This is how it's done
You've probably spent a good bit of time looking at nature magazines and television shows and marveling at the pictures pro wildlife photographers bring home. The vast majority of these images are shot with sophisticated, extremely long lenses, like this Canon L series EF-500mm super telephoto. Sure, you could get up close to a pack of hungry lions for that once-in-a-lifetime shot, but that would probably place the emphasis on the word once. Why take the hard way? When it comes to the challenge of getting crisp, artifact-free photos in the wild, or on the playing field, there's no substitute for the technology, superb optics, and ergonomic experience that Canon brings to bear with this elegant long lens.

Innovation breeds image quality
A lens this long needs some significant image stabilization for best results, and Canon answers the call with three modes. Mode 3 is particularly useful as it seeks to stabilize the image only when the shutter is fully depressed. It eliminates the hunt and seek behavior of some of the continuous modes, thereby optimizing results during unpredictable action. The lens features a power focus mode that adjusts at a smooth, constant speed — particularly useful for shooting video. And, being an L Series lens, it boasts many fine optical innovations that Canon is famous for: Fluorite and UD lens elements, to minimize distortion and color fringing. Subwavelength and fluorine coatings, to reduce ghosting, flaring, and lens contaminants. Near-silent USM auto-focus.

If you're seriously considering lenses like these, you're probably experienced enough to know these models are made to take daily, professional use — and that they deliver daily, professional results. The L Series represents a marriage of aesthetics, ergonomics, and technology that's sure to up your game. Not to mention save you from being thrown to the lions.