Have you ever been out shooting with your camera and thought, "Gee, I really wish I had a bigger lens"?
There's big lenses, and then there's BIG lenses...
For most of us, something like a 70-200mm would suffice. For others, something like a 400mm is better.
And for others, a massive bazooka-looking lens like the Canon EF 600mm f/4 IS USM is warranted.
I, for one, can't imagine a scenario in which I'd need this lens, but hey, different strokes for different folks!
In the video above, The Daniel Life offers up a comprehensive review of this monster lens, that way you can decide if it's something you want to buy or simply marvel at. Below, I give a play-by-play of some of the features of this amazing lens.
Editor's Note: If you're in need of a new lens, stretch your budget by selling your old gear. The place to do that is Lensfinder, a marketplace where photographers sell vintage and used lenses safely and securely. List your old lenses for sale today by visiting their website.
Yes, It's Image Stabilized
Image stabilization can be a godsend when shooting handheld, though I don't imagine one can get many frames in a row when trying to hold up this behemoth.
It's also got multiple tripod mounts for added stabilization, so that's handy (or you can use a friend's shoulder, as seen above!). The tripod mount is also able to rotate 360-degrees around the lens for different mounting positions.
Just be sure you turn off the Image Stabilization when you've got the lens mounted on a tripod, otherwise the images might turn out super blurry.
Learn More:
It's Weatherproof
Another piece of good news is that this bad boy is weather-sealed in case you have some photos to take at long range in the rain, snow, sleet, or other bad weather conditions.
That's a standard feature for Canon's L-series glass, which is their "luxury" line that professionals often use.
At a cost of more than $11,000, this lens certainly qualifies as luxury!
Manual Focus Takes Work
This lens is equipped with both autofocus and manual focus modes, but beware...
If you switch to manual focus, be prepared for some big turns of the focus ring to get the image in focus.
That's due simply to the sheer circumference of the lens, so a couple of hand movements are necessary to move through the lens' entire focal range.
Learn More:
There's No Filter For the Front
As you might guess, because this lens is so large, there isn't a filter made to fit the front of the lens.
But Canon thought of that in advance, and placed a filter holder at the back of the lens.
Just remove the holder, pop in a traditional-sized filter, and you're ready to go!
It's More Than Just a Wildlife Lens
Looking at this monster lens, you might wonder why someone would need something so large.
Wildlife photographers certainly would look at this with a bit of gear lust, but it's not just a wildlife lens.
Sports photography is another ideal pursuit, and even landscape photography.
Heck, you can use it for portraits, and if you need some video of a distant subject, it can handle that as well.
In the sample image above, you can see how clear and bright the image is, and the bokeh in the background isn't bad, either!
Oh, and another subject you can photograph? Planes in flight.
The sample image above was taken from a whopping .8 miles away, demonstrating the sheer power of 600mm.
Learn More:
This 600mm Lens Comes With a Case
I suppose as a bonus for buying a lens that's expensive as a car, you get a complementary locking case to shuttle lens lens around.
On the plus side, the case looks like a tank and should offer tons of protection for the lens.
On the down side, it's got "Canon" written all over it, which would-be thieves will certainly notice. There's also no wheels, so you're stuck carrying a monster lens in a monster case wherever you go.
But, hey, it's better than no case, right?
Editor's Note: Want to buy a new lens but don't want to break the bank? Buying pre-owned lenses allows you to get more bang for your buck. We recommend finding your next lens on Lensfinder, which is a marketplace for buying and selling lenses by photographers, for photographers. Check out their inventory.