I have been looking for a second hand 300 f2.8 IS but without much luck. However I came accross a non IS model which is in superb condition, but I feel its a bit pricey and old with the date code being "UI 0620" (1994?).
I brought home a few test shots and found them to be good, however I don't know much about this non IS model and would like to ask if there is anyone out there that would like to comment on it.

Thanks.

Bob,
down here we don't get any 300 2.8 IS second hand , i guess the same in Aussie , market is to small , so they are usually sold by word of mouth.
That one you are looking at isn't old , i picked one up a few weeks ago and it UF thats 91.
I had a sigma 120-300 which i thought was good , and brought the 300f2.8 and was happy with it , not thrilled just happy , i had it for a couple of weeks .
I was sending my 70-200 with my 1D to be calibrated and matched so i sent my 300 in aswell , and now i'm very happy .
They are expensive , but much cheaper than a new IS model . Have a look in the buy sell at FM and the ones selling in the States aren't that much cheaper, maybe a little seeing the guts has fallen out of there dollar.

Bob, I spend months looking for a used EF300 f/2.8IS but every one I found was sold almost as fast as it was posted and for not much less than the cost of a new one. I finally broke down and bought a new one from B&H and could not be happier. If you happen upon a used one then I say jump on it but if you can't go ahead and buy a new one because it is surely one lens you won't be selling anytime soon!

I bought a used non-IS 300/2.8 and was happy with it for about a year before replacing it with the IS version. IS version is sharper, focuses closer, and is lighter! The IS version is an amazing lens, I encourage you to gut it out and get the IS version rather than settling for less.

as great as the IS ...is the non-IS is also steller and can be had for approx ~1500 or so less $$$$ , one thing to consider is that is no longer serviced by canon directly.

Regarding the service of the 300f2.8 non IS , im not sure about in Aussie , across the ditch they still are .

Allan Buddy Mike spdntrxi

Thanks for taking the time to reply! I pointed out the age of the lens to the people in the camera shop but they were not interested. Even though it is in superb condition and the shots I took were good, I feel it is well over priced and for about another US$800 I can get a new IS model from a very reputable grey market dealer with the Canon warranty still valid. Or for a further US$800 I can get the IS from a Canon dealer. I guess I'll just have to save up my pennies for the next couple of months!

Thanks again!
Bob

Bob,

I would like to point out that if you can sell a relatively good used lens for the price of a brand new lens, then the net cost to you is almost 0$. This is the easiest way to rent a high quality lens from Canon for alomost nothing in costs.

Dan

I have had many great lenses that I sold for more or almost as much as I paid for them, after using them for a year or two. Very cheap "rental."