Should I buy a 300mm IS? - FM Forums

Home · Register · Search · Software · Hosting · Software · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

FM Forum Rules
Canon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews

FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell
end

Archive 2012 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

Dgw2
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

I did a search for my question, but did not locate anything, so forgive me if this already been addressed.

I shoot mainly family and enjoy some birds a few times a year. Kids are now involved in sports which is also a consideration. I have both 5d2 and 1dMk4. I am thinking I want to get something for the birds but want some versatility as well.

I am real close to convincing myself into buying a used 300mm IS tele. I figure it will provide me the capability to shoot the kids sports, while also adding a great lens for birding with the 2x converter. Part of me says wait and invest in a 500mm as for birds you can never have enough focal length, but then I lose the flexibility of the 300mm for the sports.

I have always valued the opinions shared here, so any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:14 AM

NDP_2010
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

I had a 300 for the same reason. It worked well at 420mm f/4 with a 1.4x tc.
It is also relatively compact and gives great IQ

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:17 AM

bigbluebear
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #3 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

Should you buy? Yes you should!

I think you've already answered your own question. You want 300mm for sports and 500mm for birding. Sounds like the 300mm and 1.4 or 2.0 teleconverter fits the bill.

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:19 AM

AGeoJO
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

Are you referring to the 300mm f/2.8L IS? I assume you are.... If money is not much of an issue, I would say go for it. Yes, a lens with 300mm FL is great for sport, especially on a APS-H body you have and for the occasional birding, slap on a 2X TC and you are ready to go. It still works great with a 2X TC, the AF is slower but the IQ is not that bad.

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:20 AM

Dgw2
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

Yes, the 300mm 2.8. Sorry, I missed that detail.

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:36 AM

arnold1
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

You'd love a 300 f/2.8 on your 5D2 or 1D4 and the only regret would be: "Why didn't I buy it sooner?!!!"

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:39 AM

gpchase
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

Another option may be a 70-200 MKll with TC and then you'd have the $ start of a 500mm. I'm lucky enough to have all (70-200MKll, 1.4TC, 200 f2.0, 300 f2.8 and 500 f4) and they are all very good pieces so you really can't go wrong.

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:41 AM

AGeoJO
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

BTW, the IQ difference between the bare lens and a 1.4X TC is minor and 420mm on an APS-H body will give an effective FL of approximately 540mm and the AF performance of the combo is really great. While talking about TCs, go for the Mark III for better AF performance and IQ, albeit the later is very slight. If you have an earlier version of TCs, you may question the merit for an upgrade but if you have to buy TCs, you may as well get the Mark III version.

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:45 AM

JohnBrose
Online
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

another option would be the 100-400. The 300 2.8 is a large lens and not as flexible as having a zoom.

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:47 AM

vivisha
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

I would say save a little more and get a 400 2.8. The 300 is a little short for big field sports so the 400 would get you closer to the subject, slap a 1.4 teleconverter and you got a 520f4 that's as good as the 500 f4 ( maybe a tad slower to focus ). The 300 is a compromise to both field sports and bird photography, it is lighter and as arguably as sharp as the other superteles, so if 300 is enough reach for your primary subject you won't regret buying it.

Feb 01, 2012 at 04:16 AM

mfoto
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

I shoot a 5D2 and 1D III with my 300 2.8L IS and use it like you say for the occasional birding. Feel free to check out some 300 2.8 shots in my Smugmug gallery if you are interested.

Feb 01, 2012 at 05:08 AM

kirry007
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

Dgw2 wrote:
I did a search for my question, but did not locate anything, so forgive me if this already been addressed.

I shoot mainly family and enjoy some birds a few times a year. Kids are now involved in sports which is also a consideration. I have both 5d2 and 1dMk4. I am thinking I want to get something for the birds but want some versatility as well.

I am real close to convincing myself into buying a used 300mm IS tele. I figure it will provide me the capability to shoot the kids sports, while also adding a great lens for birding with the 2x converter. Part of me says wait and invest in a 500mm as for birds you can never have enough focal length, but then I lose the flexibility of the 300mm for the sports.

I have always valued the opinions shared here, so any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

It's one of the best lenses Canon makes. Just don't expect it to be a "great" lens with your 2x for birding (even with the 1DMk4). Focus will hunt ! Sitting birds might not be an issue...BIF could get tricky. In my experience, 2x III (at 5.6) does seem to give better IQ than 2x II, fwiw.

Feb 01, 2012 at 05:29 AM

DesertBighorn
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

I had one, bought a 500, sold the 300, then bought another 300!! Great lens. I get great birds in the yard with the 1.4x attached. Its much closer MFD really helps.

Go for it!!

-Doug

Feb 01, 2012 at 06:01 AM

tonywong88
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #14 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

If you're open to alt glass, you should check out the Sigma 120-300 2.8 OS.

Feb 01, 2012 at 06:51 AM

mfurtman
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

I use this lens nearly daily in my business (wildlife photography), especially with the 1.4x extender. Image quality is superb with this combination, even wide open, and focus is still plenty fast for BIF. I would warn that, in my experience, when using the 2x extender, I really need to shoot at near f/8 to get the tack sharp images I need to compete with those shooting the 500mm or 600mm lenses. This is the only drawback to the combo. The pluses include the fact that it is very hand-holdable, and much less of a burden to carry in the field.

Feb 01, 2012 at 02:50 PM

cbrenkus
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · Should I buy a 300mm IS?

Buy one. Your quality of action shots will go through the roof .I did and use it on my 1DMKIV. In fact, since I bought the 300 it has not left the IV..

Feb 02, 2012 at 03:12 AM

end
FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell end