Canon EF 500mm lens

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EF 500mm f4/L USM

From left to right : the 28-300, the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, the 300mm f/2.8 (with hood) and the 500mm f/4
Key features
Maker: Canon
Image stabilization: Yes Yes
Ultrasonic motor: Yes Yes
Application: Super Telephoto
Technical data
Type: Prime
Focal length: 500mm
Aperture (max/min): f/4 - f/32
Construction: 13 groups / 17 elements
Close focus distance: 14.8' / 4.5m
Max. magnification: 1:8.3
Physical
Max. length: 15.2in / 39cm
Weight: 8.53lbs / 3.87kg
Filter diameter: 52mm (rear)
Accessories
Angle of view
Diagonal: 5 °
History
Retail info
MSRP US$ $5500

The EF 500mm lenses are a group of super-telephoto prime lenses made by Canon Inc. that share the same focal length.

These lenses have an EF type mount, that fit the Canon EOS line of cameras.

When used on a digital EOS body with a field of view compensation factor of 1.6x, such as the Canon EOS 400D, it provides a narrower field of view, equivalent to an 800 mm lens mounted on a 35mm frame body. With a 1.3x body such as the Canon EOS-1D Mark III It provides a less narrow field of view, equivalent to an 650mm lens mounted on a 35mm frame body.

These lenses are most commonly used by sports and wildlife photographers, particularly when the subjects are birds.

Two EF 500mm lenses have been available. Both of these are L series lenses.

  • f/4.5L USM[1]
  • f/4L IS USM[2]

[edit] EF 500mm f/4.5L USM

The EF 500mm f/4.5L USM is a professional L series lens, that is now discontinued. This lens is constructed with a metal body and mount, and with plastic extremities and switches. Features of this lens are: a wide rubber focus ring that is damped, a distance window with infrared index, the ability to limit the focus range, a focus-preset mechanism, and the ability to set the AF speed. A 9 blade, maximum aperture of f/4.5, gives this lens the ability to create depth of field effects. The optical construction of this lens contains 8 lens elements, including one fluorite lens element, and one UD (Ultra low Dispersion) Lens element. This lens uses an inner focusing system, powered by a ring type USM motor. The front of the lens does not rotate nor extend when focusing. This lens is compatible with the Canon Extender EF teleconverters.

[edit] EF 500mm f/4L IS USM

The EF 500mm f/4L IS USM is a professional L series lens, that was designed to replace the EF 500mm f/4.5L USM. This lens is constructed with a metal body and mount, and with plastic extremities and switches. Features of this lens are: a wide rubber focus ring that is damped, a distance window with infrared index, the ability to limit the focus range from: 4.5m to infinity, 4.5m to 10m, and 10m to infinity, it also has a focus-preset mechanism, an image stabilizer that is effective up to two stops and is tripod sensing, an AF stop switch, and is weather sealed. An 8 blade, maximum aperture of f/4, gives this lens the ability to create depth of field effects. The optical construction of this lens contains 17 lens elements, including one fluorite lens element, and two UD Lens elements. This lens uses an inner focusing system, powered by a ring type USM motor. The front of the lens does not rotate nor extend when focusing. This lens is compatible with the Canon Extender EF teleconverters.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Canon Inc.. EF 500mm f/4.5L USM. Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
  2. ^ Canon Inc.. EF 500mm f/4L IS USM. Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.