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Soon after I began photographing nature I realized two things: One, most of the creatures I was trying to photograph were smarter than me :) Two, in order to capture good images I either had to learn to look like a tree or get a bigger lens. I’d started off with an 80-200mm zoom thinking that this “digital multiplier thing” would give me more than enough lens reach, not hardly. Like most all photographers I cringed upon seeing the prices of the supertelephoto lenses. Why, people must be out of their minds I remember thinking, how can they possibly spend 8 to 9 thousand dollars on a lens!? While pondering this I made the acquaintance of another local photographer who, due to his many years as a pro, had seemingly accumulated one of everything from both the Nikon and Hassleblad catalogs! This gentleman was in the process of getting into the digital end of things after many years of shooting film. His equipment roster is a joy to behold! Over coffee we began to discuss his needs and he mentioned that he had his 600 F4 in his Jeep and would I like to see it. WOULD I LIKE TO SEE IT?? We spent the next couple of hours with my D1 and his lens..after taking a few shots we headed back to my place to process and maybe print a couple. Once I had a look at the images that this behemoth was able to produce I understood why people spent $$ on them. Anyway, his was the 600 F4 AIS model that takes the 39mm rear drop in filters, this is an autofocus lens but not AFS technology. After borrowing this lens a few times and wrestling with myself, I took the plunge and ordered the AFS-II version along with a Wimberley head and lens foot. On the appointed day the UPS truck arrived and I got my hot little hands around the package. Here is the nameplate on the lens
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I know the lighting is not great on this but someone has my studio strobes
Here’s a shot of the lens w/TC14E mounted on a Wimberley head
I believe that the lens’ shoulder strap is essential for field use. Some photographers will sling the tripod over their shoulder with the lens and camera still attached. This, IMHO is asking for trouble, besides, why carry all the weight on one shoulder? My preferred method is to put the tripod over one shoulder and sling the lens/camera combo over the other shoulder using the LENS strap..not the camera strap (ouch). Compared to the AIS model the AFS-II has a different finish, the AIS had the black crackle finish that I really like, the AFS-II has a matte type finish, perhaps due to the fact that this lens is housed in a magnesium body. Despite the change in body material and finish, the previous model TC’s fit and work fine on the AFS-II series lenses. In use this model did not appear to be much different than the AIS version. There is the 2+ pound weight reduction for which I’m grateful! The autofocus acquisition and trcking does not seem to be appreciably different between the old and new models. The AFS-II does focus a bit closer than the prior models did.
To be Continued........
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