We’ve seen a street price drop on the EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, it is now $7999 from an authorized Canon dealer with a 1-year Canon USA warranty and free shipping. Limited quantity.
The street price on this fantastic lens is now below $8K, and that represents a $1000 (or 11%) discount from the minimum advertised price of $8999.
This is a really amazing price on one of Canon’s finest. It’s now down to just $1500.00 more than the version 1 with 1 extra stop of IS, over a pound lighter and with the extra IS mode of shuttter release. Really great deal for those wanting to bird!
Transactions on used 500 version 1’s are nowhere near $6500; they’re generally going for under $5000. With the version 2 priced at $7999 I think anybody who pays over $4000 for a version 1 that is 12 years older technology, doesn’t take teleconverters as well, and is probably 5 years or so away from not being serviced by Canon has rocks in his or her head. I own the 500 II and it is a spectacular lens, particularly when paired with a Canon 1D-X for maximum autofocus speed and accuracy.
I never indicated used. I bought mine new in 2012 at $6500. I was purely comparing new to new. Your information is wrong btw, it takes a1.4x teleconverter splendidly. If you used the lens you would know that sir!
Canon has not had any new 500mm f4 IS version I lenses available for quite some times. What something sold for in 2012 is not a relevant data point. Canon’s retail price on the 500 f4 IS version II was about $1500 higher a year ago than it is now and the prices of the other big whites have been cut as well. Clearly if 500 mm version I’s were available new they wouldn’t sell for anything close to $6500.
I have used the version II plenty and have not used version I, but everybody I’ve seen who has used both (including reviewers) says that version II is better with a 1.4 teleconverter both in terms of autofocus speed and IQ. Not to say that Version I isn’t a great lens. It is.
Just waiting for the 600!
Getting close!
Paid more but the pictures I would have missed had I waited are worth it!
Just what every canon shooter needs