My 500mm f/4.5 arrived today!

I will be looking at a 300mm next (many many months from now after my bank account recovers... )

Either the same 300mm f/4 L you have or perhaps the Sigma 300mm f/2.8.... I will have to do some research to see of the Sigma 300mm is as well respected as the 500mm is.

CDS, if you have a 500mm f4.5 then I am sure you would be much better waiting for a 300mm f2.8!

Those are stunning shots, absolutely incredible. I think my next tele will be a 500mm prime, just for the supreme sharpness!

I have a $100 el cheapo Samyung 500mm reflector lens and I have gotten just as good of shots with it! JUST KIDDING!!

I have really gotten some great shots with my Sigma 50-500 but nothing like yours. Congrats!

I guess this is what defines a true step up in quality and professionalism in a Sigma lens (not with standing L glass).

I imagine what it comes down to is partly sheer resolution. The diameter of the fron element on the 500mm prime looks about twice as big around as that of the 50-500mm.

I believe this along with overall element quality is what contirbutes to what I have heard referred to as "resolving power" which = resolution or the lenses overall ability to define minute detail.

What is so surpirising though is how this added lens quality seems to effect the whole cameras performance. Not only is the autofocus faster and more accurate,. but I am finding that the cameras built in exposure is much more "spot on"

My images with blue sky in them actually have a BLUE sky,.. with no polarizer used (can't find one that fits yet ) instead of a washed out light grey I am so used to seeing??? I can't quite understand how but the lens seems to make the difference.

From looking at your images, even they are resized down, I have a feeling that the success ratio with this 500 prime lens will be a lot better then the 50-500@500.

My first taste of prime tele lens is my recently acquired Canon 300f4L IS, which continues to amaze me. While I still use my 50-500 regularly, the Canon 300 slowly becomes my walk around lens. Yes, the 50-500 lens is very good for its price, but every thing has to be working right in order to get a good image from it. I agree that once you have tasted a good prime lens, it can be very dangerous (for your wallet that is ). Enjoy your new toy and post more images later.

Congrats on the big-boy there CDS! That's awesome!!!