I pulled the trigger so shoot me....

[cmr164]

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM IS AF Telephoto Lens - Gray Market (http://www.adorama.com/CA5004IS.html)
(http://www.adorama.com/CA5004IS.html)

It arrives on Thursday :lust

And goes with me to the Philippines and Japan on Saturday



(http://www.adorama.com/CA5004IS.html)

[damonff]

woah, that's expensive...enjoy Charles!!! what a beast of a lens! one day I'll be able to afford a lens that's over $300...one day...

[dkapp]

Congrats on a great lens! I can't wait to see what you can do with this one.

Dave

[fish]

Congrats, Charles! That's what...$5500USD or so? :yikes


You'd better make some exemplary images with that thing or we'll be forced to confiscate it from you. :D

[cmr164]

Congrats, Charles! That's what...$5500USD or so? :yikes


You'd better make some exemplary images with that thing or we'll be forced to confiscate it from you. :D
$5300 but who is counting.

[fish]

$5300 but who is counting.
You either got a smokin' deal or bought the imported version?

[Andy]

You either got a smokin' deal or bought the imported version?

to they make gogs for fish?

from chas' orig post:

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM IS AF Telephoto Lens - Gray Market (http://www.adorama.com/CA5004IS.html)
(http://www.adorama.com/CA5004IS.html)

[cmr164]

You either got a smokin' deal or bought the imported version?
There really isn't any difference between grey and USA for Canon. And that is even more true with me moving to the Philippines. Grey is if anything better than US.

[Andy]

There really isn't any difference between grey and USA for Canon. And that is even more true with me moving to the Philippines. Grey is if anything better than US.

and this is substantiated by what exactly? most places, including canon marketing themselves, say that the lenses come off the same line.

[dkapp]

[; really isn't any difference between grey and USA for Canon. And that is even more true with me moving to the Philippines. Grey is if anything better than US.[/QUOTE]

I was under the assumption that grey & US models are the exact same thing, just marketed for different global markets. To bring prices down, many companies import from overseas to cut out the middleman. I believe I read that from the B&H FAQ section awhile back.

Dave

[JohnR]

nice lens! :O

Are you moving there permanently or vacation?

And from what I have heard, gray market won't get any warranty service in the US.

[cmr164]

and this is substantiated by what exactly? most places, including canon marketing themselves, say that the lenses come off the same line.
The diff is warranty service but for Canon the diff is not significant in the US. The reason better in Philippines is there is no benefit at all from the USA model and it costs $200 more... so grey is $200 better :)

[cmr164]

nice lens! :O

Are you moving there permanently or vacation?

And from what I have heard, gray market won't get any warranty service in the US.
Yes
permanently
Canon gives warranty service in the US for grey market, which is why grey is the right chioce for Canon stuff.

[Red Bull]

http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/eekers.gif Nice lens!!!

[luckyrwe]

The savings off of the Gray will get you a 2x converter! Great lens, congratulations! :clap

[wxwax]

Wowee, that's biggg glass. Congratulations Charles. Big move ahead of you, as well. Good luck with it. Be careful over there.

[ian408]

Charles,

Nice lens. You'll enjoy it. But if you shoot with it on a monopod, high speed and
turn off IS unless you plan on doing a lot of panning (mode 2).

Ian

[cmr164]

Charles,

Nice lens. You'll enjoy it. But if you shoot with it on a monopod, high speed and
turn off IS unless you plan on doing a lot of panning (mode 2).

Ian I don't use monopods... we will see if I change. and why turn off IS if it is not on a tripod?

BTW the Adorama/UPS combo is going to be a winner again:



Feb 9, 2005 7:36 A.M.
SOMERVILLE, MA, US OUT FOR DELIVERY 7:15 A.M.
SOMERVILLE, MA, US ARRIVAL SCAN 4:15 A.M.
HARTFORD, CT, US DEPARTURE SCAN 1:24 A.M.
HARTFORD, CT, US ARRIVAL SCAN Feb 8, 2005 10:56 P.M.
NEW YORK, NY, US DEPARTURE SCAN 7:31 P.M.
NEW YORK, NY, US FORWARDED TO THE FACILITY IN THE DESTINATION CITY 7:31 P.M.
NEW YORK, NY, US ORIGIN SCAN 6:11 P.M.
Now to just wait for the truck http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons6/42.gif

[luckyrwe]

I remember when I got my Nikon 300/2.8AF-S lens, it was $5500 and I got next day delivery because I did not want to wait...and the day AFTER I got it, UPS went on strike for weeks. Good call there.

Oh, I do not think UPS is going to strike on you. :D

[ian408]

I don't use monopods... we will see if I change. and why turn off IS if it is not on a tripod?
I've been finding that I get better results (sharper images) by turning IS off on
the monopod (for most things). Just my observation.

Ian

(has the truck come yet?).

[JohnR]

Why are you moving there?

Man..that is a huge lens. I'm jealous!

[USAIR]

Why are you moving there?

Man..that is a huge lens. I'm jealous!It's called Lens Envy :wink

Fred

[cmr164]

Ordered at 5:13 PM delivered at 5:08PM so just less than 24 hours from me calling them to place the order to me receiving it. Great service!

The box was so big it was like a footlocker. The lens is huge!! I might actually spring for the monopod... :wxwax

Here is the very first pic.

ISO1250 , f4 , 1/100 , IS of course

http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7866_s.jpg (http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7866.jpg)

[pathfinder]

Ordered at 5:13 PM delivered at 5:08PM so just less than 24 hours from me calling them to place the order to me receiving it. Great service!

The box was so big it was like a footlocker. The lens is huge!! I might actually spring for the monopod... :wxwax

Here is the very first pic.

ISO1250 , f4 , 1/100 , IS of course

http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7866_s.jpg (http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7866.jpg)


To use a mono pod or a tripod for this lens you may need a lens plate from reallyrightstuff.com , as the holes in the bottom of the tripod foot are different sized - one is 1/4 -20 and the other is 3/8 I think. Kinesisgear.com makes some nice bags for this lens also CMR :)

[ian408]

To use a mono pod or a tripod for this lens you may need a lens plate from reallyrightstuff.com , as the holes in the bottom of the tripod foot are different sized - one is 1/4 -20 and the other is 3/8 I think. Kinesisgear.com makes some nice bags for this lens also CMR :)
For what it's worth, I'm using the monopod sans plate or head.

Lightware also makes a nice case and rain cover.

Ian

[cmr164]

To use a mono pod or a tripod for this lens you may need a lens plate from reallyrightstuff.com , as the holes in the bottom of the tripod foot are different sized - one is 1/4 -20 and the other is 3/8 I think. Kinesisgear.com makes some nice bags for this lens also CMR :)
Walked over to the local Camera's Etc. Hey I had to show it to someone who would appreciate it. The manager is the guy who bought my 100-400L from me. So... I actually was able to sneak this monstrosity into the store without him seeing it. Walked up to the counter and said, "So I finally found a replacement for the 100-400L I sold you." He asks.... and I haul a 1/5 meter of lens/camera up onto the counter to the sound of eyes popping.

Tried out a monopod... Having both size threads on the lens collar-mount is a good thing. Here are 2 shots of the victim... er buyer of my 100-400L using the monopod.

ISO 1250 , f4 , 1/160 500mm
http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7871_s.jpg (http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7871.jpg)

ISO 1250 , f4 , 1/160 500mm
http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7872_s.jpg (http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7872.jpg)

[fish]

hey charles, how come those images are OOF? Is the IS working correctly?





















:uhoh

[ian408]

Fish, get your glasses adjusted :deal

[fish]

Fish, get your glasses adjusted :deal
hush! :lol


That thing's got a minimum focus distance of FIFTEEN FEET! :eek1

[luckyrwe]

That thing's got a minimum focus distance of FIFTEEN FEET! :eek1
Get an extrension tube! :lol3

[cmr164]

hush! :lol


That thing's got a minimum focus distance of FIFTEEN FEET! :eek1
Sure but you can't fit in a persons head at that distance :D

http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/IH9T7871_s.jpg

[ian408]

hush! :lol


That thing's got a minimum focus distance of FIFTEEN FEET! :eek1
And your point :dunno

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14624385-M.jpg