Canon EF 70-300mm lens
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| Great lens 30/04/2010 Don't believe the negative comments/reviews on the web, on many levels this is a truly outstanding lens. I own only L series lenses and for some time have been dismissive and largely sceptical (ignorant!) about its quirky diffractive DO technology. However, being in the market for a high end Canon telephoto zoom for use on my travels, I didn't have too much choice; I would have bought one of Canon's awesome 70-200 L lenses but they are too bulky and far too conspicuous for my requirements - nothing attracts unwanted attention like a large white lens (great at a motor racing circuit or a British nature reserve but not so clever if you want to take candid shots in a city or off the beaten track in eastern Europe). This 70-300mm DO is uber compact, being about the same length as my 17-40 L, results are sharp (especially between 100 - 250) with pleasing and smooth bokeh and the AF and IS systems work superbly well. Admittedly the lens does extend as you zoom (don't worry if you're using a polarizer as the end element doesn't rotate) though it does so in an acceptably discrete sort of way; the barrel is relatively narrow taking 58mm filters. The feel of the lens is more akin to one of its red ringed cousins with a a very solid and chunky feel. The main downside is its relatively slow speed (f4.5) though this is generally not a big issue for me as I almost exclusively use the lens in daylight conditions or on a tripod for small aperture landscape work. If you're in the market for a discrete high performance travel lens then look no further; OK it ain't cheap, but you get what you pay for. By Carthage Cheshire | ||||||
| Canon 70-300mm DO IS - Compact, hi-res, fast focus... 20/09/2009 In the world of Canon zooms, the 70-300mm DO IS must be the most underrated and unloved of the lot. It's an expensive lens new, £1000+ and yet I've seen it go for £350 in auction - which is the equivalent of getting an Audi TT Quattro for Mini Cooper money. I've owned the 70-300mm IS standard optics, the 55-250mm IS (bought as part of a kit and sold on) and a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, at various times and I can honestly say that this beats all of them for image quality at all focal lengths (though the others are no slouches and undoubtedly offer better raw IQ/VFM). But crucially, it autofocuses faster than any of them, even the f/2.8. With manual override USM it edges close to the AF speed of an L-level lens despite its slower f-range, and its image quality is almost there too if speed isn't an issue, according to most professional tests. All of this is contained in a package that is shorter at 70mm than almost any other quality zoom I've used and not too obvious even when it's zoomed (unless you use the lens hood). And it's black, so despite being pro-spec, L-range expensive, it's almost completely anonymous - unless a potential thief is in the know and spots the green ring. Its considerable girth is something to be reckoned with and it's also heavier than it looks due to solid construction: so it's really out of proportion on one of the smaller Canon bodies to my mind, but for a 40D upwards it's fine. IQ tails off a little from the mid 200s unless you stop down to f8+, but it's pretty wow between 70-200mm. It's not for everyone, but if you're looking for understated high performance, then the high price (or a bargain quest) is well worth it. As it works equally well on full frame and crop it's probably the one lens of all my current Canon-compatible collection that I would never even consider changing. If, once in a blue moon I needed full f/2.8 "L" speed, I would hire it. This can be used every day, in every situation: ultimately that will be the measure of value for money. By ZoomClick London, UK | ||||||
| This is a wonderful piece of kit. 03/05/2008 This lens is the most usable piece of kit I have ever owned. Yes a bit heavy and yes a bit expensive but it does what it says it does on the box. It is easy to use and will become attached to your camera all the time. I have owned lenses at 75% of the price and have never been completely happy with the results, this is the one. I am using it with the EOS 450D the results are sharp and very professional and you don't need a long wheelbase truck to cart it about...... I love it! Mike By Michael Timms sussex uk | ||||||
| Okay 26/01/2008 It's not bad, but it's a bit soft in the long end, and it's not as compact as it looks on pictures, since it's pretty fat and heavy. Considering the price, not as great a deal as I'd hoped. By Eolake Lancashire, United Kingdom | ||||||
| Outstanding lens - almost miraculous, in fact! 10/11/2007 Serious pofessional photographers probably won't look twice - and yes, if you can afford to stick an f2.8 400mm lens on a massive tripod you will get better results at the end of the (very long and sweaty) day. For the rest of us... This is simply the most useful long lens I have owned in 35 years of photography. Before buying it for an African safari this summer I was sligthtly concerned by some reviews suggesting 'softness'. In practice, it was fantastic - the combination of rapid AF and advanced IS allowing me to take regular shots confidently, and some under conditions in which I would previously have just given up. One dull morning we found a family of cheetahs under a tree. I had to take shots at 300mm hand-held at 1/50th; most were usable, and several are printable at A3 with no sign of shake - magic! You can carry it around all day without feeling the weight, it stows easily inside an ordinary slingshot case, and doesn't draw attention to its capabilities. It IS pricey - but justifiably so, and my only tiny quibble is that the zoom-lock (to stop it zooming under gravity, if held downwards) only locks at the 70mm position. By J. Cheverton Rutland, UK | ||||||
