Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

I have not posted anything here for quite some time but am finding more time to devote to photography now. I have a question concerning a Canon EF 500mm f4.5 I have found for sale. I wondered if anyone here has had any experience with it as it has been discontinued for a while and there isn't much information on the net. If so, what is your opinion of this lens and the quality of images taken with it? Thanks in advance for any help with this question.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Wish I could help but the version I have is the next version. I have the 500mm f/4 version. I considered the f/4.5 version, but couldn't really find anything that said how good it was either. So I went with the tried and true f/4 version. I still have it....

bleirer

I found a review with test shots and comparisons if this is the one. This is f4 though, you said f 4,5, but I don't see any ef 500 f 4.5. For the same money you might have other options that might not be as heavy or big, for example the newest 100-400 with the newest 1.4 extender.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-500mm-f-4.0-L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The Canon L lenses are build to last forever, especially Great White Red-Ringed Super Telephoto prime lenses. The 'knock' on older and discontinued lenses is the risk of no ability to repair if there is a problem. The EF500mm f/4.5L USM was released in 1992. The next model was the EF500mm f/4L IS USM released in 1999. So, for the f/4.5 model, you're looking at a lens 28- to 20-years old.

Of course, 'age' doesn't diminish the image quality of the lens. I don't have experience with 500 f/4.5L. Rather, for image quality, I'd extrapolate from my experience between a circa 1981 FD 300 f/2.8L and the current (rel 2011) EF300mm f/2.8L IS II USM. The differences are both subtle and obvious, such as the EF version having IS support and autofocus, as well as cutting-edge modern materials. The sharpness / image quality differences are subtle, where side-by-side on digital bodies, you can recognize the 'state of the art' differences of 30+ years lens development, if you know where to look. 'Subtle differences' like trying decide between amazing and amazing+.

I'd expect the EF500mm f/4.5L USM to be similar to my 300mm experiences, where the EF lens is the autofocus-enabled design of the older FD / 1981 version of the 500mm focal length. The image quality should be spectacular, but slightly discernable from the current state-of-the-art released in 2012.

The older EF 500mm lenses look to be about $2500 - $2800 used online. If you use a copy for another 10+ years and never experience a problem (the likely scenario), that's a lot of supreme image quality and focal length at a relatively low price vs newer and more expensive lenses. The risk is that's a lot of money in a lens that has virtually no options to be fixed in the unlikely event a problem develops. So the question develops, is a modern lens reaching to 500mm a better use of $2500 - $2800 vs this older model? Or, is the supreme 500mm image quality (with options to extend to 700mm and 1000mm) a real bargain at $2500?

A final thought on inspecting an older 'great white' lens: look for dust inside the lens, particularly related to the drop-in filter. My FD 300L arrived missing a drop-in filter. It's possible there was 20+ years dust inside the lens, but I could reach that area with a micro fiber and clean the dust. I then replaced with an almost perfect fit using a modern EF version of the drop-in. With that bit of maintenance, the glass is as clear as the day the FD version was built.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I used one in the film era. It is an L lens - it is a GREAT lens. It should accept a 1.4X and AF on f8 enabled digital bodies - unlike the film era f5.6 bodies. There are no parts available so repairs could be challenging.
.

Canisdirus

Film lenses are built with a different set of tolerances than digital lenses.
Some can cross over and perform pretty well...others cannot.
You can expect a loss of sharpness...some ghosting...chromatic aberrations compared to a lens designed for digital.

You might be satisfied...you might not.
It won't ever be better than a digital lens, however.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Found one several years ago, bought it and use it frequently. This lens is the original 500mm Canon lens. Image Stabilization was unknown at the time so the lens is much lighter than one with IS. I keep the shutter speed elevated and don't lose any performance. As far as nomenclature is concerned I found the original literature in the manual for Canon's original six "Big Whites". One manual covers from 200mm to 600mm. Not many pages. I had a great opportunity to shoot the "Elk Rut" in Rocky Mountain N.P. last fall and spent three days using only this lens. I varied the shoot using a 1.4 T/C for 700mm. Basically the lens is 500mm, very light-weight, and delivers great images. One draw-back I encountered was a drop-in filter, it measures 48mm and new ones are 52mm. 48mm CPLs are very difficult to find, difficult but not impossible. I saved over 4 figures buying this lens instead of a newer version, price was a definite deal-maker for me. It is an older lens featuring older technology, but it is also a great lens for use with a mono-pod when chasing wildlife. I am very pleased with the results obtained with it. No regrets.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The Canon EF 500mm f/4.5L USM is a very decent lens. But it's quite old now. It was introduced in 1992 and superseded by the EF 500mm f/4 IS USM in 1999.

So the EF 500mm f/4.5L is at least 21 years old and might be closer to 28. The problem with an electronic lens that old is if any repairs or service is needed. Canon won't touch it and replacement parts are non-existent, so an independent shop may not be able fix it either. Note: Canon had a lot of experience and success with super telephotos over the years. In a sense, the EF 500mm f/4.5L is an update of the twenty year older FD 500mm f/4.5L from 1972. They use similar optical design, although the FD lens is manual focus and mechanical aperture, while the EF lens is electronically controlled and has AF.

Be certain that important accessories such as tripod ring or foot (if removable) and the lens hood are included. Either of those would be next to impossible to replace and probably very expensive if you can even find them. The front lens cap is unique, too (though there may be alternatives such as Lens Coats "Hood Hats" and others). The drop-in filter holder is essential, too. All the Canon super teles use them. They come with a "plain" or "sky" gel drop-in. If the gel filter needs replacement, that's no big deal.... so long as the drop-in holder itself isn't missing. There are special C-Pol and screw-in filter holders available. But that lens uses a now defunct 48mm size filter... Beginning in 1999 all the newer super teles use 52mm drop-in filters that are not interchangeable. If you want to add a filter, such as a C-Pol or screw-in or even have other types of gel set up in spare holder, you'll have to search long and hard for one of the old ones from that era. Those also will probably come at a high price due to rarity (a standard C-Pol cannot be used... a drop-in needs to have external control mechanism).

The EF 500mm f/4.5L doesn't have image stabilization, which is highly useful on such a long telephoto!

It's a fairly big, hefty lens, although at a little over 6.5 lb. it doesn't weigh as much as the f/4 IS version that followed (1999, 8 lb.) or even the latest version II f/4 IS (2012, 7 lb.)

But, it's a fine lens... so long as it's complete and it doesn't need any repairs!

EDIT: Normally I'd point to thorough reviews and the wealth of information on The-Digital-Picture website.... But, due the EF 500mm f/4.5L's age, there's no review or info about it there. The lens was discontinued some time before Bryan started the website and his reviewing of Canon gear.

Yes, it's a "film era" lens.... But so are many of my Canon lenses, including EF 500mm f/4L IS, EF 300mm f/4L IS and even older EF 300mm f/4L IS. In fact, I used those on EOS-3 and Elan 7R film cameras for several years before getting my first DSLR (10D, 2004). NO WORRIES. I'm sure the EF 500mm f/4.5L will work just fine on a modern DSLR. It's an L-series, after all. Premium quality and advanced optics. A telephoto like this doesn't have some of the "film lens on digital camera" issues that shorter focal lengths might have. For one thing, the rear element of the lens is quite recessed deeply inside, so there's almost no way that ghosting and reflections can occur.

Below are some images from my EF 500mm f/4L IS USM... It's difficult to show at internet resolutions and sizes, but most of these print wonderfully as 11x14 or larger and you can expect pretty much the same image quality from the EF 500mm f/4.5L USM, though you'll likely want a sturdy tripod, will need to use good "long lens" technique, and to will have to keep your shutter speed fast enough...

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

Thanks for your reply and all the first hand information. This will help me make my decision.

salicaceae

I am in the same boat as you. I have upgraded all of my gear over the last decade to the degree that all I now miss is a big white 500. The budget is not to the moon so I too have been looking at the f4.5 version.

Just curious if you did end up buying this big white or not? :)

For my part, my thoughts are if I buy this one, will I miss the ability to get autofocus with my 2x III on my 1DX or not. IS is of course also a question. I have the 400 f5.6 and have learned how to caress it to get great shots without any stabilization. I mainly use my tele for birds in flight, and in that field, IS is not doing that much for my results. If I get a 500, I guess I would be using a tripod or monopod for stand still birds.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Be happy with your 400 5.6 and 1.4X ! - and use good stabilization techniques .....

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

I finally decided after much research and pondering to purchase the Sigma 60-600 F4.5-6.3. I'm so glad I did that instead of buying the older Canon lens. I can't believe how sharp and how quick to focus this lens is. I'll post a few pics for you to see here. The first image is uncropped, the second is cropped. Make sure to download them to see how sharp they are. The third is not cropped and the fourth is cropped. Hope this helps you. Let me know what you decide.

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Canisdirus

Very nice images.
You made the right choice.
It's a digital lens...for the digital bodies.

jdtonkinson Loc: Red Wing, MN

Very good images

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

thank you, I'm very pleased with my decision and the other nice thing I forgot to put in my above reply is the versatility of the 10X zoom range. You not only have 600mm at your disposal but anything between 60 and 600 is fair game as well. I'm posting three images I took at almost the full range to show what it's like to have in one lens. Now I put this lens on my camera and I'm ready for almost anything.

Almost wide open

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with the composition I liked

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at 600mm

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