Incredible! Canon just launched a new EF 600mm f/4 IS III USM. Truly, I was waiting for the launch of the DO version instead. The 600mm f/4 DO has been announced since 2015! And we are still waiting… The 600mm lens is the gold standard lens when it comes to serious bird photography. In short, the new “regular” lens is a couple pounds lighter and offers an improved image stabilization over the prior generation. Does this justify upgrading?
Read the official press release from Canon.
Canon summarizes the main features below:
- Upgraded Optical Image Stabilization from three-and-a-half stops to five shutter speed stops of correction over the previous f/2.8 lens
- Improved, flexible focus control with a customizable electronic-focus ring
- Two fluorite lenses and one super UD lens, helping to provide high image quality
- Circular nine-blade aperture
- 17 lens elements in 13 groups
- Heat-shielding paint helps prevent lens temperature from rising during excessive exposure to sun
- Fluorine coating on front and rear optical elements, helps to reduce smears and fingerprints
- Inner focusing system with Ring Ultrasonic Motor
While, as any serious bird photographer, those new launches are very exciting, I am not sure I will spend hard earned money going through the upgrade… When looking at the impressive results of the 400mm DO II, I am more likely to wait for the 600mm DO to come out. The saving in weight will be even greater, making it so much easier to hand hold!!
It could also be that this new generation is a way to make us wait until the DO version arrives…
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Steven