My cameras are still fine. The sunspots helped me to check the focus.

I was not in a total eclipse area. The eclipse was around 95% but I didn't need to travel anywhere but my backyard.

Since I own and use both the EF 24-105, 3.5-5.6, IS, STM and the EF 24-105, 4/L IS, here is my opinion. The f/4L has a much better build quality, the color rendition and contrast is better, and the f/4L is sharper.

I have only used the STM version on a Canon 7D MK II, Canon 1Dx and Canon 5D MK IV. I use the STM on my 5D MK IV when I am doing strictly video since the AF in a little quieter. The STM's AF is pretty quick and silent.

There is the DeSoto Wildlife Refuge State Park. Check out http://www.fws.gov/refuge/desoto/

I take the family out there several times a year to see the different wildlife.

I think you may be referring to an internal focus lens (the lens does not extend out when focusing) as opposed to an external focus lens (the front group of lens elements move away from or closer to the rest of the lens elements).

Today, one of the program updates for my MacBook was for ShutterCount. This program gives the shutter count for many cameras. Today's update included support for the newer Canon cameras including the 5D Mark IV. See the attached screen dumps.

(Download)

Isn't that the shutter count on that battery charge?

On the 6D you can use EOScount. I believe the url is: www.eoscount.com. There is a small cost.

On the newer Canons the shutter count cannot be accessed by consumers at this time.

I doubt they reset the shutter count. The Canon 7D they sent me had 735 shutter actuations on it and you could not tell that it was not new.

The current warranty on these factory refubs are 1 year. You really cannot go wrong with a factory refurbished unit, unless you want the fancy camera box- refurbs come in a plain white box with Canon's name and logo on it.

From the EXIF data on the photo, it shows it was taken with a Canon 1Dx II and an 11-24mm lens (16mm).

In the photo I can identify the Canon 70-200mm lens, Canon 24-70mm lens and even a Canon 24-105mm lens. There is a larger Canon lens on the left (the photographer is in a purple shirt) that I am not familiar with.

Here is the file with the EXIF data intact.

(Download)

There are a number of black Canon lens with red rings. I was mostly interested the the focal lengths of the lens used.

I did notice all the Canon lens in the photos.

Just a brief followup after using this lens a while.

I have only used the lens on full frame bodies (5D MK IV and 1DX) The optics are superb. At f/5.6 and f/6.3 the images are very sharp, even in the corners. The distortion is easily corrected in camera or in Photoshop or Lightroom.

It works well for landscapes and outdoor architecture.

I do have a few issues to point out:
1) The build quality is not as good as the other 'L' lens that I own. The lens feels very cheap. To be weather sealed it needs a filter on the front of the lens.
2) The IS (image stabilization) is very noisey, almost as bad as the Canon 70-200mm IS USM f/4L.

I would recommend this lens as long as you are aware of the above issues.

It sounds like your post processing software needs to be updated to properly read the raw files from the D500. I get the same kind of results when I open a raw file from my Canon 5D MK IV in Macphun's Noiseless app.

A lot of the generic batteries will not charge in the Canon chargers because of the electronics in the battery. A spare charger is nice to have.

I recently had to recover files for my daughter. Her card was a Transcend- worked like a champ. I used the OS X version. The restore process was much quicker than using Recuva.