Canon 150-600mm T5.6

Philippe Fayt · January 27th, 2008, 01:59 PM

Hi,

From what I noticed, the very impressive Canon 150-600mm T5.6 seems to be often on use for wildlife filming (e.g. BBC, ...). Being into wildlife also, I would be very much interested to hear from friends here who had an opportunity to try it.

Naturally, I expect the weight (over 4 kg) to be a critical issue, but how about the overall picture quality out of it? Any troubles in relatively low light conditions (like under forest canopy)?

Thanks.

Chris Hurd · January 27th, 2008, 02:08 PM

Moved from HD to UWOL.

Bob Thompson · January 27th, 2008, 05:40 PM

Philippe,

If you can find one of these lens, it has great quality but some of the modified Canon FD 150 - 600 mm lenses are not able to zoom and maintain focus. As they were made for stills camera's the actual need to maintain sharp focus while you zoomed was not necessary.

I would love to have one of these lens but they were extremely expensive when first produced

Yeo Wee Han · January 28th, 2008, 01:16 AM

Phlippe,

Very interesting fact that you noticed that this lens was used by the BBC....this lens interest me alot a few weeks ago but lack of info turned me off. Now with your observation, my interest is very much revived.

Bob,

Would you say that this lens is a sufficient one for the Canon H1?

Cheers

WeeHan

Sassi Haham · January 28th, 2008, 06:06 AM

Phlippe,

On what cam have you seen it used by BBC ?
Keep in mind that on 2/3 sensor the magnificatin is halved !
So to equel the magnification of the 150-600 on 2/3 sensor you will need a zoom lens like the Sigma 120-300/2.8 on a 1/3 sensor.

Sassi

Yeo Wee Han · January 28th, 2008, 07:48 AM

Take note that the Sigma 120-300/2.8 have gained a bad reptutation of not having a true FL of 300mm on the long end. There have been accurate and extensive tests showing that the longer end is really a 260mm. There was one where the mag rate showed that it compared only to a Nikon 70-300 zoom @ 210mm!!! The Sigma 300-800 is a different story altogether and lives up to its good name.

Both lenses are however superb lenses but the shorter one is just really dishonest marketing.

Cheers

WeeHan

Philippe Fayt · January 28th, 2008, 12:06 PM

Not sure about the cams, but the zoom lens has for example been on use several time while doing "Planet earth" (see the making of from the shots of polar bears, snow leopards, ...).

Perhaps Per could tell us about his past experience when using the FD version of the lens with a XL1 or XL H1 (+ lens support)?

Cheers.

Yeo Wee Han · January 30th, 2008, 09:04 AM

Ahhh....I know where you are coming from Philippe. I have the books and yes, it should be an Optex-modified 150-600 and they come in black!

Sadly, the 150-600s are rare nowadays. Seems like the Sigma 300-800 is the only other option. The plus will be the ability to use the Sigma on a EOS digital body and have AF to increase the keeper rate.

Cheers

WeeHan

Isaac Babcock · February 17th, 2008, 04:53 PM

I'm late to the table, but I actually have two Canon 150-600's and have used them both with the XL-1 and XH-1. They are great, there isn't anything like them. The quality is remarkable. The only thing comparable in my mind is the Canon 33x Optex converted lens, but it costed near $55,000, and Optex doesn't exist anymore...

One of my 150-600's is an Optex conversion to PL mount. The other is still in FD mount.

If anyone is interested, I would sell my Canon 150-600 f5.6 FD and the FD-XL/XH adapter. Send me an email, I'd be happy to send you photos.

isaacbabcock@yahoo.com

January 27th, 2008, 01:59 PM	#1
Philippe Fayt New Boot Join Date: May 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 20	Canon 150-600mm T5.6 - ever tried? Hi, From what I noticed, the very impressive Canon 150-600mm T5.6 seems to be often on use for wildlife filming (e.g. BBC, ...). Being into wildlife also, I would be very much interested to hear from friends here who had an opportunity to try it. Naturally, I expect the weight (over 4 kg) to be a critical issue, but how about the overall picture quality out of it? Any troubles in relatively low light conditions (like under forest canopy)? Thanks.

January 27th, 2008, 02:08 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Moved from HD to UWOL. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

January 27th, 2008, 05:40 PM	#3
Bob Thompson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 340	Philippe, If you can find one of these lens, it has great quality but some of the modified Canon FD 150 - 600 mm lenses are not able to zoom and maintain focus. As they were made for stills camera's the actual need to maintain sharp focus while you zoomed was not necessary. I would love to have one of these lens but they were extremely expensive when first produced

January 28th, 2008, 01:16 AM	#4
Yeo Wee Han Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 155	Phlippe, Very interesting fact that you noticed that this lens was used by the BBC....this lens interest me alot a few weeks ago but lack of info turned me off. Now with your observation, my interest is very much revived. Bob, Would you say that this lens is a sufficient one for the Canon H1? Cheers WeeHan

January 28th, 2008, 06:06 AM	#5
Sassi Haham Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Yaad, Galilee Posts: 117	Phlippe, On what cam have you seen it used by BBC ? Keep in mind that on 2/3 sensor the magnificatin is halved ! So to equel the magnification of the 150-600 on 2/3 sensor you will need a zoom lens like the Sigma 120-300/2.8 on a 1/3 sensor. Sassi

January 28th, 2008, 07:48 AM	#6
Yeo Wee Han Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 155	Take note that the Sigma 120-300/2.8 have gained a bad reptutation of not having a true FL of 300mm on the long end. There have been accurate and extensive tests showing that the longer end is really a 260mm. There was one where the mag rate showed that it compared only to a Nikon 70-300 zoom @ 210mm!!! The Sigma 300-800 is a different story altogether and lives up to its good name. Both lenses are however superb lenses but the shorter one is just really dishonest marketing. Cheers WeeHan

January 28th, 2008, 12:06 PM	#7
Philippe Fayt New Boot Join Date: May 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 20	Not sure about the cams, but the zoom lens has for example been on use several time while doing "Planet earth" (see the making of from the shots of polar bears, snow leopards, ...). Perhaps Per could tell us about his past experience when using the FD version of the lens with a XL1 or XL H1 (+ lens support)? Cheers.

January 30th, 2008, 09:04 AM	#8
Yeo Wee Han Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 155	Ahhh....I know where you are coming from Philippe. I have the books and yes, it should be an Optex-modified 150-600 and they come in black! Sadly, the 150-600s are rare nowadays. Seems like the Sigma 300-800 is the only other option. The plus will be the ability to use the Sigma on a EOS digital body and have AF to increase the keeper rate. Cheers WeeHan

February 17th, 2008, 04:53 PM	#9
Isaac Babcock New Boot Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 13	I'm late to the table, but I actually have two Canon 150-600's and have used them both with the XL-1 and XH-1. They are great, there isn't anything like them. The quality is remarkable. The only thing comparable in my mind is the Canon 33x Optex converted lens, but it costed near $55,000, and Optex doesn't exist anymore... One of my 150-600's is an Optex conversion to PL mount. The other is still in FD mount. If anyone is interested, I would sell my Canon 150-600 f5.6 FD and the FD-XL/XH adapter. Send me an email, I'd be happy to send you photos. isaacbabcock@yahoo.com