hypothetical question 600 v 800

okay, if money were no object, what would be your choice, the new 600mm II, or the 800mm, and why?

I would go with the 600 and use the TC to add reach when needed. I don't shoot in situations very often where a fixed length above 700mm is necessary. Even in those situations I don't think I'd like to be shooting at that focal length or above in the event flight shots developed. With that said, I wouldn't mind owning the 800, it's a great lens.

I would go with the 800 for birding as it is always good to have plenty of reach. It would need to be backed up with something shorter too though, for those few occasions when it might be TOO long.

Yes, you can slap a TC on a 600 for more reach, but you can also slap one on an 800 .

that was my thought, with a 1.4 on an 800, what great reach! No having to sneak up quite so close. I guess there are not too many people here with a 800 to pass comment on it.
When I put my 1.4 on my 400, it is longer than the 500 on it's own. Piccie sometimes suffer, though not always, but often I am sooooo short, that it seems to make sense to get a 800.

i'd go with the 600 also .. it's not much heavier than my 500 .. and the 800 is well over a pound heavier .. before you buy one try carryin it a few hundred yards first

Well Tina, i've been seriously lusting for the Siggy 300-800mm for awhile now. For birds, really there's no lens that's too long. Reach is not the only think i need, i also welcome the flexibility of the Sigmonster. It makes framing a whole lot easier. As to glass quality, I have seen Romy's work. Now, i just need to wait until some Sigmonster owner out there willing to sell me a copy to get some diaper money for his newborn.

Why not go with the 600 and the 1.4 tc. You'll have 840mm f5.6 vs. 800mm f5.6 and $400 left over for gas to get you out to where you can use it. Both are great and you can't go wrong between these two choices.

chubri777 wrote in post #13539846
Why not go with the 600 and the 1.4 tc. You'll have 840mm f5.6 vs. 800mm f5.6 and $400 left over.

This would be my reason going with the 600mm.

800mm without hesitation...

300 / 500 / 800 are my "Holy Trinity of Reach"

If shooting only in a location where you drive to, unload the gear, and stand in one place for few hours, I would go with 800mm.
If you are planning on walking few miles to get to the location, any savings in weight, helps a lot - 600mm II should be manageable.

thanks everyone for your thoughts.
I guess, for the argument of adding a tc, one could say add a 1.4 to a 400, that would get you 560, why buy a 500, and you could add to the 500 to get 700, why buy a 600, and if I buy a 600, I would get 840, but..... if I add the 1.4 to the 800, I get 1120!

I don't do long hikes, so most of my setup would be within a reasonable walking distance.
I am getting older, will I still be able to carry it when I'm 60!
I did think about the sigmoster Fee, but have decided to go canon.
Wish I knew someone with an 800 for me to play with! Must admit, the thought of such a big lens scares me! But the frustration of not being close enough is getting to me!

The 600 weighs in at 11.8 lbs
The 800 weighs in at 9.9 lbs

Tina did mention the 600 VII which weighs in at 8.6 lbs. I owned and shot with an 800 for 2 years and ended up selling it. If I was to buy a new lens it would be the new 600. Using a 1D body you can auto focus at f8 so 600 with a 1.4X and 2X is doable. Also the min. dist. on the 600 is 4.5M, the 800 is 6M. A lot of the time I had an extension tube on the 800.

I'd choose the 600 II. It is lighter, has a closer minimum focus, and is more versatile (600/4, 840/5.6, 1200 f/8...all AF on 1D body). I'm expecting performance with a TC to be very very good.

That said, I would choose the 800 over the 600 I. It weighs almost 2 lbs less and is basically the same length. It also has better IS technology. I'd pair it with a FF and crop body.

catsith wrote in post #13531004
okay, if money were no object, what would be your choice, the new 600mm II, or the 800mm, and why?

Consider your question answered with this answer, money is no object, buy both and be done with it.