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Canon 500 f4 Mark 1 purchase - some advice (1 Viewer)

mikenott

Flawed but improving!
England
I have a budding young (teenage) photographer who is just about able to buy a second hand Canon 500 f4 Mk1 lens from a well known Norfolk store. Lens is good, with some dust but no affect on image quality. It does have a non-working focus recall button on the lens, but not too worried about that as such, as I have never used the one on my 500/600 lenses.

However, I am concerned that the lens was built in the year 2000 and is now 18 years old. This, combined with a broken focuss recall button and the dust, are making me have serious doubts on advising him to go ahead. The price is good, at about £500 below a similar second hand model in better condition with no faults. But is it worth the risk, rather than waiting and maybe getting a better/newer lens??

Grateful for any views - either way!

Michael.
 
These lenses are not serviced/repaired anymore by canon.However a company in scotland called the lens doctor services all canon lenses.Have you tried mpb.com as well?
 
Thanks for reply! Really? Wow. That's a big change over recent years. I am not looking. but will pass on the suggestion.
 
I assume you are referring to the Canon 500 F4 L IS Mk1? There was an earlier F4.5 model.

There are a number of places that can service/clean/calibrate this lens. There is only a potential problem if spares are needed. Just because Canon no longer support a lens does not mean that there will be no spares available - but they are going to be progressively harder to find and this should be born in mind regarding prices.

As to the lens itself it is a cracker!
 
It is a very good but quiet heavy lens. Tack sharp and works well with the 1.4 Tele.

Build quality very good as you expect for a canon L series lens. The price should reflect that Canon no longer service this lens.
 
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