Canon announced a new EF 500mm f4L IS II USM and EF 600mm f4L IS II USM today amidst a flury of new press releases. If you’re in the market for one of these beautiful lenses, then you’re undoubtedly a professional and have probably already heard about it: both lenses have been released to supplant the older models with improved optics and image stabilization.
The first generation of each leans utilized an older generation of IS, which offered about two stops of stability. The new models offer four stops, and a 3rd IS mode. Mode-3 sounds wonderful; when the shutter button is halfway depressed, the IS electronics will begin detecting movement, but will only engage when the shutter is released, so the appearance through the viewfinder will be as smooth as a traditional, non-IS lens. I’m looking forward to testing this mode out and seeing whether it lives up to the claim.
Each lens will also now include two fluorite elements instead of one, improved lens coatings, lighter titanium and magnesium parts, and lighter IS mechanisms, resulting in superior image quality and significant weight loss: 18% and 27%, respectively.
The EF 500mm f4L IS II USM is estimated to cost $9500, while the EF 600mm f4L IS II USM should drain your bank account of about $12,000.
