Would Like Advice On Buy 600mm Canon Lens For Surfing Shots Please?

[spiralink]

Hi Al, been a while since I've been on just busy at work 42 days straight so very little time to do anything.

After speaking with the sunset/sunrise guru Bill I have decided to buy a canon 600mm lens for surfing shots as new girlfriend & kids are competitive surfers. Would like some advice please?

My Options:

• Used-----Canon EF 600mm F/4 L USM Lens----- AU$5000-6000
• New-----Canon EF 600mm F/4 USM II -------------------AU$11,769.05

Seriously how much of improvement would you get out of the New 600mm lens?
Anyone know of a better deal for a new 600mm II Canon Lens?


cheers
John

[fabian628]

what lens are you currently using for surfing? what body are you using it on.
I have done a bit with 400mm focal length on 1.6 and 1.3 crop bodies, obviously longer is better My feeling for the 2x price of the new one is probably small improvement in optics and weight, plus the new image stabiliser. since its surfing, IS is not going to be a huge factor, and weight maybe not either since you may be using a tripod on the beach. The IQ of the version 1 super tele lenses is pretty good already, depends if you have the $$

[Tannin]

Beware! A 600mm f/4 lens isn't going to be the old, recently discontinued 600mm f/4 IS (Mark 1), it will very likely be the much older 600mm f/4 (non IS), which was first manufactured in 1988 and discontinued in 1999. If you ever need spare parts for it, good luck!

A second-hand 500/4 IS (Mark 1) or 600/4 IS (Mark 1) would be well worth considering though.

[Andrew]

For flexibility consider also Canon or Sigma 300F2.8 and 2x tele or the well regarded Sigma 300-800F5.6

[vk2gwk]

I have been using a 100 - 400mm L (mostly at 400mm) and since last year with a 1.4 Kenko extender with - what I think - good results. If interested look for the IQ at this set on Flickr.

[Sifor]

Personally I'd go the 500 for the simple reason it's a lot lighter and hand holdable. Optical quality between the three (400 2.8, 500 4, 600 4) are all probably pretty much the same ie perfect. Also the 500 is much easier to travel with.

Buy some TCs and you'll be good to go.