New Canon 600mm F4 makes 800mm F5.6 Obsolete?

Now that Canon has announced the new 600mm F4, I think the 800mm F5.6 will become obsolete. The only advantage the 800mm had over the old 600mm was weight. Now the new 600mm will weigh less than the 800mm. It will also be much more flexible. It can be a 600mm F4, a 840mm F5.6 (with a 1.4xTC), or a 1200mm F8. All of these combinations will AF on Canon pro body cameras like the Mark IV. The 800mm can only be an 800mmF5.6 or a 1120mm F8 while retaining AF, and it's about 1.5lbs heavier now. The lenses are about the same price. Seems like a no brainer to me. The 800mm is obsolete unless the price falls big time.

What do you think?

But how does the IQ compare with the extenders?

IQ with extenders, while close, will not be identical. The lens with the native focal length will always be the best.

I guess the 800 with a 1.4x would give better IQ than the 600 with a 2x tc.
Just guessing, though.. never shot any...

With the combination of the new lenses and new extenders, the difference should be moot or close to it.

^^^

Moot is the right wording since most folks cant even afford the proper tripod & head to support these God-Like lenses in the 1st place !

Nice to read folks discussing these great white teles though.

Im still saving for a nice used 500/f4 IS !

Regards,

Silverfox1 wrote in post #12390208
^^^

Moot is the right wording since most folks cant even afford the proper tripod & head to support these God-Like lenses in the 1st place !

Nice to read folks discussing these great white teles though.

Im still saving for a nice used 500/f4 IS !

Regards,

I'll have one for you as soon as I receive my new 600mm.

600 + TCs will not trump 800mm native. No Way .. No How

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #12390321
600 + TCs will not trump 800mm native. No Way .. No How

I'm saying that the new 600mm F4 + the new 1.4xTC will equal or better the 800mm without a TC. The old 600mm + 1.4xTC is very similar to the 800mm now. You need to remember that the 600mm is and F4 lens and the 800mm is an F5.6 lens. With the newer technology, of the 600mm and new 1.4x, it should be a draw at the worst.

600 f/4 + 1.4X = 840 f/5.6 (with more photon bending glass)

800 "nekkid" is still going to be better.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #12390458
600 f/4 + 1.4X = 840 f/5.6 (with more photon bending glass)

800 "nekkid" is still going to be better.

Here is a link to another professional opinion that agrees with me on the optics, but not that the 800mm will become obsolete.

http://www.birdsasart-blog.com …-6l-soon-become-obsolete/

Jim Neiger wrote in post #12390269
I'll have one for you as soon as I receive my new 600mm.

Well my cheap monopod below should work with the RRS head + the 500/f4 IS right ?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1B_3_Section_Mo​nopod.html

http://reallyrightstuf​f.com …spx?code=MH-01-Pro&type=0

Jim, keep me posted with a PM !

Regards,

[QUOTE=Jim Neiger;12389406]Now that Canon has announced the new 600mm F4, I think the 800mm F5.6 will become obsolete. The only advantage the 800mm had over the old 600mm was weight. Now the new 600mm will weigh less than the 800mm. It will also be much more flexible. It can be a 600mm F4, a 840mm F5.6 (with a 1.4xTC), or a 1200mm F8. All of these combinations will AF on Canon pro body cameras like the Mark IV. The 800mm can only be an 800mmF5.6 or a 1120mm F8 while retaining AF, and it's about 1.5lbs heavier now. The lenses are about the same price. Seems like a no brainer to me. The 800mm is obsolete unless the price falls big time.

What do you think?[/quote]

hey Jim -- will the 500L f4 also be absolete because of the new 400L f2.8 ?

ed

[QUOTE=ed rader;12391701]

Jim Neiger wrote in post #12389406
Now that Canon has announced the new 600mm F4, I think the 800mm F5.6 will become obsolete. The only advantage the 800mm had over the old 600mm was weight. Now the new 600mm will weigh less than the 800mm. It will also be much more flexible. It can be a 600mm F4, a 840mm F5.6 (with a 1.4xTC), or a 1200mm F8. All of these combinations will AF on Canon pro body cameras like the Mark IV. The 800mm can only be an 800mmF5.6 or a 1120mm F8 while retaining AF, and it's about 1.5lbs heavier now. The lenses are about the same price. Seems like a no brainer to me. The 800mm is obsolete unless the price falls big time.

What do you think?[/quote]

hey Jim -- will the 500L f4 also be absolete because of the new 400L f2.8 ?

ed

I don't know. How much does it weigh?

Actualy, it won't make the 500mm obsolete because it doesn't have the same flexibility issues as the 800mm and Canon just anounced a new improved 500mm. The limiting factor with the 800mm is that it's a F5.6 lens. This and the long focal length make it a special purpose lens with little flexibility.

Think about it this way. Right now the 800mm and the announced list price of the new 600mm is about the same. If you are going to buy only one of these, and you currently have neither, which one would you get?

If the vast majority of the people answer 600mm, then that pretty much makes the 800mm obsolete at the current price.

Having shot with the current 300 f/2.8 and both flavors of TC, I can tell you that the IQ of either combo is not up to par with my 500 f/4 and no TCs.

Regardless of how minuscule you perceive it to be, physics mandates that any additional glass in the way of photons has an impact on IQ