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dallasjj
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Registered: Feb 7, 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Feb 7, 2010
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, Great close focus capability, push-pull zoom, great zoom range, fast focus acquisition
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Cons:
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Weight,
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I have used this lens effectively for weddings and have been thankful for its zoom range and sharpness. On a full frame 5D and now 5D Mk II it pulls back for table shots and groups and has the reach to grab a candid across the room. The 3.5 -5.6 capability has not been an issue for wedding reception and event photography. Faster glass would probably be more appropriate for the actual wedding unless you can use flash.
I recently took it to the Everglades mounted on the 5D Mk II and shot it up against my 7d with a 100-400. I was surprised to find when all images were dumped to a common folder and ranked this lens accounted for about 80% of my top ranked keepers. Part of this success could be the 5D vs. the 7D, not really a fair fight.
As birding lenses go this would probably not be a first choice for most but at Shark Valley in the Everglades the huge (6'+) wing spans of the great egrets and storks at 4' to 40' range demand the wide end and close focus ability of this lens. See samples at: http://dallasjj.smugmug.com/Animals/Birds/Shark-Valley-February-2010/11165438_kHpDC#782608537_wxM2A.
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 Feb 7, 2010
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eraneran70
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Registered: Apr 16, 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Jan 10, 2010
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joelypolly
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Registered: Mar 29, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Nov 3, 2009
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Very good image quality
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Cons:
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Heavy
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Here are some more sample photos with the 77mm B+W Circular Polarising Filter attached. It is probably the best filter for day time photography with the 28-300mm.
Sunset in Shanghai
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Nov 3, 2009
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jmponfil
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Registered: Mar 11, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 484
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Review Date: Jul 29, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,300.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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IQ , size and weight
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Cons:
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Doesn't work well withTCs
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This lens has great IQ except at 400, where there is a drop off. I find that pulling back to around 390 makes a huge difference in IQ. Great lens and covers a wide range!
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Jul 29, 2009
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wfr2
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Buy and Sell: On
Registered: May 14, 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 866
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Review Date: Jul 27, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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massive focal length range, good sharpness and focusing accuracy once calibrated, great lens to have on the seat next to you
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Cons:
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too heavy to use as a walk around lens, variable f stop, only 5.6 at 300mm, IS a little disappointing
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I bought this lens to replace a 100-400 which was not as sharp as I would have liked. I wanted a zoom to put on a second camera while photographing from a safari car with my 500mm and this will work great. Having the lower focal lengths will be a huge benefit over my 100-400 or 70-200f4. Once I calibrated it to my 50D, I was very pleased with focus accuracy throughout its range. I also have tested it on my 1Ds3 and was very happy. The only downside is the IS which does not seem as effective on this lens as on my other lenses--good but not great. It is too heavy to be used as a walk around lens, I will keep the 70-200 for that. I don't like the push/pull either but there is no alternative. This is something of a specialty lens. If you really need this range, the weight and cost are worth it.
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Jul 27, 2009
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dirkb
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Registered: Jul 9, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jul 27, 2009
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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edit: last post i somehow mistook this being compatable with the 1.4 extender. that was my old 100-400. lack of caffeine...yeah, that was it. 
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Jul 27, 2009
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dirkb
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Registered: Jul 9, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jul 22, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,400.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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sharp, great IQ, versatile
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Cons:
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a bit heavy (but knew that going in)
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works great, i really like the "one lens for most stuff" factor. a bit heavy, but i'm over that. works well w/ 1.4 II extender, also if i need more reach.
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Jul 22, 2009
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wkosten
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Registered: Aug 27, 2003
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 11
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Review Date: May 19, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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All zoomdistances in one lens without hasseling with lens changes and dust, sharp
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Cons:
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Weight, on my 5D with grip I thing it's around 3kg.
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We're into photographing vessels up and around the river Scheldt and used an 24-105F4L and an 70-200F4L (sometimes with the 1.4 MK2 extender) but got tired of changing lenses and the dust in my 5D (which really attracts dust) and ran into a second-hand version of this lens.
Took my changes and replaced the 70-200 with this one and never took it off. It's sharp (atleast as sharp as my 70-200) all the way. Distortion on the edges is in my opinion not as bad as with the 24-105L although I never go below F8.
If you buy it new it's a pricy thing but imho worth every penny!
The pumpzoom instead of the twist zoom is something you hate or love. I wasn't to happy with it but it's a mather of getting used to it.
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May 19, 2009
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RudydG
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Registered: Oct 7, 2003
Location: Belgium
Posts: 98
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Review Date: May 12, 2009
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Super on 5D, even better on 5DmkII
Range range range.... The pro one lens solution.
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Cons:
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Stille the same as i previously stated, price and weight
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This is still (and again) my favorite piece of glass, it surely is better than my 100-400L, (sharpness, stabilisation also better, and focusspeed) and i feel it can rival the 24-105L. So all these people saying that 24-105 + 100-400 is a better combo, be carefull what you say without trying.
My believe is, that if more people had acces to this lens, more people would appreciate it.
What i don't understand is the low figures it gets at the photozone on 5dmkII fulframe test. I was affraid reading this test, but my findings are totaly different.
I would rate it 10 now
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May 12, 2009
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horrgakx
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Registered: Mar 8, 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Apr 14, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,200.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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A great all-round lens, sturdy. Great push/pull zoom.
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Cons:
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Weight, push/pull moves air through even a 1DmkIII.
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Well I've had this lens for over 5 years now and I've shot a LOT of photos. I love the push/pull zoom, more-so than the ring type found on other lenses. Its just so quick, easy and intuitive to use.
I've shot a lot of motorsport with it and I have found sometimes that the 300mm is a little too long, especially on a 1.6 crop body (I have a 1.3 crop body too and it can sometimes be a little too long). However, the wider ability is a bonus too because it means less lens-swapping.
The weight of it can be an issue, but I'm a big fella but carrying a 1DmkI, this lens, a 580EX-II flash and separate battery pack around all day ... well the combined weight (of which the lens is most!) can mean your right arm being 2" longer than the other at the end of a day.
Yes I'd recommend it, however I'm finding the f3.5-f5.6 aperture to be a little restrictive, especially indoors. Luckily with the modern bodies you can go quite high in ISO and still get a usable result but with my old Canon D60 anything around ISO-800 was VERY grainy, and if I'd had a 70-200 f2.8 on there instead... well I would have had some better results.
In outdoor conditions this lens is superb. I would not hesitate recommending it. But do go to the gym for some bicep curls before you buy
I normally shoot with a wider 16-35 L II USM lens but I recently did a full day with this 28-300 and I'd forgotten what a JOY it is to use. Quick to focus & zoom, feels great, looks the part, superb.
PS - price of £1200 is GBP as I got it from overseas.
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Apr 14, 2009
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joelypolly
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Registered: Mar 29, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Apr 7, 2009
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Great image quality and very versatile
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Cons:
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Heavy and does suck in dust on non sealed bodies
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This is a update to the original review
Images from the lens and a more detailed review can be found at
http://joelypolly.blogspot.com/search/label/28-300mm
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Apr 7, 2009
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joelypolly
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Registered: Mar 29, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Mar 31, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, nice range, build quality, excellent IS
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Cons:
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Bit heavy to hand hold at 300mm
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Definitely a good lens for the price. Sharp and the zoom range makes it the perfect lens to use for travel.... not so good if you can't carry a heavy lens.
To all those that are complaining about it being a dust pump check to see where the air is being sucked in from your camera. On my 30D it sucks air through the battery compartment so you might want to try and keep that area clean or try and seal it against dust. Those that have a sealed camera shouldn't have any issues.
The pull/push design is much easier to use than two ring style on the normal zooms.
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Mar 31, 2009
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