Posted by Peter Conway on October 12, 2008 at 1:18 PM
It sure would be nice to carry only 4lbs instead of 8lbs with the 500mm. It seems like it would be a great lens for hiking about but not if the image quality is not up to par. Is it?
Anyone own one and if so how do you like it?
Posted by Steve Foss on October 12, 2008 at 7:05 PM
I don't own one. I've used one several times. It is sharp and light, but not as rich in color and contrast as the L primes I've used or owned. That's correctable in post processing or, if shooting jpeg, in the camera body's picture styles settings.
Posted by Peter Conway on October 12, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Thanks Steve.
Posted by Andrew Yip on October 13, 2008 at 1:15 AM
I used one with a 20D when I went on safari. At least with that body, I found it to be very sharp. Slightly less so with the 1.4x converter, but still good. All of the images in the this gallery were taken with that lens (some with the 1.4x). I think they were all shot wide open: Southern Africa Photos
Some reviews say that the bokeh can be a little weird in the highlights, but I didn't notice it in practice.
And it's very hand-holdable, since it's so light.
Posted by William Lloyd on October 13, 2008 at 2:20 AM
After 2 1/2 years with a 600 f/4.0IS, I switched to the 400DO. Pretty much exactly what Steve said. I was using the 40D as a backup camera after my new 1Ds3 quit on me because of a slight rain we were shooting in (Error99). The 1Ds3 came back after drying out that night. The 1.6 crop was very helpful, I haven't owned one in a while (10D).
Very pleased with the 400, I got it so I could bring a supertele in a carry-on. But it just doesn't have the reach I'm used to. Next month in Bosque will tell the tale....My lens was new, if buying used, avoid copies from the first two years....
Posted by David Bostedo on October 13, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Discussion
5 repliesAnyone own one and if so how do you like it?
Southern Africa Photos
Some reviews say that the bokeh can be a little weird in the highlights, but I didn't notice it in practice.
And it's very hand-holdable, since it's so light.
Very pleased with the 400, I got it so I could bring a supertele in a carry-on. But it just doesn't have the reach I'm used to. Next month in Bosque will tell the tale....My lens was new, if buying used, avoid copies from the first two years....