The Canon EF 600mm F/4.0L IS II USM Lens In-Depth Review

[@lisadaniels6487]

I just received this lens yesterday, taking the time to learn about it before I take it out on a play date ;)

[@alexanderbyfield6077]

4:24 just want to add that Prime lenses are generally better with achieving narrower FOV at identical focal lengths vs zooms.

[@texmex9721]

I have this lens and love it. It is great on its own, but this lens is king of the teleconverters. It is known for being sharp with the 1.4X and 2X Mark III Canon Extenders. Sharper than the EF Mark III, and the RF 600mm with its RF extenders.

[@AtaBoraBasar]

This lens is monster. 👍👍

[@FlorenceRobbiano]

For this price, it better be 🤣

[@nigelsearle8025]

Here's my pennyworth on the 600mm supe-telephoto lens.. I just been using the Canon 600mm F4 EF mk III lens and found it to be incredibly sharp in conjunction with my R5 body. A game-changer really, compared to my current setup of EF 100-400mm mk II with or without a 1.4x mk III teleconverter, and an RF 800mm f11. Specifically, focussing was much more positive and accurate, which is the thing that really frustrates me with my existing setup - with the 600mm there was much less tendency to focus on backgrounds when photographing birds in flight, though I still found the eye/face AF setting often too slow to gain focus and would never get there, for example losing the bird into an out-of-focus blur when the background was just sky. That's the body at work though, not the lens. Canon eye/face detect will hopefully improve with the promised R5 firmware updates.. I mostly used the zone AF settings instead. I was getting sequences of 50 photos all in focus - unheard of with my own equipment to that point that I thought it was making things too easy and denying me the 'challenge' I had become accustomed to! Sharpness with the 600mm was fantastic, though with my pictures its always been getting the focussing right with birds in flight that's been my main disappointment. A major negative was that the 600mm was next to impossible to use in bird hides - the diameter of the objective lens and length with hood attached resulted in it only just managing to fit through a top-opening shutter, giving barely any possibility of movement. Anyway, what really made all of this viable was Canon UK's 'free 48 hour testdrive' - listed on the canon.co.uk web page (just pull right under 'Offers, Events & More' to find the offer there). I could never have justified purchase of a lens like this, or even 'normal' hire costs (£303.60 for 3 days?!). But I hired it for 3 full days and the best part of a 4th day for free over a Bank Holiday weekend. The RF super-tele versions aren't available for hire at present, which is why I had to stick with the 600mm EF version. A hefty refundable deposit is required, and you need to arrange your own insurance for the hire (I just amended my home contents policy for a net sum total of £1.01 !). Courier costs are free to the hirer in both directions. I'm amazed at how many Canon users don't know about this test-drive facility - its superb, and I'd recommend it! Obviously, Canon are doing this as a 'try before you buy' scheme, and for me the results were indeed sufficiently impressive that I'm contemplating buying a big white prime, even if its not necessarily the 600mm, or buying new. It sure was interesting to see what I'm missing!

[@TheAstrocast]

one day...i will own one of these 600 primes. oh man i can dream.

[@mattpacker4372]

ITS A RED kITE! great vid! I want one

[@bngr_bngr]

Did he actually use the lens?

[@alexanderbyfield6077]

To be honest, weight doesn't bother me too much. The IQ between Mark II and III seems to be equal. I've got the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS II USM and want a longer focal length for distant shots.

[@benjaminmesa1089]

The IQ is not equal between mk2 and mk3 variations. The mk2 is certainly sharper, and the mk3 looks awful with TCs for the price tag they put on it.

[@Chris_Wolfgram]

I used to always lust for lenses like this. But I'm more certain than ever, that I'll never own one. I mean, I guess if I hit the lotto, and could both "afford the lens" AND a Sherpa to lug it around for me :) lol But the reality is, I'm getting super clean, super sharp images with slow, light, cheap lenses. Are they as sharp and clean as from lenses like this ^ Of course not, but SO close, and at a tiny fraction of the cost. In the last year, with my new mirrorless cameras, and ultra light lenses, I'm really getting over my big lens envy :)

[@kid4eva94]

Anyone know how the mark ii or iii lenses perform on a 7D mark ii? Been trying to find videos of people using this combo but can’t seem to find anything

[@benjaminmesa1089]

Should work just fine. I would upgrade though. You can probably pick up an R7 for around $1000 or less now. Get some IBIS and a high res sensor.

[@OhhhhhhhBugger]

If you want to go a pound and a half lighter, the 500mm version is also incredible.

[@georgesmiley3740]

How did you get that voice?

[@kilik92]

Do a test on the sony 600 f4

[@rockymanilow5115]

You're late to the party 😜

[@OhhhhhhhBugger]

Or he just waited till they were more affordable...

[@rockymanilow5115]

@@OhhhhhhhBugger 😂😂