Have this lens for several years now..using it on my 7d mk2...very happy with the results...It is not carry on lens because of weight but from a hide, car or on tripod does excellent job...got number of awards after getting it...thanks for the video was nice to hear the comments on use with new systems...thinking to get r5 do you know id that is ok to pair them??
I picked this lens up about 2 weeks ago. Ive been using it on an 80D and R6 II. It works very well on both. It's limitations, the 80% focus area and reduced fps, aren't significant limitations. Being able to hold faster shutter speeds with lower ISO on top of excellent image quality add up to a marked improvement over the 100-400L II i had been using. It os a heavy beast, but i can manage holding it. Overall i absolutely love that lens.
Love to have a 600 f/4 but they are either too heavy or too expensive even used. The 500 f/4 is a nice compromise; my preferred version would be EF mk2. When using the 2x extender, they are best with these super telephoto lenses since they are super sharp and still sharp with the extender. My first super tele was a EF 300 2.8 IS ....love the image sharpness and bokeh blur but heavy after a while when handhold. My 2nd super tele was the EF 400 f/4 DO IS mk2 since i got a super deal on it and it is rather light weight compared to the others. I still think the 500 is the best compromise when it comes to price and weight .I use EF and RF lenses on my mirror less cameras and had no problems and enjoyed the image quality.
600f4 II is the same weight as my mark 1 500f4. 20% extra reach, same MFD. Better AF acquisition, tracking and IS. But pricey still. I am currently saving for a mark 2 600f4. I will have my 1.4x TC permanently attached to it LOL. I would not recommend using a 2x TC unless you have no other option. There is a noticeable IQ drop off. With the 1.4x TC (go with the mark 3 TC, not the mark 2 or mark 1) it's almost imperceptible. all of these big super teles are heavy sadly.
Just bought R5 to save money over R5ii and have bought 16-35 and 24-70 EF lens’s as the price difference from RF lens is huge, so here I am am looking at what to get for longer reaching for wildlife, great to see the quality still in older lens and not decided yet as don’t want to sell a kidney for lens as for personal use, enjoyed watching and new subscriber 🥳🥳
I still have the 600mm f4L Mark 1 and that thing is heavy! Like the 500mm Mark 1, it's also front weighted, which makes it even harder to handhold. The weight and poor balance combined mean I normally have to use a tripod or monopod, which means more weight to carry in the field. I'm not a weak man, but until you've tried handholding one of these things you don't really appreciate how difficult it is! It's OK to lift and fire a quick burst, but holding it while you wait for the right moment is near impossible. Apart from that, I've been happy with the lens and the images it produces - having f4 at 600mm gives sublime backgrounds in most circumstances and the lens is surprisingly sharp for its age. My only complaint is that it is prone to colour fringing in some conditions, but this is usually invisible at normal viewing distances and it can normally be fixed in post. I recently tried out an RF 600mm f4 and wow! That is such a lightweight lens in comparison, focus is blisteringly fast and the images it makes are on a new level. If I stay with Canon (I'm considering a move to Nikon because they have a better lens line-up for wildlife) then the RF 600mm will be my next major photography expense - but whoever gets my EF Mark 1 will be getting a nice lens as well, as long as they have the upper body strength to use it...!
The R series cameras don't support the focus preset button on the gen 1 super teles. On the R5, the max frame rate is reduced to 6.7 with the mechanical shutter. You still get 20 fps with the electronic shutter. The focusing area is reduced to 80% on the 500mm f/4 (will see box in viewfinder), which doesn't really present a problem. Other than that, it's still very sharp with or without the 1.4x extender.
Yes it does. I have a mark 1 500f4 and R3 and can use the focus preset without issue. Yes, the FPS is reduced (I get 14fps instead of 30fps in H+ mode in my R3) [ES mode]. I can live with that. You cannot get 20fps with the R5 on a mark 1. R3 tops out at 30fps and the R5 20fps - that's on a mark 2 or RF lens. Also, Canon CPS have advised to drop the fps to H mode as it improves AF accuracy on these mark 1 primes. DPAF coverage is reduced to 80% of the viewfinder too, which I have found to not really be an issue for me. The mark 1 lenses are amazing value still and I love mine. I have gotten shots with it that have not only improved my photography, but my enjoyment. The lens is still very very sharp, only a smidgen less than the mark 2 500mm. The mark 2 jumps ahead in AF acquisition, tracking, and IS, as well as weight, the latter of which can be important in the field.
@@davepastern That's good to know that focus preset still works on the R3. On the EOS R and R5 and maybe other R series cameras, focus preset does not work with the EF 500mm f/4. From the R5 or EOS R manual: "With EF lenses, focus preset during shooting is only available when shooting (super) telephoto lenses equipped with this function released in and after the second half of 2011." Also, I get 20 fps with this lens on the R5 when I shoot in electronic shutter mode.
@@davepastern Hey, I use the EF 500 f4 mk 1 and the R5 mk 1. The focus preset does not work with the R5 but I can still top out the electronic shutter at 20FPS. The mechanical speed definitely drops down to about half. Interesting comment about canon recommending using H for focus accuracy I will definitely test it out. So far at 20FPS with electronic shutter I have had minimal issues with focusing.
@@KevinVirgil manuals aren't always right. As to FPS, I am 100% confident that you are wrong. I have accurately measured my R3 (which features 30fps in H+ mode) and the best it can do is 14fps. Why would the R5, at maximum 20fps in H+ mode be any better? I too initially guessed 20fps but when I actually sat down and tested it, it was 14fps. The brain is a funny thing when it comes to assuming.
@@danielmoiseev753 again, I really doubt you are actually getting 20fps but instead, assuming. As I said to another user, if my R3, at 30fps only gets 14fps, why would the much slower R5, at 20fps, get the maximum (and faster than the R3)?
While older super telephoto lenses still offer impressive image quality, they can be problematic. Many of these lenses are no longer officially supported by Canon, and even independent repair shops may struggle to find replacement parts. It's important to note that some single cheap component can render an entire lens unusable.
Users of the Canon EF500mm f4 Mk1 should be aware that if the AF motor fails, replacement spares are no longer available. It is a great lens having used one for over 13yrs. I am now getting really good results using a Canon 100-500mm f4.5-7.1 L, which I would recommend.
It depends what you are used too, The 1D is a more complicated camera to get used too but when you do its great, The 7D mkii is a newer camera that is just so easy to use and get stunning images from
R7 is 32mp (equivalent to ~82mp FF). The R7 is slower because AF performance is linked to the sensor read out speed with DPAF tech. R7 is ~37ms, i.e. super slow. The R3 is ~5ms. Original R5 is ~13ms and R5II ~6ms. One thing that you noted is that the bigger battery in the R3 means more current delivery, and that provides more torque for focusing on these big primes. So, focusing speed on the R5 and R7 will suffer due to their smaller batteries. I haven't looked at the R5II to see if its current delivery is improved over the older battery tech or not. I suspect that it isn't. A lot of people get caught out on this. I ran into a guy using a R5 and the RF100-500 cos his RF600 f4 was too slow to focus. I didn't have the heart to tell him that this was due to him using the R5... How are you finding the R3 with its 24mp Joe? edit: what version TC are you using? The mark 1 1.4x TC doesn't have any weather sealing and has an inferior optical design to the mark 2. The mark 2 introduced weather sealing. The mark 3 uses the same optical design as the mark 2, but does have the dual AF chip that helps drive the mark 2 super teles AF faster.
@@joewhitnallphotography mark 2 TCs are weather sealed and have the same optical quality as the mark 3 TCs, but do lack the AF chip. Not really an issue with the mark 1 500 prime, but if you upgrade to a mark 2 super tele prime, the mark 3 TC will result in better AF performance.
I use my ef500 mk1 with my R7 for birds. I agree with the statement that the R7 requires care with this lens but af speed is not what it is cracked up to be. I turned my AF response setting down a notch because I find the R7 overshoots. But that has to do with the crop factor, not the sensor readout speed. You are effectively at 800mm. And even at the slower response, it still does birds in flight well. If the light is good, I prefer my 100-400 ii. But low light is 500 f4 time.
@@GerhardBothaWFF AF speed is linked to sensor read out speed. The R7 has a sensor readout speed of ~37ms. VERY slow. I highly doubt that it has anything to do with the APS-C crop factor.
I find EF lenses work better with RF cameras than they did with EF cameras. The focus is just better. My 200mm f1.8 is much more accurate on my R3 than it was on my 1DX Mark II.
I was considering a fringer adapter ef to fx for fujifilm apsc camera so i can use a big boy ef lens on the fuji. Do you think that is a good or bad idea? Keep up the good work
I think you will find it very slow, As I said in the video even the R7 is noticeably slow and thats a Canon! So using another brand is likely to be even slower and not the most fun experience
//Update to latest firmware 1.5.0 for the camera fixed my problem below.// Mine doesn´t work at all with mirrorless (R6 mkII), I get connection error when taking a picture. It works perfect with my DSLR,s. (90D,7DmkII,1DXmkII)... And it´s not the adapter. My R6 works fine with the 100-400 mkII.
I would also check to see if you have the latest firmware installed. There were a couple of issues with error code 70 (possible lens communication error) that were fixed.
I think you've convinced me to buy the used one we just found for a good price. Thank you for the detailed review!
No worries at all! Glad you enjoyed it and it was helpful
Thanks Joe I have just bought the 500 it's an absolute brilliant lens well done on an excellent review
Glad you are enjoying it!!
Absolutely brilliant review
Thankyou!
Have this lens for several years now..using it on my 7d mk2...very happy with the results...It is not carry on lens because of weight but from a hide, car or on tripod does excellent job...got number of awards after getting it...thanks for the video was nice to hear the comments on use with new systems...thinking to get r5 do you know id that is ok to pair them??
It works well on the R3 and R6 mkii so can't see there being an issue with using it on the R5
I picked this lens up about 2 weeks ago. Ive been using it on an 80D and R6 II. It works very well on both. It's limitations, the 80% focus area and reduced fps, aren't significant limitations. Being able to hold faster shutter speeds with lower ISO on top of excellent image quality add up to a marked improvement over the 100-400L II i had been using. It os a heavy beast, but i can manage holding it. Overall i absolutely love that lens.
I just got mine in today, have you had a very loud humming coming from the IS? I've got the same setup as you w the r6mkii
The stabilizer in it is fairly loud, but the sound isn't all that different from my 100-400L II. Just louder.
Love to have a 600 f/4 but they are either too heavy or too expensive even used. The 500 f/4 is a nice compromise; my preferred version would be EF mk2. When using the 2x extender, they are best with these super telephoto lenses since they are super sharp and still sharp with the extender. My first super tele was a EF 300 2.8 IS ....love the image sharpness and bokeh blur but heavy after a while when handhold. My 2nd super tele was the EF 400 f/4 DO IS mk2 since i got a super deal on it and it is rather light weight compared to the others. I still think the 500 is the best compromise when it comes to price and weight .I use EF and RF lenses on my mirror less cameras and had no problems and enjoyed the image quality.
600f4 II is the same weight as my mark 1 500f4. 20% extra reach, same MFD. Better AF acquisition, tracking and IS. But pricey still. I am currently saving for a mark 2 600f4. I will have my 1.4x TC permanently attached to it LOL.
I would not recommend using a 2x TC unless you have no other option. There is a noticeable IQ drop off. With the 1.4x TC (go with the mark 3 TC, not the mark 2 or mark 1) it's almost imperceptible.
all of these big super teles are heavy sadly.
Just bought R5 to save money over R5ii and have bought 16-35 and 24-70 EF lens’s as the price difference from RF lens is huge, so here I am am looking at what to get for longer reaching for wildlife, great to see the quality still in older lens and not decided yet as don’t want to sell a kidney for lens as for personal use, enjoyed watching and new subscriber 🥳🥳
Glad your enjoying! Welcome to the channel!
I still have the 600mm f4L Mark 1 and that thing is heavy! Like the 500mm Mark 1, it's also front weighted, which makes it even harder to handhold. The weight and poor balance combined mean I normally have to use a tripod or monopod, which means more weight to carry in the field. I'm not a weak man, but until you've tried handholding one of these things you don't really appreciate how difficult it is! It's OK to lift and fire a quick burst, but holding it while you wait for the right moment is near impossible. Apart from that, I've been happy with the lens and the images it produces - having f4 at 600mm gives sublime backgrounds in most circumstances and the lens is surprisingly sharp for its age. My only complaint is that it is prone to colour fringing in some conditions, but this is usually invisible at normal viewing distances and it can normally be fixed in post. I recently tried out an RF 600mm f4 and wow! That is such a lightweight lens in comparison, focus is blisteringly fast and the images it makes are on a new level. If I stay with Canon (I'm considering a move to Nikon because they have a better lens line-up for wildlife) then the RF 600mm will be my next major photography expense - but whoever gets my EF Mark 1 will be getting a nice lens as well, as long as they have the upper body strength to use it...!
The R series cameras don't support the focus preset button on the gen 1 super teles. On the R5, the max frame rate is reduced to 6.7 with the mechanical shutter. You still get 20 fps with the electronic shutter. The focusing area is reduced to 80% on the 500mm f/4 (will see box in viewfinder), which doesn't really present a problem. Other than that, it's still very sharp with or without the 1.4x extender.
Yes it does. I have a mark 1 500f4 and R3 and can use the focus preset without issue.
Yes, the FPS is reduced (I get 14fps instead of 30fps in H+ mode in my R3) [ES mode]. I can live with that. You cannot get 20fps with the R5 on a mark 1. R3 tops out at 30fps and the R5 20fps - that's on a mark 2 or RF lens. Also, Canon CPS have advised to drop the fps to H mode as it improves AF accuracy on these mark 1 primes.
DPAF coverage is reduced to 80% of the viewfinder too, which I have found to not really be an issue for me.
The mark 1 lenses are amazing value still and I love mine. I have gotten shots with it that have not only improved my photography, but my enjoyment. The lens is still very very sharp, only a smidgen less than the mark 2 500mm. The mark 2 jumps ahead in AF acquisition, tracking, and IS, as well as weight, the latter of which can be important in the field.
@@davepastern That's good to know that focus preset still works on the R3. On the EOS R and R5 and maybe other R series cameras, focus preset does not work with the EF 500mm f/4. From the R5 or EOS R manual:
"With EF lenses, focus preset during shooting is only available when shooting (super) telephoto lenses equipped with this function released in and after the second half of 2011."
Also, I get 20 fps with this lens on the R5 when I shoot in electronic shutter mode.
@@davepastern Hey, I use the EF 500 f4 mk 1 and the R5 mk 1. The focus preset does not work with the R5 but I can still top out the electronic shutter at 20FPS. The mechanical speed definitely drops down to about half.
Interesting comment about canon recommending using H for focus accuracy I will definitely test it out. So far at 20FPS with electronic shutter I have had minimal issues with focusing.
@@KevinVirgil manuals aren't always right.
As to FPS, I am 100% confident that you are wrong. I have accurately measured my R3 (which features 30fps in H+ mode) and the best it can do is 14fps. Why would the R5, at maximum 20fps in H+ mode be any better? I too initially guessed 20fps but when I actually sat down and tested it, it was 14fps. The brain is a funny thing when it comes to assuming.
@@danielmoiseev753 again, I really doubt you are actually getting 20fps but instead, assuming. As I said to another user, if my R3, at 30fps only gets 14fps, why would the much slower R5, at 20fps, get the maximum (and faster than the R3)?
While older super telephoto lenses still offer impressive image quality, they can be problematic. Many of these lenses are no longer officially supported by Canon, and even independent repair shops may struggle to find replacement parts. It's important to note that some single cheap component can render an entire lens unusable.
I have the 600f4 is ver 1 , the 500 f4 is ver1 and the 400 f4 doii. The old 500 is still my favorite
Users of the Canon EF500mm f4 Mk1 should be aware that if the AF motor fails, replacement spares are no longer available.
It is a great lens having used one for over 13yrs. I am now getting really good results using a Canon 100-500mm f4.5-7.1 L, which I would recommend.
Used it with a Sony A7R3 at the IMSA race auto race took me a week to get ride of back pain
Canon 1D IV or 7 D II? Thanks in advance, im planing to use it with a 100-400 tamron or a 300 mm f4 canon prime.
I've used it with both these cameras and works without any issue
@@joewhitnallphotography Thanks for your swift replay what i wanted to know more is what body is better and why from the 2 that i specified above.
It depends what you are used too, The 1D is a more complicated camera to get used too but when you do its great, The 7D mkii is a newer camera that is just so easy to use and get stunning images from
@joewhitnallphotography what about the image quality and the autofocus?
R7 is 32mp (equivalent to ~82mp FF). The R7 is slower because AF performance is linked to the sensor read out speed with DPAF tech. R7 is ~37ms, i.e. super slow. The R3 is ~5ms. Original R5 is ~13ms and R5II ~6ms.
One thing that you noted is that the bigger battery in the R3 means more current delivery, and that provides more torque for focusing on these big primes. So, focusing speed on the R5 and R7 will suffer due to their smaller batteries. I haven't looked at the R5II to see if its current delivery is improved over the older battery tech or not. I suspect that it isn't. A lot of people get caught out on this. I ran into a guy using a R5 and the RF100-500 cos his RF600 f4 was too slow to focus. I didn't have the heart to tell him that this was due to him using the R5...
How are you finding the R3 with its 24mp Joe?
edit: what version TC are you using? The mark 1 1.4x TC doesn't have any weather sealing and has an inferior optical design to the mark 2. The mark 2 introduced weather sealing. The mark 3 uses the same optical design as the mark 2, but does have the dual AF chip that helps drive the mark 2 super teles AF faster.
I'm loving the R3, For sure my favioute of the R series cameras I've used so far!
I have mkii TC's
@@joewhitnallphotography mark 2 TCs are weather sealed and have the same optical quality as the mark 3 TCs, but do lack the AF chip. Not really an issue with the mark 1 500 prime, but if you upgrade to a mark 2 super tele prime, the mark 3 TC will result in better AF performance.
I use my ef500 mk1 with my R7 for birds. I agree with the statement that the R7 requires care with this lens but af speed is not what it is cracked up to be. I turned my AF response setting down a notch because I find the R7 overshoots. But that has to do with the crop factor, not the sensor readout speed. You are effectively at 800mm. And even at the slower response, it still does birds in flight well. If the light is good, I prefer my 100-400 ii. But low light is 500 f4 time.
@@GerhardBothaWFF AF speed is linked to sensor read out speed. The R7 has a sensor readout speed of ~37ms. VERY slow. I highly doubt that it has anything to do with the APS-C crop factor.
I find EF lenses work better with RF cameras than they did with EF cameras. The focus is just better. My 200mm f1.8 is much more accurate on my R3 than it was on my 1DX Mark II.
I was considering a fringer adapter ef to fx for fujifilm apsc camera so i can use a big boy ef lens on the fuji. Do you think that is a good or bad idea?
Keep up the good work
I suspect that the AF performance won't be terrible good.
I think you will find it very slow, As I said in the video even the R7 is noticeably slow and thats a Canon! So using another brand is likely to be even slower and not the most fun experience
my mk1 400 and 600 did not autofocus at all with that adapter on my fuji bodies
//Update to latest firmware 1.5.0 for the camera fixed my problem below.//
Mine doesn´t work at all with mirrorless (R6 mkII), I get connection error when taking a picture. It works perfect with my DSLR,s. (90D,7DmkII,1DXmkII)...
And it´s not the adapter. My R6 works fine with the 100-400 mkII.
It should work. Is it a Canon or third party RF to EF adapter? You may want to make sure the contacts are clean on both the lens and the adapter.
Thats very odd, Just put it on my dads R6 mkii and works no issues at all
I would also check to see if you have the latest firmware installed. There were a couple of issues with error code 70 (possible lens communication error) that were fixed.
@@KevinVirgil I haven´t upgraded to 1.5.0 that was released just now in Sep., I´ll try that and see how it goes
@@KevinVirgil just an update: 1.5.0 fixed the problem.