Getting ready to take the plunge and get a canon 500mm f4. I assume that it comes with everything needed to start shooting right out of the box. Are there any accesories/extras that I should consider getting at the same time?
Jake, if you don't have a sturdy monopod or tripod, get one. Actually, get both. There are some situations in which handholding the 500mm is feasible, but more often than not you'll want a tripod or monopod. And if on a tripod, a gimbal head such as the Wimberly II or sidekick (there are other brands that offer similar models) allows you to either lock the lens down tight or to swivel in all directions while still being stable (a big deal for panning shots).
My tripod is overkill for the 500. For the bigger lenses I use a Manfrotto 375B. My monopod is strong enough for any of the big glass. It's a Manfrotto 680B. I put a Manfrotto 486RC2 ballhead on the monopod, partly because I use the ballhead for other apps, and when on the monopod the quick-release plate on the ballhead allows me to drop the 'pod at a second's notice and go handheld when necessary. Strictly speaking, you don't need a head on a monopod, but I'd look into a sturdy quick-release plate for the monopod.
If you get a tripod/monopod/head that's rated to twice the weight of your lens/TC/camera, you'll be sure it's rock solid.
Other than that, you're good to go right out of the box. I'd definitely do some testing to make sure you're satisfied with image quality and sharpness and IS operation, etc., just in case there's a defect.
Also, Canon's 1.4 TC mk2 is a darn good addition. Virtually no sacrifice in IQ but a lot of added reach, and at a max aperture of f5.6, the combo will still autofocus on your 40D.
And last but not least, look into LensCoat protective neoprene covers. They come in a variety of camo, and aside from protecting the body of the lens from dings and scratches (which impacts resale value), in some situations dulling the reflective Canon white is a very good idea.
It's spendy to get the solid add-ons needed to get the best from a heavy supertelephoto. A tripod/Wimberly II can go over $1,000 easily. If cost is an issue, I'd pick up the $75 monopod already mentioned right away and save up for a good tripod/head. A monopod coupled with IS is a deadly combination when you've mastered the technique.
I would consider a full Wimberly along with a series 5 Gitzo the no-compromise support system for that lens, especially if you plan to use it with a 1.4x extender. If cost is an issue, you will not be disappointed if you get a Feisol CT 3372 or CT 3472 and a Mafrotto 3421. You will quickly discover that tripods will drive you crazy but there are only certain things that really matter. Leg stiffness, the design and fit of the leg locks, how the legs attach to the head platform will determine how it performs with a long lens. There are many tripods that will carry that camera/lens combo, but there are precious few that will be stiff enough to enable you to get consistent results. And everything changes when it gets windy.
I traded in my Gitzo series 3 using a D200 and a 500 mm lens because it was not stiff enough. It's load bearing capacity far exceeded my camera/lens combo. I rented a series 5 Gitzo and found it to be perfect, but I had trouble justifying the near $1000 price tag (just for the legs). Around the same time Feisol released its 3X72 line, so I gave it a try. It's been a year and I can say with honesty I have no regrets, and an extra $500 in my bank account. I have the same experience with the Wimberley vs the Manfrotto. Of course the Wimberley is a wonderful piece of gear, but the Manfrotto is by design actually more rigid and just as functional. Here I was able to keep at least $400 in my pocket. Using a monopod can be frustrating even with good technique, but it is an excellent alternative despite the learning curve. I rarely use mine anymore.
Almost forgot - if like to go into the woods more than just a short walk from the car, then you will need a giant photo backpack like a LowePro Photo Trekker or Super Trekker, or some other arrangement that will let you carry the lens with camera attached and a tripod on the back or side.
Thanks for all the replies. I did not want to be like a kid on Christmas morning and not be able to play with my new toy because batteries were not included. I already have a canon 1.4 extender, manfrotto tripod and monopod that should be able to handle the new lens, lots of cf cards. The lenscoat and don zeck lens cap look like items that I should get.
Jake, as for monopod vs tripod, much depends on shooting style. For setups, the tripod is vastly superior, while for bombing around in a vehicle or on trails (where unanticipated fast-developing situations yield grab shots), the monopod is the ticket.
I got a nice sharp grab shot of a wolf in a pasture today while driving around with the 500/monopod. Had I been handholding, the light would not have allowed me a sharp image. Had I had the lens attached to a tripod I could not have gotten out and set up in the three seconds I had to shoot the animal. Monopod was juuuuust right. Earlier, however, I was shooting the 500 to capture nesting ospreys, and a tripod was superior in that setting. If I'm traveling to or from a setup like the osprey nest, the monopod is on the big lens, and I transfer to a tripod when I get there. I don't go anywhere without both of them.
Great to see you've got both. Have fun out there, man!
I don't think the 500 has a front filter thread Jake. I've never used one, but this is a common question, so I think the consensus is simply to always use the lens hood and lens caps. They will protect better than anything.
Even if you could do it, a lot of people don't use a UV filter on high end lenses, since the filters can cost as much as the potential lens repair, and don't really protect well anyway. Others like the extra piece of mind the filters provide, even though it's mostly mental. Some people have even had the filter bending or breaking cause more damage to the lens in a fall. Front elements of these lenses are apparently pretty robust, and not outrageously expensive to have repaired.
Just to second some of the above advice. A lens coat cover is well worth the expense. It has protected my lens for a couple of years as the white coating shows scratches quite easily. For a head I use the King Cobra by Kirk and have been very pleased with it.
P.S. There is no place for a front filter I also bought a Front cap thats easier to deal with than the original canon cover from Lens coat.
Posted by Mark Perry on September 30, 2009 at 12:18 AM
I have had my 500 f4 L for a few weeks now.. just used it in Yellowstone.... it's a great lens. I use the Manfrotto 393 mount on my Manfrotto tripod and monopod and it works just fine at the fraction of the cost of the other mounts... You will wonder why you didnt get it sooner. my wife bought mine for me....
Posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on November 6, 2009 at 12:26 AM
I read a reviewer somewhere say the design of the Manfrotto 393 is such that access to vital lens controls is awkward. Is that really the case? Thanks.
Discussion
15 repliesMy tripod is overkill for the 500. For the bigger lenses I use a Manfrotto 375B. My monopod is strong enough for any of the big glass. It's a Manfrotto 680B. I put a Manfrotto 486RC2 ballhead on the monopod, partly because I use the ballhead for other apps, and when on the monopod the quick-release plate on the ballhead allows me to drop the 'pod at a second's notice and go handheld when necessary. Strictly speaking, you don't need a head on a monopod, but I'd look into a sturdy quick-release plate for the monopod.
If you get a tripod/monopod/head that's rated to twice the weight of your lens/TC/camera, you'll be sure it's rock solid.
Other than that, you're good to go right out of the box. I'd definitely do some testing to make sure you're satisfied with image quality and sharpness and IS operation, etc., just in case there's a defect.
Also, Canon's 1.4 TC mk2 is a darn good addition. Virtually no sacrifice in IQ but a lot of added reach, and at a max aperture of f5.6, the combo will still autofocus on your 40D.
And last but not least, look into LensCoat protective neoprene covers. They come in a variety of camo, and aside from protecting the body of the lens from dings and scratches (which impacts resale value), in some situations dulling the reflective Canon white is a very good idea.
It's spendy to get the solid add-ons needed to get the best from a heavy supertelephoto. A tripod/Wimberly II can go over $1,000 easily. If cost is an issue, I'd pick up the $75 monopod already mentioned right away and save up for a good tripod/head. A monopod coupled with IS is a deadly combination when you've mastered the technique.
Good luck, and have fun with it!
I would consider a full Wimberly along with a series 5 Gitzo the no-compromise support system for that lens, especially if you plan to use it with a 1.4x extender. If cost is an issue, you will not be disappointed if you get a Feisol CT 3372 or CT 3472 and a Mafrotto 3421. You will quickly discover that tripods will drive you crazy but there are only certain things that really matter. Leg stiffness, the design and fit of the leg locks, how the legs attach to the head platform will determine how it performs with a long lens. There are many tripods that will carry that camera/lens combo, but there are precious few that will be stiff enough to enable you to get consistent results. And everything changes when it gets windy.
I traded in my Gitzo series 3 using a D200 and a 500 mm lens because it was not stiff enough. It's load bearing capacity far exceeded my camera/lens combo. I rented a series 5 Gitzo and found it to be perfect, but I had trouble justifying the near $1000 price tag (just for the legs). Around the same time Feisol released its 3X72 line, so I gave it a try. It's been a year and I can say with honesty I have no regrets, and an extra $500 in my bank account. I have the same experience with the Wimberley vs the Manfrotto. Of course the Wimberley is a wonderful piece of gear, but the Manfrotto is by design actually more rigid and just as functional. Here I was able to keep at least $400 in my pocket. Using a monopod can be frustrating even with good technique, but it is an excellent alternative despite the learning curve. I rarely use mine anymore.
http://www.naturescapes.net/store/product.php?productid=284
Thanks
I got a nice sharp grab shot of a wolf in a pasture today while driving around with the 500/monopod. Had I been handholding, the light would not have allowed me a sharp image. Had I had the lens attached to a tripod I could not have gotten out and set up in the three seconds I had to shoot the animal. Monopod was juuuuust right. Earlier, however, I was shooting the 500 to capture nesting ospreys, and a tripod was superior in that setting. If I'm traveling to or from a setup like the osprey nest, the monopod is on the big lens, and I transfer to a tripod when I get there. I don't go anywhere without both of them.
Great to see you've got both. Have fun out there, man!
Even if you could do it, a lot of people don't use a UV filter on high end lenses, since the filters can cost as much as the potential lens repair, and don't really protect well anyway. Others like the extra piece of mind the filters provide, even though it's mostly mental. Some people have even had the filter bending or breaking cause more damage to the lens in a fall. Front elements of these lenses are apparently pretty robust, and not outrageously expensive to have repaired.
With the hood mounted on any of the Canon superteles, you really have to work hard to damage the front lens element.
P.S. There is no place for a front filter I also bought a Front cap thats easier to deal with than the original canon cover from Lens coat.