Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
|
|
Review Date: Mar 19, 2004
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,119.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Light weight, fine optics that allows pro-quality images with a wide-open aperture, beautiful and solid construction, fast auto-focus, 1:4 close-ups, and most of all, Image Stabilization increases the value of this lens ten fold.
|
|
Cons:
|
I wish it were longer but not any bigger or heavier! :-)
|
|
The optics are sharp enough to use wide open with professional results. The close focus is 1:4 plus the 1.6X cropping factor of my 300D make this a superb butterfy lens. I can focus from infinity down to 1/2 life size (with the 1.6X cropping factor). When I use my EF 1.4X II Converter the effective 420mm results are still outstanding. Sharpness and contrast are excellent. I've even used an EF 2X II Converter with good results. With a little sharpening in software the images can be incredible. Imagine, a hand holdable 600mm with the 1.6X cropping factor is equal to a 930mm FOV!!! With Image Stabilization it is possible to hand-hold at all focal lengths. NO MORE TRIPODS! I love it. It has "IS" Modes #1 and #2. Mode #1 is for stationary objects. Mode #2 is for panning moving object such as a bird in flight. It's hard to find any faults with this lens. I wish it were longer but not any bigger!
Here's a link to my folder. The birds were shot with the 300/4 IS + 1.4X TC II or 2X TC II: http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/8092
|
|
