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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Derry" data-source="post: 1489868" data-attributes="member: 55358">B&H current prices for Canon500mm is $6,000800mm is $11,000<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=542293&is=REG&si=rev#anchorToReadReviews" target="_blank">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=542293&is=REG&si=rev#anchorToReadReviews</a>plus a top notch gimbal head for control,,since you have the TV85 what are the different power eyepieces you have to verify the exact magnification you will need for that five mile reading of the ships,, would extablish a baseline so you know the exact X you will need,, even the Canon 800mm may not be adequate,??would also try a 1.4 converter on the TV85 and see what you get,, will give you 840mm or right at 17X which will read a car license at half a mile in good air,, knowing the quality of glass used in the TV scopes I would expect it to meet or exceed Canons biggest glass for a lot less $$$, of course no auto focus or IS,,I shoot a lot through my TV85 with an Oly E3 and find the live view works fine (need a very good tripod) or I normally use the viewfinder while focusiing with great results,, after a few hundred photos you get the feel for the focus,, when you start talking a half mile to five miles for a photographed subject that is a lot of atmosphere to be looking through parallel to the earths surface,, as you have found it will be one of the most uncontrolled of your variables,,let us know what you decide,,Derry</blockquote>

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