[shaver]

has anyone got any info on this lens and on its performance.thanks

[360 Photography]

I have been using this lens for the last 3 years for surf photography with a surf school. It is hard to be scientific with my observations with the lens as it is the only one that I use on the Fuji S2 Pro that I have. I have a 100-400 and 600mm Canon lens that I use on a 20D and 1D MkIII so I am not sure if the differences that I find between the equipment would be due to the lenses or the cameras.

In terms of general usage I only shoot handheld, at 1/750 or 1/1000, and most images are pretty sharp. I have sold a couple of thousand prints at least now with no complaints and have enlarged up to 30 x 20 inch prints from a 4MB JPEG with excellent results.

It is pretty heavy but I am 6 foot plus and reasonably fit so it is not an issue. I had a couple of 14 year old work experience kids work with me this summer and they did struggle a little to get consistently sharp results hand holding and one definitely preferred using the 100-400.

The build quality is not up to the Canon 100-400, the auto focus is not as quick, but that might be to do with the camera. Certainly working on the beach there is quite a bit of dust getting in the lens, the matt coating is wearing off to reveal the black metal underneath where I hold it and there is a little bit of play in the barrel now.

Having said that it is a real workhorse being used in all weather almost every day for 6 months of the year. I run up and down the beach with it 4 times a day and have taken over 20,000 shots with it this year alone.

For me I think that buying the 100-400 this year may have been a mistake. In our lessons I have adults some way out in the surf and kids surfing into my feet and the 50-500 allows me to cope with this much better. I also think that I can compose quicker with the twist zoom, but with more practice with the 100-400 I think that might become less of an issue.

I suppose that it would be helpful to know what you are planning to photograph with it, but without that information from my experience, and for the work that I do, given the choice I would keep the 50-500 over the 100-400.

Hope these late night ramblings might be of some use!!

[Twiggs]

I have been using this lens for last year with a Fuji S3 Pro and gives pretty good results. If you are using a Canon and are looking at using it mostly as a telephoto lens then if you can afford it keep to a Canon lens. I do find this lens a bit slow for working on surfing or wildlife.
Also noticed if using this lens, set your WB don't work with it on auto WB. Huge difference in colour.

Hope this is of some help