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Archive 2014 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review

  
 
J-man
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


This is my favorite and most used lens that I own. With a 1.6x crop body it makes an excellent wildlife lens, similar to a 500mm f4. It handles like a dream, is built like a tank & has all the feature boxes ticked (IS, focus limiter, sliding hood, USM). There is one problem ITS OLD, because it was engineered 17 years ago it has only 2 stop IS & optically could improve (very good on it's own & decent with 1.4x).

See my much longer review on my website: http://www.sheridanphoto.com/?page_id=1531

Jay

My adventures in nature photography are found at: www.sheridanphoto.com



May 08, 2014 at 11:11 PM
Imagemaster
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


Thanks. Of course there are also 171 owners' reviews on this site.


May 09, 2014 at 12:12 AM
bcguy
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


I like it too. It's a great lens, in my humble opinion.


May 09, 2014 at 01:48 AM
TrojanHorse
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


I've cooled on mine... I should send it in to get checked, but it doesn't seem as good as it used to be.


May 09, 2014 at 02:15 AM
Bones74
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


I was never very impressed with mine and it was a second copy. The first was returned because it was soft (checked by store staff and confirmed). I found my 70-200 ii with 1.4 x tc better, focused faster and obviously more versatile so the prime exited stage left not to be missed. Great review though


May 09, 2014 at 04:12 AM
atodzia
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


My copy is still very sharp, but the auto-focus is slow compared to the newer lenses.


May 09, 2014 at 09:09 AM
Paul Tessier
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


This is a 17 year old lens. I had one years ago an was never really impressed. The optics are ok but overall I feel the lens is long over due for a modern upgrade. I would like to get another as I do like the size and focal length but the newer lenses have so many more modern tweaks that keep steering me away from this one.


May 09, 2014 at 09:10 AM
Jefferson
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


... My review of the Canon 300 f/4L IS ...

From this morning ... Road Atlanta ... TransAm practice

5D c + 300 f/4L IS + 1.4x II @ f/11 ... ISO 400 (it was overcast) ... 1/160

http://jeffersonposter.smugmug.com/photos/i-w977wBc/0/XL/i-w977wBc-XL.jpg

http://jeffersonposter.smugmug.com/photos/i-hp4GCMn/0/XL/i-hp4GCMn-XL.jpg




May 09, 2014 at 10:42 AM
StillFingerz
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


Jefferson, well said, imaged

The 300 f4L IS was my 2nd red ring, after seeing the IQ of my 70-200 f4L IS I was sold on the f4Ls; the lighter weight trumps the heavier f2.8 versions, I don't get much arm fatigue extended use is required; bare, with T/C or with tubes. There's usually a 17-40L packed as well and soon a mid-range f4L zoom to complete the set...then it's saving for a 500 f4L



May 09, 2014 at 10:58 AM
OntheRez
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


I found 810 images in my Lr catalog taken with the 300mm f/4L non-IS. (20+ years old.) They cover everything from birds to landscape to people to flowers to baseball. I suppose a newer IS would be nice but then the thing would weight 2X and retail at ~$2000 based on recent Canon pricing. I consider my copy the second sharpest lens I have (after the 24mm f/3.5L TSE II).

This is a truly fine lens. It does exactly what it was designed to do: provide excellent telephoto in a light package at a reasonable price. I don't understand the incessant demand on the part of some people to remake every lens into the latest/greatest/priceyest thing around. Yes, I miss plenty of shots with this lens (and more with the 400mm f/5.6) simply because of camera movement. Shooting at long FL takes real practice and an absolute awareness of technique.

Attached are a bird, a ball, and a poppy: low rent JPEGs SOOC. All handheld. I have some superb tripod based landscape and wildlife, but that puts things in a separate category. This is a d*mn fine lens. I hope Canon leaves it, the 400, the 135mm f/2.0L and a few other similar lenses alone. They work. Why muck with them?

Robert



© rsorrels 2014


A ball.





© rsorrels 2014


A bird (actually 3 Sandhill cranes).





© rsorrels 2014


A poppy.




May 09, 2014 at 12:02 PM
bcguy
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


By the way, you have a very nice website. You did a good job.



May 09, 2014 at 08:59 PM
J-man
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Canon 300 f/4 L IS Review


Good idea Imagemaster I will put this up as a permanent review.

Still fingers I have the 70-200 f/4 IS as well and really appreciate the weight savings over the f/2.8 versions. Having high quality, lightweight lenses allows me to bring them on hikes, in boats and on planes.

Thanks BCguy I have been working on the site for about 10 months and it has been very rewarding.



May 10, 2014 at 09:58 PM





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