Price of the 800

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Haven't been following all the threads, and I can't find it on B & H yet, but does anyone know what the Canon 800 f5.6 is selling for? Also if you had to pick between the 500, 600, or 800. Which one would you choose?

[Jim Zipp]

Right here Jackie.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...f_5_6L_IS.html
Depends on what you shoot most. I very much like small songbirds.... sparrows/warblers etc. I might trade up at some point from the 600 to the 800 but waiting for the price to hopefully drop a bit. It's already dropped from 12K to 10.7K. It's got a little way to go for me.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Thanks Jim,
Thought if they were selling it by the pound it might be less than the 600:). as it is about 2lb less...... Didn't see it on their site. I''l be saving my pennies too.

[denise ippolito]

www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/Canon-Lens-Reviews.aspx - 41k Jackie, I hope this is the right page-but I always read these reviews before purchasing-he has a link to his own photo equipment that he uses-it's pretty helpful-hope I got the link right!

Also Chales Glatzer is selling a 500 on the other forum-he wants 4995 firm-I paid 5800

[atanumondal]

Does anyone followed how the prices dropped for earlier Canon Lenses ? I see that manufacturer listed price for the Canon 600 is also 12000 $, same as that of 800 mm. However the lens sells at around $7400 average on the street. How long it took for Canon 600 mm to reach that price point ?

I am assuming 800 mm will also come and stabilize at a similar price point considering its F5.6 and not a F4 lens.

[Alfred Forns]

Jackie those are totally different and complement each other. For the first one I would pikc the 500. It is lighter and has a better close focusing distance.

[Doug Brown]

I own both the 500 and the 600. If I could only choose one, it would be the 500. It's significantly lighter and less expensive.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Thanks Jim,
Thought if they were selling it by the pound it might be less than the 600:). as it is about 2lb less...... Didn't see it on their site. I''l be saving my pennies too.

That's an interesting thought. Selling by pound.

Canon claims they are using special materials to bring down the price. The price of the 800mm f5.6 appears obnoxious. If it would have been 800f4, then I could have agreed.

I don't expect the price to drop soon. However, given the current economic scenario, there should be some price correction.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Looks like the 500 might be a good choice, heard that it is still pretty sharp even with a 2x tele. Thanks for the input everyone.

[John Chardine]

Pretty sharp is an understatement Jackie. I would venture to say it is one of the sharpest lenses made by any manufacturer.

[Doug Brown]

Here's a link to my Moderator Gallery; it's a flight shot of a Barn Owl done with the 500mm and a 2x. With the proper technique, you can get good stuff at 1000mm.

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=18839

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Wow thanks Doug for the shot and John for the kudos on the 500!! Got me swayed for sure!

[Charlie Woodrich]

There appears to be a slow but steady exodus from Canon gear.




Also Chales Glatzer is selling a 500 on the other forum-he wants 4995 firm-I paid 5800
[/quote]

[Michael Lloyd]

I don't own the 500 (have the 600) but a good friend of mine shoots his 500 with a 2X TCII quite a bit and his 1000 mm 1DMKIII shots are enviable to say the least. Very sharp combo. I can't say the same for the 600 f4L IS and the 2X TCII. It works but it's not my first choice.

[Glenn Abuja]

I shoot with a 400mm f2.8 IS with a 1.4 it works great and with a 2x I find that everything must be perfect.

www.gannet.ca

[Joseph Martines]

The current street price for the 500 mm f4 IS is $ 5600 (new).

I was also surprised to see that B&H has the 1 Ds Mark II for $ 1999 (new)!!

[John Chardine]

In Canada the Canon 500/f4 is ca. $7400 with tax and by the looks of it over £5000 in UK (= $9000 Can/$7500 US- how can you guys afford equipment over there?!).

[Andy Wai]

The current street price for the 500 mm f4 IS is $ 5600 (new).

In Canada the Canon 500/f4 is ca. $7400 with tax [...]

If you import one properly, they will change tax at the border so you must count the tax out before you can compare. $7400 Canadian with tax is about $6500 without tax. And at current exchange rate, $5600 US is about $6800 Canadian. So the Canadian price is actually very good.

The thing is though, the base lens is just the beginning. Then you start adding camera bag, tripod, monopod, groundpot, heads, camo, wader, etc, etc. You're looking at at least another couple thousand dollars before you have a full fledged outfit...

Andy

[Arthur Morris]

Pretty sharp is an understatement Jackie. I would venture to say it is one of the sharpest lenses made by any manufacturer.

Agree. But prime vs. prime the 800 is sharper than the 500; better coatings. And 5 vs 8 is not such an obvious choice especially if the person lives in a place where the birdies are not so tame... I will be doing a complete review of the 800 within a month--I have yet to receive the one that I ordered through Canon.

Lastly, when I first said, "The 800 f/5.6 is a stupid lens," I did not realize that with the 800 I will be selling a few 2X TCs. Get my drift?

[Arthur Morris]

Zipp, I think that you meant trade up to the 800 (not the 1200).

Doug: for folks who own both the 500 and the 600 swapping the 6 for the 8 makes a ton of sense to me.

[Jerry Clement]

Actually, for anyone living in Canada, you can purchase the Canon 500mm f4 IS for $6375.00 or $5250.00 US at 'The Camera Store' www.thecamerastore.com located in Calgary, Alberta. They are a very good camera store to deal with.

Jerry

[Jim Zipp]

Zipp, I think that you meant trade up to the 800 (not the 1200).

Doug: for folks who own both the 500 and the 600 swapping the 6 for the 8 makes a ton of sense to me.

Oops! Of course you are right Artie and I meant the 800. Agree on the second point as well. Assuming Canon gets it REALLY right on all counts with the next generation series 1 bodies and I stay with them, my beloved 600 will most likely be swapped out for the 800 and I'll keep the 500.

Best,
Jim

[John Chardine]

Actually, for anyone living in Canada, you can purchase the Canon 500mm f4 IS for $6375.00 or $5250.00 US at 'The Camera Store' www.thecamerastore.com located in Calgary, Alberta. They are a very good camera store to deal with.

Jerry

Agree, prices are pretty good in Canada right now. Still not sure how folks in the UK can afford kit like this.

[Doug Brown]

I've been thinking about selling the 600 for the 800 ever since you loaned me the 800 at the Bosque Artie. I just wish the price would come down a couple of thousand dollars. By coincidence I had been hand holding the 600 all morning (not by choice I might add :D) the day that you let me try the 800. The 800 was much lighter to hand hold. Sharpness looked very good on the files when I got home. Here's a photo from my few minutes with the 800, hand held of course.



Canon 50D, 800mm, f/8, 1/2000, ISO 400, manual exposure, no flash, hand held

[D. Robert Franz]

Doug: for folks who own both the 500 and the 600 swapping the 6 for the 8 makes a ton of sense to me.

Artie, thats what I'm thinking as well with both the 500mm and 600mm...

[Charles Glatzer]

Oops! Assuming Canon gets it REALLY right on all counts with the next generation series 1 bodies and I stay with them, my beloved 600 will most likely be swapped out for the 800 and I'll keep the 500.

Best,
Jim

Jim,

I too am hanging on by a thin thread until the next pro body comes out. If it is not all it should be, and without defect... I will have a lot of Canon gear for sale. If all goes well I would consider swapping out my 400 f/2.8 and 600 for the 800mm.

Chas

[John Chardine]

The 800 is priced as a professional lens and will eventually pay for itself. It is out of reach of many amateurs simply because of the cost. Even the 500 is a big financial stretch for many folks including myself, who I can tell you had to do some sweet-talking at home way in advance of the purchase! These super-teles are big league.