With everyone being impressed with the new 500mm f4 IS lens (I have seen excellent results with this lens with a 2X T.C. autofocussing with an EOS3),I thought that there would be many 500mm f4.5 used lenses available (hopefully at a good price). I have however not seen many around. How available are they? Is it worthwhile buying one, or must I try and rob a bank and buy a new f4 IS?

-- Koot Marais (kma@telkomsa.net), June 20, 2001

Answers

One of them is in my camera bag - and I'm not selling it right now unless maybe you force $4500 on me for it!

Seriously I have seen them for sale, so they are out there if you look. They've shown up in the photo.net classifieds, from $4000 for a mint example to maybe $3000 for a "user".

It's a very good lens. Whether the 500/4 IS is worth the extra cash depends on how much you value IS and the extra 1/3 stop in speed (which also gives you AF with a 2x).

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), June 20, 2001.