Canon EF 500mm F 4L IS II USM Avis | 54 Données comparées

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens is hailed as a top-tier, lightweight (for its class) super-telephoto lens offering incredible sharpness, fast autofocus, and effective 4-stop image stabilization. It is highly regarded by professionals for sports and wildlife photography, featuring robust weather sealing and specialized IS modes for moving subjects. Conversely, the lens represents a significant financial investment with a, although reduced, still massive, heavy footprint that requires solid support for optimal use. Minor vignetting at f/4 and a 12.1-foot minimum focus distance are listed as limitations to consider.

The DXOMARK review highlights the outstanding performance of the Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF600mm f/4L IS II USM lenses, placing them among the top six telephoto primes tested on the EOS 5D Mark III. Both super-telephotos deliver exceptional sharpness that remains entirely uniform across the frame, even when shooting wide open at f/4. The 500mm model achieves a sharpness score of 19 P-Mpix with virtually zero distortion, excellent light transmission, and minimal chromatic aberration. Meanwhile, the 600mm performs identically but edges out with a fractionally higher sharpness rating of 20 P-Mpix and an even lower, imperceptible chromatic aberration score of 3µm. The primary downsides mentioned in the review relate directly to the physical nature and positioning of these massive super-telephoto tools. While Canon managed to make both of these Mark II models significantly lighter than their predecessors, they remain inherently heavy and bulky to manage. Additionally, these premium lenses carry very high price tags, keeping them reserved for serious or well-funded photographers. Finally, their specialized focal lengths limit versatility, meaning they have very distinct use cases and...

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM is highly praised by reviewer Laszlo Pusztai as an exceptional, highly versatile super-telephoto lens that delivers stellar image quality, richer colors, and buttery smooth background bokeh. A standout pro is its massive 800g weight reduction compared to the Mark I model, making it noticeably less front-heavy and easy to handhold for extended periods when paired with smaller camera bodies like the Canon EOS 5DS R or 7D Mark II. Its compact profile allows it to fit seamlessly into standard travel backpacks alongside other essential gear. Furthermore, the lens boasts outstanding sharpness even when paired with the 1.4x III teleconverter, yielding faster transitions from sharp to unsharp areas and easily outperforming the bare Mark I predecessor. The reviewer also appreciates the repositioning of the focusing range selector to the neck of the lens for easier access while using a gimbal. However, the review highlights a few distinct handling and accessory cons. A primary handling flaw is that the lens's physical balance point sits directly under the focusing ring when using compact camera bodies;...

The Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS II USM is a super-telephoto lens that delivers exceptional sharpness and image quality, making it a powerful tool for wildlife photographers. A major strength is its significant weight reduction, coming in at 3190g (about 0.7kg lighter than its predecessor) due to magnesium and titanium construction, which makes it much easier to handhold. It features an upgraded 4-stop image stabilization system with a quiet motor ideal for video, a new "Power Focus" mode for smooth manual video adjustments, and a reduced minimum focusing distance of 3.7 meters. Optically, the lens performs phenomenally on its own and shows a massive advantage over the older version when paired with teleconverters, maintaining impressive sharpness even wide open at f/5.6 with a 1.4x TC or at f/8 with a 2x TC. However, the lens has a few notable drawbacks, primarily its steep price tag of approximately €10,000, making it nearly twice as expensive as the original version. Another design con is that Canon removed the flat protective glass element from the front of the lens; while this optimizes...

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM is a top-tier super-telephoto prime lens designed for professional sports, wildlife, and nature photographers. Built like a tank with robust dust- and weather-resistance, it delivers exceptional, flawless optical performance featuring maximum sharpness right at f/4 and virtually zero chromatic aberration or distortion. Its advanced autofocus system operates rapidly and silently, offering specialized tools like a focus preset ring, focus hold buttons, a focus limiter switch, and a power focus (PF) mode tailored for smooth video transitions. Additionally, its highly versatile 3-mode image stabilization system is optimized to eliminate camera shake even when locked down on a heavy-duty tripod. Despite its premium performance, the lens has several distinct drawbacks, most notably its high price tag of $10,500 and the exorbitant $550 cost to replace its massive 7-inch plastic lens hood. While it is lighter than its predecessor by 1.5 pounds, it remains a massive, heavy piece of gear weighing over 7.5 pounds and measuring 15 inches long, making hand-held shooting highly straining and requiring a sturdy tripod setup. It is also poorly suited...

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM super telephoto lens is highly praised as a superior, well-worth-the-wait upgrade to its 1999 predecessor, offering an ideal balance of focal reach and reduced weight for wildlife and bird photography. During field testing with a Canon EOS 7D in Katmai National Park, the lens demonstrated remarkably fast, effortless autofocus performance on moving brown bears, alongside a highly efficient Image Stabilization system offering up to 4 stops of assistance. Optical quality is exceptionally strong due to a complete redesign using Fluorite optics, which deliver maximum sharpness even when shooting completely wide open at f/4. Additionally, the lens produces zero visible distortion or chromatic aberration, while its nine-blade aperture yields a smooth, visually pleasing background bokeh. The review highlights distinct pros and cons regarding the lens's design and real-world handling: Pros: Significantly Lighter: Weighs 7.03 pounds, slashing 1.5 pounds off the older model for vastly easier handling. Superior Image Quality: Unmatched sharpness at maximum aperture with no color fringing or distortion. Enhanced Performance: Features noticeably faster autofocus tracking and a doubled, 4-stop Image Stabilization...