EF 800mm f/5.6L IS II [CR2]

[RGF]

They almost have to release an 800/5.6 MkII.  The 600/4 MkII with a 1.4xIII gives an 840mm f/5.6 lens that's lighter and has better IQ than the current 800L.  Can't imagine they're selling many 800s these days...

But the 800 II will cost 30% more than a 600 +'1.4

[neuroanatomist]

They almost have to release an 800/5.6 MkII.  The 600/4 MkII with a 1.4xIII gives an 840mm f/5.6 lens that's lighter and has better IQ than the current 800L.  Can't imagine they're selling many 800s these days...

But the 800 II will cost 30% more than a 600 +'1.4

Sure it will - maybe more. But the IQ of the bare 800 II will be better than the 600 II + 1.4xIII, and the IQ of the 800 II + 1.4xIII will beat the 600 II + 2xIII.  Also, recall that the 800/5.6 is lighter than the 600/4 IS MkI (~2 lbs lighter!) so it's probable the 800 II would be lighter than the 600 II.  For people buying in the price range under discussion, better IQ and lighter is easily worth a 30% or more premium (after all, many people - me included - paid a ~45% premium for the better IQ and lighter 600 II over the 600 I).

[johnf3f]

Maybe people are reading too much into fanboy reviews.
The new Mk2 Superteles are undoubtedly better than their predecessors but these improvements are incremental and not dramatic - with the exception of the very welcome weight reduction!
When I purchased my 800 the 600 Mk2 was not an option as it was twice the cost! Yes I would prefer a 600 mk2 but is it worth twice what I paid for a mint 800? I have not had the opportunity to try the 600 Mk2  in the field (though I have had a play in a shop) but I have (as stated above) tried the 500 Mk2 in the field and it is excellent, though it certainly did not put my Mk1 lenses to shame or make me want to upgrade due to the silly prices.

[East Wind Photography]

I'll also add that the 4 stop IS is a big improvement.  Many people still don't like to use IS but I can tell you when using the 600mm on a windy day, the IS stops the wind shakes 100%.  Just takes the wind effect out completely.  The IS on the MK1 lenses was pretty good at it as well but the new generation IS is WAY better.

Like you said it's an incremental increase on a number of fronts EXCEPT price!  I think most of the price increase has to do with more fluorite lens elements being used.  That is a considerable part of the cost associated with the new MKII lenses.

Some of the incremental improvements:

Better IQ
Less CA through use of more Flourite elements
Better IS (better stability and additional IS mode)
Lighter weight

And probably something most overlooked is the addition of AF feedback with newer cameras like the 5D3 and 1DX to improve focus accuracy.

It's all incremental but together it makes for a desirable combination.  I would definitely upgrade some of my MK1 lenses though if I had the cash to do so.

Maybe people are reading too much into fanboy reviews.
The new Mk2 Superteles are undoubtedly better than their predecessors but these improvements are incremental and not dramatic - with the exception of the very welcome weight reduction!
When I purchased my 800 the 600 Mk2 was not an option as it was twice the cost! Yes I would prefer a 600 mk2 but is it worth twice what I paid for a mint 800? I have not had the opportunity to try the 600 Mk2  in the field (though I have had a play in a shop) but I have (as stated above) tried the 500 Mk2 in the field and it is excellent, though it certainly did not put my Mk1 lenses to shame or make me want to upgrade due to the silly prices.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Why bother with a new 800mm if there's not much to improve at the moment?

Simple, the 800mm was something Canon has that Nikon did not.  Now Nikon has a better one that sells for $18K, so Canon wants to pass it, pricewise anyway.

[dolina]

Why bother with a new 800mm if there's not much to improve at the moment?

Simple, the 800mm was something Canon has that Nikon did not.  Now Nikon has a better one that sells for $18K, so Canon wants to pass it, pricewise anyway.

20k for a 800mm IS II? I'd be willing to pay that amount for a 1000mm f/5.6 IS that weighed 4.5kg, more than 4-stops of IS and minimum focusing distance of 6 meters/20 feet.

[Ellen Schmidtee]

I'll also add that the 4 stop IS is a big improvement.  Many people still don't like to use IS but I can tell you when using the 600mm on a windy day, the IS stops the wind shakes 100%.  Just takes the wind effect out completely.  The IS on the MK1 lenses was pretty good at it as well but the new generation IS is WAY better.

I love IS, but aren't telephotos usually used with some other form of stabilization, e.g. a tripod?

[I rarely use focal lengths over 200mm, when I do it's usually 200mm f/2.8 IS with a TC. I don't like shooting sports, and don't have the time & patience for birds photogaphy.]

[expatinasia]

I love IS, but aren't telephotos usually used with some other form of stabilization, e.g. a tripod?

True, but the longer you go, the more even the slightest movement is magnified.

The IS mode III is very good for sports (and I would presume birds), though not too many people will be using the 800 for sports!

[neuroanatomist]

I love IS, but aren't telephotos usually used with some other form of stabilization, e.g. a tripod?

I sometimes handhold my 600 II.  But IS helps even when it's on a rock solid tripod and gimbal head - a little breeze and that big hood acts like a sail!

[East Wind Photography]

Ah yes I forgot to mention that I use the 600 on a tripod with a gimbal head.  However when you are out with wind that can blow your hat off, the IS will stabilize the effects of wind mounted on a tripod.  There was one instance I did not have time to get it up on the tripod.  I had pulled into my shooting location and had a bald eagle right by the parking lot eating a fish.  So windy when I got out my hat blew down the parking lot.  I switch on IS and painfully hand held the 600 for a series of shots and it was as if there wasn't any wind at all.

I later drove to the other end of the lot and got my hat...

IS has its uses and benefits but can also cause some issues in certain shooting conditions.

I'll also add that the 4 stop IS is a big improvement.  Many people still don't like to use IS but I can tell you when using the 600mm on a windy day, the IS stops the wind shakes 100%.  Just takes the wind effect out completely.  The IS on the MK1 lenses was pretty good at it as well but the new generation IS is WAY better.

I love IS, but aren't telephotos usually used with some other form of stabilization, e.g. a tripod?

[I rarely use focal lengths over 200mm, when I do it's usually 200mm f/2.8 IS with a TC. I don't like shooting sports, and don't have the time & patience for birds photogaphy.]