conniep

I don't believe this is the proper category for this question, but I will ask anyway. I am looking at a lenses for my Canon. Can some one please tell me what these numbers mean?

canon ef600mm f/4l IS USM

Thank you,

dead2fred Loc: Da Bronx

Very expensive!

conniep

LOL yeah, I figured that one out very quickly but it doesn't hurt to dream

dead2fred Loc: Da Bronx

I've been dreaming for decades of big glass only to settle for what I could afford. I got lucky at Atlantic City about ten years ago and found a very nice Sigma 120-300mm on E-bay for $1700. I sold it there to get a EOS 60D two years ago. So I keep going back to AC in hopes of getting Lucky again!

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Those numbers mean about an additional $1000 for a good tripod, gimbal/ball head, lens mounting plate and remote shutter release in order to make good use of that beast...unless your arms and back are used to hand holding a lens that size.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Connie, that lens is the mkl model as you've listed it. In the last year it was superceeded with a mkll model, which is lighter as well as sharper and almost double the cost. it's an f4, which at that length makes it very fast.
If you can swing one, a very good lens. The 500mm counter part is more popular because it is just more portable and maneuverable. For those reasons, many opt for the smaller lens. If you are considering one, by all means use both before deciding. Do keep in mind the resale is very high, more an investment than a purchase. Comie, I had a 500 purchased used and sold it for $1000 more than I paid for it. That's what I mean by investment.
I hope you get one. ;-)
SS

Edit: Connie, those lenses are less about dreams than they are the hallmark of beautiful photography.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

FABrauer Loc: D/FW, Texas

600mm is the focal length and F4 is the widest lens opening that this lens has to offer. We in the business call this a "fast" lens. Fast lens cost big $$. I rented a Nikon 300 F2.8 with 2x teleconvertor after I saw how big the 600 F4 lens was. I prefer the 600 and a 2x but even at my prime strength I would rent a pack mule to carry it than carry it ever myself on a wilderness journey. Great for birding and wildlife if you can be stationary or mount it on the back of a pickup 4x4!

amehta Loc: Boston

EF = Electro-Focus. The EF means it works on 35mm/full-frame cameras. EF-S is for lenses that are specifically designed for the 1.6x (AFS-C) cameras.

IS = Images Stabilzation

USM = Ultra-Sonic Motor, so it focuses quickly and quietly

600mm means it takes good pictures of things pretty far away.

f/4 means it gathers a lot of light

The L means it costs a lot.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

Connie, if I may, let me try to explain what the numbers mean (which is what you asked, after all):

The 600MM refers to the focal length. On a 35MM film camera (from the old days), where a 50MM lens was considered the "normal" length (meaning it gave about the same field of view as the human eye does, so everything looked about the same through the lens as without) 600MM would thus be something akin to a 12X spotting scope or telescope. This is why bird and some sports photographers use it - you can get shots of distant subjects rather than having to get impossibly close. Now you don't mention what Canon camera you have; if it uses a CCD chip smaller than the old film format (as most do) then there is what's called a "crop factor" (perhaps 1.6) that essentially enables you to calculate the approximate equivalent focal length that would give the same field of view on a film or "FX" camera as this does on the smaller-ship camera. In other words, multiple that 600MM by 1.6 to get 960 MM "effective", meaning the magnification jumps to 19x! Compare this to a pair of binoculars that are 8x40 which has 8X magnifying power, if you will.

The f4 part has to do with the aperture- the "hole" through which the light passes in the lens. Like virtually all lenses, this one enables you to adjust the aperture, but the manufacturers use the maximum aperture when describing the lens because that is the most critical factor. A larger number implies a smaller aperture diameter, and (as you might guess) lets in less light, so it's easier for you to see though as well as the camera to auto-focus through a "faster" lens (one with a smaller maximum f-stop). Of course, it also means that there is just physically more glass involved in enabling the larger "hole", so these fast lenses are typically rather large and heavy as compared to those with smaller maximum f-stops. COmpare this lens' weight and size to the Tamron 150-600MM zoom lens just announces and you will see the latter is much smaller. But the trade-off is it lets less light through, so the viewfinder is darker and the fastest shutter speed you can use is slower (with the same ISO settings and lighting in the scene).

The IS (though not a number, I'm guessing you need that too) relates to the Image Stabilization function the lens has - there are actually small motors inside the lens that jiggle some lens elements to counter-effect the movement the camera might have. WHile this isn't generally needed on a tripod (which for a lens this size you really need to use anyway) it might help at times.

The USM stands for "Ultra Sonic Motor", which is just the mechanical setup inside the lens that moves the elements back-and-forth to achieve focus. USM is quicker and quieter than its predecessor, which was (and is - many lenses still use it today) a mechanical connection between the lens and the camera body where the motor inside the camera turns a "screw" on the back of the lens flange that makes the adjustments for focus. Note the USM motors are different than the IS ones; there are lenses with USM that don't have IS (though, so far as I know, not vice versa).

So as others have mentioned, this beast is big and costly (though hardly the most expensive - check out the Sigma 200-500 f2.8). But if you are curious, you could rent one from Borrowlens.com or other sources.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

EF stands for "Electro Focus," 600mm is the focal length, f/4 is the widest aperture, "IS" is "Image Stabilization," USM stands for "Ultra Sonic Motor."

Its a wildlife/birder dream lens in a Canon mount. It will cost as much as a good used car. It weighs a ton and you won't be able to hand hold it for more than one shot if at all. A tripod or monopod is mandatory.

Those that can afford it and know how to use it achieve remarkable results. As with all long, heavy lenses there is a learning curve.

Mere mortals usually make due with tele-extender.

dead2fred Loc: Da Bronx

Here's a picture I snapped yesterday at the Bronx Botanical Gardens. That's at least a 600mm Nikon and the type of tripod you'll need.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

The case for that lens costs more than any lens I own. :shock:

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

Hi conniep... Here is a great website on most all of Canon's lenses... It is specifically for beginners with questions on lenses... It is easy to follow and understand.. and is my go to website when I have a Canon lens question... http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html