Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Image Stabilizer AutoFocus Telephoto Lens with Case & Hood - USA Warranty

2018-10-31T11:21:21

I moved from a canon 500 f/4 ii to the 600. Both lenses are super sharp and produce exceptional images with and without extenders. I do like the higher magnification of the 600 and don’t really notice the added 1.75 pounds. With camera and 1.4 extender the outfit weighs approximately 13 pounds for the 600 and 11.25 for the 500. I like the end results of both lenses when looking at the images. In photography you tend to get what you pay for. This lens is expensive but the results are phenomenal.

BRIAN A.

2018-05-15T11:54:59

This lens is excellent. It helps get you close to the action and produces great quality images when you do your part correctly.

GARY F.

2018-04-13T09:35:58

I can count owls beards now

PING C.

2018-01-09T12:27:47

This is a beast of a piece of glass. For a long telephoto lens the image quality is excellent. Technique is important in getting the best out of this lens. Shoots wonderfully with tele converters both the 1.4X and 2X.

Dik H.

2017-05-04T08:38:10

For some reason this lens is not working right, I sent it back to you for exchange.

bill l.

2017-03-07T08:02:38

This lens has to be one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used. The autofocus is fast and accurate even with a 1.4x or a 2.0x converter. I have photos taken with a previously owned 800 mm lens and with this 600mm lens with a 2x converter and the sharpness and contrast are unbelievably great in comparison. That is in spite of the fact that I am comparing an 800mm to a 1200mm equivalent focal length. I love using this lens with mode 3 stabilization on a Wimberley head; the combo are unbeatable. I don't have to clamp the Wimberley adjustments tight so the lens is easy to move in order to track active birds and animals. At 1200mm, you would expect some mirror slap blurring, but I have seen none. I guess this performance should be expected with a 10K lens, but I still can't help but be amazed every time I use it. The Robin photo at 40 feet doesn't do the justice to this photo when it is printed at 11x14 inches. But this is proof that capturing small birds is very easy with this lens.

Ronald S.

2017-02-23T03:14:04

I have been keeping an eye on this lens for some time and just love it! While a bit heavy it is perfect for wildlife and especially birds as it allows for images to be taken without being intrusive to the animals being photographed. Tracking takes a bit of getting used to and a sturdy tripod is a must.

SOPHIE Z.

2016-05-23T08:26:02

I am so happy I made this purchase. This is taking my wildlife photography to a new level. Thanks Adorama!

Marlo C.

2016-04-28T09:40:00

I checked reviews and then checked over and over before purchasing this lens. It was sort of toss up between the 500mm or the 800mm lenses. I'm glad that I finally chose the 600mm. My primary need is for shooting high-definition wildlife images. The physical size of this lens can be a little intimidating at first. After taking it into the field several times, it has proven to be no problem. The quality of the images captured with my Canon 5D Mark II has been superb even with the addition of a 1.4 teleconverter. Thus far, all of my images were aided by using a Gitzo GL4542LS tripod and Wimberly WH-200 gimbal head. Small birds and mammals were tack-sharp even when shot at 75-80 yard distances. Here is the bottom line. I am having way too much fun with this lens! If you want sharp, quality images, then spend the money and buy this lens.

ROBERT C.

2016-04-14T09:25:12

I am 64. I use a monopod and cover a lot of ground when I go out to shoot. I used to own a 600 f/4 L IS and it weighed over 11.5 pounds. The new II version weighs about 8.5 pounds. It is a very significant difference. It is easier to maneuver into position and leaves me feeling a lot less tired. The performance is outstanding as everyone has already noted. I see almost zero difference in autofocus speed and picture quality with the 1.4x extender. Version I yielded excellent pics as well but with a weight penalty which discouraged me from using it. I am not having that problem anymore. It is a real pleasure to use Version II. Customer Service from Adorama was first-rate. They answered all my questions and delivered the lens post haste. Could not have been a better experience.

CHARLES F.

2015-12-31T14:34:53

I got this for birding and wanted the extra reach that I could not get with the 500mm. I had talked with a guy who traded up to the 600mm and said I would get everything that the 500mm had plus the extra range for only 1lb. more. Actually it is a tad over 1.5lbs. more but not enough to quibble. I have taken it out over the holiday and love it. Extremely fast focus in overcast lighting and tack sharp pictures. What more do you want out of a lens?

GARY R.

2015-05-12T21:00:00

I just got the lens and set it up on my tripod with a Wimberley head to do some test shops from my home. The lens is extremely sharp and easy to focus. Also, finding the subject was also fairly easy, for a long lens. The auto focus is very fast, with and without the 2X, after using the focus ring on the lens to get in the ballpark. I plan on using the lens to photo ocean subjects as well as nature subjects. I live close to the pacific coast which has a number of interesting subject off shore, in the surf, and at the wetlands.

GARY C.

2015-04-07T21:00:00

Quick focus very sharpness give good detail Work very good with TC 1/4 and 2 x

HUNG T.

2015-01-17T19:00:00

So I decided long ago I'm not going to own every super telephoto for a number of reasons which are probably obvious to most people. Cost, weight, bulk, etc. I already had a 300mm f/2.8L and I have the "little" 400mm f/5.6L. So I decided I was only going to buy ONE lens larger than these. I looked at the 400, the 500, the 600, and the 800. I spent an entire year deciding. I wanted long reach, so having the 400 using with a 2x TC for 800/5.6 seemed a little crazy to me. For a little more money I could actually HAVE the 800, albeit with less versatility. In the end, I figured with the 600 f/4L I could use a 1.4x extender and i'm effectively at 840mm f/5.6. Also I come from an astronomy background where "it's all about the objective lens" and this one has the largest of all the super telephotos. So I get more reach than the 800 at f/5.6, very sharp with the 1.4x by the way and no noticeable focusing impact in decent light. Also I can use it without for 600mm, and I can use the 1.4x with the 300 to get 420mm f/4. Truthfully when I'm shooting soccer the 300 is long enough without the extender, and for wildlife the 600 is never too big. I bring along the 300 and 2nd body, or sometimes I'll shoot with 70-200 f/2.8. The reason I'm talking about all of these other lenses is that none of them are super telephoto. So in fact what I'm saying is for me the 600 is the one to buy. Maximum bang for the buck in terms of reach and autofocus / stabilization goodness. This is the holy grail of canon lenses, my friends. Don't let the 800 intimidate you; this objective is larger and with the 1.4x it outperforms the 800 in my humblest of opinions. I've also used this lens on manual focus with the 2x extender III for moon images and it does a ridiculously incredible job. 1200mm f/8 rivals some pretty serious refracting telescopes out there. Oh yeah, and it looks huge and intimidating but it's not all that heavy. In fact it's just a few pounds more than the 300. I'm totally happy with this beast!

Taylorphototexas

Originally posted at

2014-03-31T21:00:00

What can you say other than STELLAR performance. Canon nailed this one!

Marcus H.

2014-01-27T19:00:00

I have other Super Teles, including the 800mm. I traded up from the 600mm VI and unlike with my 400mm I can tell the difference in the Vi and VII! All around just a perfect lens, in every way, nothing else to say!

5d3-shooter

Originally posted at

2014-01-18T19:00:00

Coupled with the Canon 1DX body amazing results are obtained.

knifeedge55

2013-04-04T21:00:00

I use 800mm f5.6 for local wildlife with tripod. Sometime, it did not move quick enough for me to shoot birds in flight. I have only 1 or 2 seconds re-act. So, I use 600mm for handhold to shoot birds in flight. I can move quicker and almost point and shoot.. The auto-focus is impressed all my friends.. How quick the the focus is. You get what you pay for.

THY B.

2013-03-07T19:00:00

I rented both the 500mm f4 II and 600mm f4 II for a week before deciding on the 600mm. They are both excellent lenses in every respect and I carefully 'weighed' this choice. The decision maker for me was the extra reach with the 600 and the fact that (at that time newer canon bodies would only AF at a minimum of f5.6. This eliminated adding the 2XIII and having AF, which is just about essential for lenses of this focal length when shooting moving subjects (e.g. - birds). The other factor I weighed was the mass of the lens (not that funny, but true). The 500 is the right choice if you can't heft the 600 around on a tripod with a solid gimbal head - it really feels much lighter. After trying the 600, I was satisfied that I could manage the weight. Both of these lenses give excellent sharpness alone and with the 1.4XIII, but I found the 840mm focal length with the 600 + 1.4X just about perfect for small perching birds and handheld action shots of hummers. For small birds you just need the extra focal length. I use the lens frequently w/o a converter for high school sports and larger wildlife (deer etc...) and I'm delighted with the sharpness and contrast at all apertures - though I shoot wide open 90% of the time w or w/o the converter. If you invest in one of these super tele's and do not already have a solid tripod and a gimbal head, I would strongly encourage you to budget for one. While I can handhold the lens in certain situations when I need maximum tracking mobility, a tripod or monopod with a gimbal head enables a full day of shooting w/o risking your back. I really don't have a negative thing to say about the performance of this lens - the AF is super fast even w tele's, the extra choices of focus distance limiters really helps when shooting birds in trees (even a great AF system is challenged here), the IS modes are super (I get good images at 1/100 sec handheld most of the time and 1/30 occasionally on a monopod), weather sealed, nice hood, solid case. The price is a bit of a shock, but I can't see a better value if you love avian & wildlife photography. My wish list for the next generation of super teles (if I live that long) is a built in 1.4X like the planned 200-400 f4 zoom. It would be wonderful to quickly swing that in and out of the optics w/o fiddling around - there just isn't time w wildlife. The added weight and cost would be OK w me.

Vern

Originally posted at

2013-02-08T19:00:00

Everything you'd expect from a Canon L lens and much more. Sharp in more ways than one. Resolution continues to amaze me. This is my first 600 so I can't say anything compared to the older model but this lens is light. The older 600 was famed for having lightning fast focus and this lens is also lightning fast, likely faster. Yes, you can shoot this handheld and get amazing results but even Chuck Norris couldn't do it for long - this is a big lens. If you are in the market for a bird/wildlife lens -look no further. With a Lenscoat and/or plate attached this lens will not fit into the included case. Plan on picking up a Loewpro Lens Trekker 600 AW II which is excellent for transporting and storage. If you do not already have a "Big Boy" tripod and gimbal, you'll want them too. In my opinion, The Really Right Stuff TVC-33 is perfect for this lens as is the Wimberly P50 6.5 plate. IQ using the 1.4 extender on this lens is a good reason to consider the 600 over the 800. The 1.4 extender and a 7D are a nice combination with this lens! The 2x extender shows the expected drop in IQ but I'm happy with the compliments I've received of images taken @1200mm.

Doug

2012-10-14T21:00:00

I am an advanced amateur photographer and use this lens for wildlife photography and motor sports photography. The new 600 is an exceptional lens and exceeds the high performance standards set by its predecessor. The resolution, color rendition, image quality, and bokeh of the new 600 are extraordinary. And its autofocus is laser quick when used bare or with teleconverters. Additionally, the new 600 is well balanced; very light in weight for a lens of this focal length; and well designed and sturdily built. The only nit I have about this lens is its price. However, after I made my first images of bald eagles with the new 600, my concerns about its price evaporated.

ROMA T.

2012-09-03T21:00:00

This lens just perform very well. It is extremely sharp, fast focusing and bright (F4). I use it mainly for wildlife but also for architecture work (top of building details - I am in New York). Like many others already mentioned, the association with the 1.4 Extender III provides the extra reach without image quality loss. The 2.0 Extender III performs also very well (though some image quality loss, but manageable). Last, the image stabilization works well either handheld or tripod mounted. Overall an excellent lens!

FRANCOIS R.

2012-08-05T21:00:00

As primarily a wildlife photographer, I needed a lens that was reliable and would give me the reach I require along with accuracy. The first opportunity I had to put it to the test it performed well enough to result in the sale of the images I obtained. Focus was quick and accurate!

ELAINE H.