Tenn.Jer
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 p.1 #7 · Show your EF 70-300 3.5-5.6 L IS pictures please | |
Ralph, I just rented a copy of this lens just to see how it fit me; I had it for two weeks and used it mostly for landscape and wildlife, usually on sunnier days...
I found it to be nice and sharp through its whole FL range; I can't speak of the frame corners, as I just realized when going through the files in Lightroom, that I used it only on a 1.3 "crop factor" camera, and never mounted it my 5DII a single time...a definite oversight on my part. 
The IS is amazingly effective, steadying the sight picture down in a heart beat - very responsive, with little "powering up" time. This may be the newest generation IS I've used so far - but, could be the same version as my 70-200 II, though, it's that quick. Autofocus snaps right on, as well; but for my level of talent, I probably could have had better BIF results; the photographer was the limiting factor there, not the lens. 
I did have a small hassle with the the zoom ring position; it's the farther ring, with the focus ring closest to the camera. Two weeks wasn't enough time for me to accustom myself, and I usually zoomed with a bit of fumbling around. Once again, my problem - it's something I would eventually get used to, I'm sure. 
I was playing around with the idea of purchase, but ultimately talked myself out of it. Though smaller and lighter, it still has about the same apertures as my 100-400L, so I'd be using it in about the same light conditions. I also have a pretty decent 70-300 DO for travel convenience, and I'd need to sell that one, which hasn't been fetching much on the used market lately. Too bad the newer 70-300L is expensive (as all new lenses are these days) - I always rent a lens first when I'm contemplating buying one, and even though I've spent a lot on rentals, I like knowing that a lens is going to fit my needs and my shooting style before I make such a large financial commitment.
I think you'd enjoy shooting with one; I don't know what lenses you currently use, but the 70-300L is a fine lens with a wide range - given good light, its versatility is hard to beat.
Here are a small variety of my shots from last week; I posted two of the turkeys because one was wide open (f/5.6) and one was stopped down (f/9).
Jerry
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV 300 mm f/8.0 1/320 sec 500 ISO 0.0 EV
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV 70 mm f/8.0 1/80 sec 640 ISO 0.0 EV
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV 300 mm f/5.6 1/500 sec 3200 ISO 0.0 EV
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV 300 mm f/9.0 1/250 sec 3200 ISO 0.0 EV
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and people would be damn if I only had that 18-55 non-IS instead of this crummy super-tele POS 
! Indeed, that lens seems to be a great performer. As light and compact as the 70-200mm f/4.0 IS but with more reach, but slower and more expensive. As fast as the 100-400mm, but lighter and more compact but less reach. A great compromise between the 70-200mm f/4.0 IS and the 100-400mm, I guess. For sure, Canon's offering in this range doesn't fall short.