit of wildlife too.

Any opinions/thoughts much appreciated, thanks
Martin

[Andy_99]

Could you not look at hiring one & try it out 1st ?

[stealth117]

Hi, thanks for you reply. I have looked but for 2-3days it was around £200-£250 so would take a good chunk of what I have saved just to test it. I don't have any issues with the weight, just whether it would be worth spending the money on it. I have the mk1 100-400mm at the moment, was looking at the sigma 150-600mm but wondered if I would be better overall splashing out and getting the 500mm?

Thanks again

[John flightpath]

Hi Martin. The thing that puts me off imo is that you are restricted to 500mm, whereas an updated version of your existing lens gives you more options. Have you considered the Tamron AO22 lens at around £800. It gives you 150 to 600 and is an updated version of the AO11. It would help you with the aircraft and the wildlife with a range of zoom.

Cheers
John 'flightpath'.

[stealth117]

Hi John, I will have a look into the tamron, do you have one? If so how do you rate it? I have read a few different things about the sigma 150-600 and there seems to be lots of great photos being taken with it so I may well end up with a zoom over a fixed. Plus its way cheaper and if I can get any pictures like I have seen I would be very happy with it.

Thanks
Martin

[Supra]

This is gonna sound weird, but it's possibly what camera body you're going to use on it decides the issue too! Put a Canon 500mm f4 is mk1 lens on the following Canon camera bodies & you effectively have the focal lengths noted.
a] For example 7D Mk II with an APS-C sensor & you effectively have 800mm Focal Length. (Add a 1.4x TC. = 1120mm)
b] For example 1D Mk IV with an APS-H sensor & you effectively have 650mm Focal Length.(Add a 1.4x TC. = 910mm )
c] For example 5D Mk IV with a Full-Frame sensor & you effectively have 500mm Focal Length. (Add a 1.4x TC. = 700mm)
Note that some bodies don't support Auto-focus with an Extender fitted. I use the Canon 100-400 & also longer fixed Canon prime lenses. For aircraft I sometimes find the constraints of a fixed 500mm focal length promotes more dynamic photography & loosely cropped images direct from the camera. It just depends on what results you're trying to achieve & where the end product will be seen?
This site https://newatlas.com/camera-sensor-size-guide/26684/ is fairly easy to follow & outlines why sensor Size & how you use it really does matter, not length!

[stealth117]

Thanks for your reply supra very interesting read on sensor size so thanks for that. I have a 7d and my pictures are mainly just for my enjoyment but I have also sold a few in the past. I did think that with the 500mm it could make for some more interesting shots but could also be limiting for some stuff too. I think the main thing for me now is just the price of the lens as £2500 is a big investment especially if I can get some pictures just as good with the sigma 150-600mm and its half the price. Just wouldn't want to fork out for the 500mm then regret it down the line. Maybe a silly question but would the image quality of the 500mm prime be far more superior than the sigma or just minimal difference?

Thanks
Martin

[reheat module]

The last sentence above Martin is a real 'can of worms' for some people.
Some will use primes (for which a 500mm f4 is a benchmark for many Wildlife enthusiasts) and no other, whereas others swear by the quality now of the superzooms.
I've hired and used a 500 prime; it was heavy at times, fixed focal (but the best tool for zooming are your feet), yet it returned some super images and I was pleased to have taken that route.
Where my budget allowed, I would buy a prime; quality glass is important- but the superzooms are excellent too.
Alternatively, frequency of use is important; don't pay a lot extra for something to gather dust, a superzoom offers a range of focal lengths which the prime does not.

[stealth117]

Thanks for your input reheatmodule, I'm also now thinking if I'd be better off with the zoom lens because if I go out spotting on a normal day whether the 500mm would be that practical using it a coningsby or waddington for example. Maybe it would limit me too much on a normal day as I know I would not need 500mm so the zoom would cover most situations and I would probably only use the 500mm for the few airshows I now attend (unfortunately getting less and less to go to). Decisions decisions, if only I could afford both.

Thanks again for everyone's input, it's looking likely to be the 150-600mm at the moment. I don't think I'd regret it if I got the 500mm but not sure it would be much better for my personal use.

[Pete Da Bear]

Not wishing to make life difficult but have you considered the new "Bigma" ? Sigma 60-600mm f4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sport Lens, on your 7D you end up with a 96 - 960. So just about everything covered from the statics to the aerobatics. It has been getting some good reviews from the pros and amateurs. End of the day you'll always have the two opposing camps, prime V zoom. Wex have it at the moment for £1699 which is £200 less than RRP.

[John flightpath]

Hi John, I will have a look into the tamron, do you have one? If so how do you rate it? I have read a few different things about the sigma 150-600 and there seems to be lots of great photos being taken with it so I may well end up with a zoom over a fixed. Plus its way cheaper and if I can get any pictures like I have seen I would be very happy with it.

Thanks
Martin

No I don't own one Martin, I have the Sigma 150-500, but the Tamron has caught my eye, and if I was going to change, I think it could be the one I go for. Have read up on them quite a bit.
Cheers
John.

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

Hi stealth117, i have had the sigma 150-600mm sports for a little while now and i have no complaints about it!! its a beautiful lens! very sharp and very well built also the AF is blasingly fast to! id defiantly recommend it to anyone. i picked mine up for 850 used in excellent condition. Heres a few sample images.







Hope this helps

[stealth117]

Thanks again for all your replies. Great pictures there 633 squadron. think I am going to get the sigma 150-600mm.

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

Thanks again for all your replies. Great pictures there 633 squadron. think I am going to get the sigma 150-600mm.

Thanks, you shoudnt regret it, you may find it a bit heavy if you get the sports but i got use to it.

[phantomrob]

if you want sharpness and clarity.
buy the canon 500mm
Sigma are a second best option, that is why there are so many second hand ones for sale.

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

if you want sharpness and clarity.
buy the canon 500mm
Sigma are a second best option, that is why there are so many second hand ones for sale.

thats a very true statement if you best the BEST image quality and the best clarity get the 500 f4, but you trade of versatility and resolution which imo is bad. In a real world situation id like to see the difference between the two lenses in terms of sharpness

[John flightpath]

I take on board the comments regarding the Canon 500 prime. For some people out there, there is simply no other. However, I have a 500mm mirror lens prime (Samyang) and simply don't use it because of its lack of versatility. You'll probably get more use out of the zoom. Which one ? leave it up to you. Canon prices are too high for me. So if you are going the Sigma or Tamron route you should be ok.
Hope you will tell us all what you buy in the end.

Cheers
John

[stealth117]

Thanks for all the replies on here. I have just been and picked up the sigma 150-600mm sports lens for what I think was at great price at £999. Not had it out the box properly yet but looks like a great quality lens well built and very sturdy. Can't wait to use it at riat now.

Cheers
Martin

[Supra]

Top Tip! Take it out & try it comprehensively before RIAT. Go out this weekend & shoot anything that moves! Seriously you DO need to find the sweet-spot of any lens? Research comments by previous owners for likely settings, then test & test again to suit your own preferences.
You also have one of the more challenging Canon bodies to optimise the settings on. Test it & set the body/lens combo' for both blue sky weather & pants weather like you get at RIAT! Save those profiles as a starting-point so you don't mess-up on the day! Congrat's on your purchase

[reheat module]

Well done on your purchase !
It didn't take you too long to make your mind up.
There's plenty rabbits squashed on the road, because they couldn't make their mind up.
Enjoy the use.