 |
|
|
tsangc
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Nov 22, 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 1067
|
|
Review Date: Dec 28, 2016
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $4,500.00
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
Image quality is excellent, fast focusing for action photography
|
|
Cons:
|
Expensive, lens hood is difficult to work with, largely useless case and leather hood
|
|
|
After several years of renting 300mm f2.8L IS lenses from various Canadian rental houses, I decided to finally buy one for shooting road cycling and dinghy sailing. I actually found a really clean, slightly older copy on Fred Miranda's Buy and Sell forum. The seller took very good care of the lens and sent test shots and exterior images to facilitate the sale. I paid $4500 CAD once brokerage and import fees were included.
Alongside mine, I've used about three separate copies of this lens model over about six years. One was almost new, while another was heavily abused in rental use.
My primary bodies used are a Canon EOS40D and EOS7D Mark II. I've also used it on a Canon 5D and 5D Mark II full frame and 300D, 20D, and SL1 crop frame cameras too.
Positives include:
The image quality is fantastic, it's sharp with high contrast. When focused on a subject that's close in, provides a very creamy bokeh effect. It is on par with the 70-200mm f2.8L IS II.
The focusing system is quick, especially when paired with a camera with more advanced focusing like the 7D Mark II. I'm sure paired with the professional autofocus of the 1 series it's even better.
I have not had as good experiences with the 1.4x II Extender as others have. Part of it is that I shoot handheld and the Extender exacerbates shutter speed requirements.
As sensors get denser, I've found it takes faster shutter speeds to remove camera shake. I could get good results with a 6MP or 8MP body easier six years ago than I can with a 20MP body in 2016.
Negatives include:
Canon seems to provide somewhat useless but premium accessories with the product: The case is a hard shelled suitcase with latches and locks, holding the lens with hood reversed in snug padded forms. Outside of shipping or traveling in an airplane, most won't find this case useful as it takes several minutes to open, remove, attach the hood and mount a camera body to it. I've taken to using a Kinesis bag with the body already mounted.
The lens also comes with a peculiar leather hood cover which is difficult to secure and slow to remove. I ended up finding a suitable tupperware lid that fit the outside diameter of the hood when installed to prevent spray from the boat when shooting out on the water. This is quick to remove, unlike the supplied leather cover.
The lens is very expensive, at least for me. There are other options, including the Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 models or the older Canon EF300mm f4L IS. But for those who need the large aperture that affords a little more shooting at the end of the day, and want maximum image quality, this lens is fantastic.
|
|
 Dec 28, 2016
|
|
Copypaste
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jun 22, 2010
Location: Norway
Posts: 443
|
|
Review Date: May 8, 2013
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $4,200.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Stunningly sharp lens, creamy bokeh and great AF speed.
|
|
Cons:
|
The switches on the side are easy to accidentially move. I taped over the buttons/switches, just to avoid it.
|
|
|
It is by far my favorite lens. It is so sharp, I have no second thought about cropping 50%. The wheight is not too bad. I can work all day with this lens, handheld. Build quality and AF speed is amazing. No complaints whatsoever. I really do not have a single negative thing to say about this lens. (Well, except for the side-switches thing, but some gaffers tape fixes that.)
|
|
|
May 8, 2013
|
|
mrcolin2u
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jun 30, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 1880
|
|
Review Date: Mar 23, 2013
|
Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
|
|
Pros:
|
Very sharp, works well with TC's
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 23, 2013
|
|
Rob Holloway
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Oct 28, 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 0
|
|
Review Date: Oct 28, 2012
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Amazing sharp images, focus lightning fast, perfect wide open and with TC1.4
|
|
Cons:
|
Attracts too much attention
|
|
|
I'd been using the 300/4L and loved that lens. Made the fatal mistake of borrowing the 300/2.8L IS
I used it extensively to shoot my son at baseball and then offered to shoot for the team. Mistake! people were amazed at the shots and wanted more, more, more.
The bokeh is even better at 420mm f4 with the TC1.4
Of course there are two downers. price and weight. But you really do get what you pay for. Sensational.
|
|
|
Oct 28, 2012
|
|
mrcolin2u
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jun 30, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 1880
|
|
|
Oct 24, 2012
|
|
GARY5D
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Nov 15, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 5
|
|
Review Date: Dec 23, 2011
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,500.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Image qualiity is the best i have ever seen,Super fast focus with my 1d mk3
Just love this lens !!!
super sharp!!! super sharp!!!
|
|
Cons:
|
Heavy,Weight, Must use monopod to get best results
|
|
|
This is the lens i never thought i would own
I can use this lens at 2.8 all day sharpness is spot on
Recent trip to Japan in October 2011 picked up this secondhand one in perfect condition
Having read the reviews over ths last couple of years i now what this lens like
Portrait shooting is the best because you have a good distance from the subject get a more natural expressions
Bokeh is is excellent , I have 50mm 1.2 & 70-200 2.8IS it is on par wit these lens
using 1.4x focus is just as fast
using 2.0x you do notice slow down in focus but still very usable
build quality is solid as a rock
You need the IS if you want to hand hold it
If you get the chance to buy one do it!!!!!
|
|
|
Dec 23, 2011
|
|
dolina
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Nov 4, 2008
Location: Philippines
Posts: 4827
|
|
Review Date: Nov 22, 2011
|
Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
|
|
Pros:
|
Image quality is superb, fast 2.8 opening. Cheaper than the Version 2. A suitable alternative to the 400/2.8 IS if coupled with a APS-C body like the 7D and 7D Mark II.
|
|
Cons:
|
Since has been replaced by the Version 2 on September 2011, which is ok cause the Version 1's cheaper.
|
|
I will benchmark the 300/2.8L IS to a lens marketed back in 2008, the 200/2.0 IS & 800mm IS.
All three deliver excellent photo quality. Both weigh a bit but the 200/2.0 IS & 800mm IS has better balance on a non-1 Series body. The 300 only has 2-stop IS not bad but could be nice to have 4-stops like the current Version 2, 200/2.0 IS & 800mm IS.
Hood's tougher to mount than the 200/2.0 IS & 800mm IS. AF motor is slightly louder too. It gets almost as much attention as the 800mm IS in public. The attention could be good or bad depending on who is looking.
But at the end of the day... it delivers what it was designed for focusing spectacular images to the sensor.
This is a tried and true lens since it started selling in 1999!
If you want to see lens samples on full frame, APS-H and APS-C bodies go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/alabang/tags/canonef300mmf28lisusm
|
|
|
Nov 22, 2011
|
|
onelouderimage
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jul 29, 2011
Location: United States
Posts: 0
|
|
Review Date: Jul 29, 2011
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $5,000.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Everything...
|
|
Cons:
|
Nothing...
|
|
|
The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM is an absolutely phenomenal lens. It produces absolutely awesome image quality. Results at f/2.8 are very sharp from the center right into the full frame corners. Color and contrast are superb. Maybe one of the highest image quality Canon EF lens. Super fast and very accurate focusing are only one of the many positive aspects. The quality with the 1.4 extender III is truly excellent, almost as good as the lens by itself. With build quality typical of a Canon L Series Lens and is designed to withstand the rigors of professional use. The lens comes with a hard plastic case and this is not really useable in real life situations.
|
|
|
Jul 29, 2011
|
|
eric_m
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Mar 12, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 496
|
|
Review Date: Mar 19, 2011
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $3,400.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
extremely sharp, extremely fast AF
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 19, 2011
|
|
AutoMotoMedia
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Mar 11, 2011
Location: United States
Posts: 0
|
|
Review Date: Mar 11, 2011
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,000.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Sharp, Fast Focus
|
|
Cons:
|
HEAVY! (non-IS)
|
|
This is for the Non IS version.
A couple of years ago I picked up a non IS 300 2.8l. I love this l ens a lot. I rented one some years back, so I knew I could get by without IS. The person I bought it from worked for a newspaper, so this thing has been used a lot, but is in good condition. Focuse s fast, really sharp, and fun to shoot with. It is one heavy son of a gun!
Here's some pics:
http://automotomedia.net/showthread.php/83-Canon-300mm-2.8l-(Non-IS)
|
|
|
Mar 11, 2011
|
|
texdr
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Oct 15, 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 15
|
|
Review Date: Jan 5, 2011
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $4,340.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Perfect for my interests in photography which consists of butterflies and backyard birds
|
|
Cons:
|
The price
|
|
|
I love this lens. It help kick me out of the photography doldrums shooing with the 100-400. With this lens, and added teleconconverters, there is just no comparison. I evaluated the 500 f4 and for my needs the 300 was much more practical and I would say sharper than than the 500. This lens is now my workhorse lens with my 100-400 to be retired. Another great capability for is the ability to take pictures in low light. Rarely are the butterflies I shoot in some wide open field with bright light; rather they are on a plant with much darker background behind them. I highly recommend this lens
|
|
|
Jan 5, 2011
|
|
NDP_2010
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jun 7, 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 724
|
|
Review Date: Dec 12, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $4,200.00
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
Fast AF, excellent IQ, IS
|
|
Cons:
|
weight, does not have 4 stop IS
|
|
|
Super fast AF, only slowed slightly by introducing a 1.4x.
IQ is excellent at f/2.8, have not seen CA's even under very harsh conditions.
IS is a plus, although the old generation IS, if you are careful, you can shoot 1/50s without too much problem.
Build is solid as a rock.
size weight and price are all expected for a high quality tele lens.
IS: although a pro also, it would be nice to have 4 stop IS
Upgraded from the 100-400 canon lens. Although the images from this lens are also excellent, the 300 2.8 is noticably sharper, and the background blurr is very smoothe and pleasing.
The price is quite large, but the lens is worth the $$
|
|
|
Dec 12, 2010
|
|
fotojeroen
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Oct 2, 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 181
|
|
Review Date: Oct 7, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
sharp, fast, not to big, not to heavy
|
|
Cons:
|
Lens hood construction. Tripod collar
|
|
|
I use it for sports. I think the 400 f/2.8 is overkill. That's to heavy and to much for field action.
What can I say, it costs a lot of money, but it's worth every penny
|
|
|
Oct 7, 2010
|
|
webman06
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: May 21, 2004
Location: France
Posts: 50
|
|
Review Date: Jul 27, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
As good as it gets!!! The image quality is superb.
The bokeh is awesome, the focus is extremly fast, the built quality is here. A must have for all sport/wildlife photographer.
|
|
Cons:
|
none
|
|
|
THE lens, one of the best if not THE best in the Canon lineup.
It can be coupled with teleconverter x1.4 or x2 with great results. The focus is extremly fast on a 1 serie camera.
The quality of the hood is great and the weight is not much of a problem as the balance is very good.
The image quality is superb at all apertures.
Very Highly Recommanded !!!!
It's really worth it's cost and is a great step up the 300mm f/4 L IS that i was using previously.
I'm all smiles considering this lens. :-)
|
|
|
Jul 27, 2010
|
|
felipin
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Dec 1, 2005
Location: Spain
Posts: 84
|
|
Review Date: Jun 16, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Fast aperture, fast and accurate AF, sharpness (no matter which aperture), color, contrast, bokeh..., IS (although I barely use it)
|
|
Cons:
|
Yes, it's bulky and it's expensive, but you can't really expect such a lens to be cheap and lightweight...
|
|
|
This is my workhorse for sports. It always amaze me. Perhaps one of the very best lenses of all the Canon line-up, i.e., one of the best lenses in the world...
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2010
|
|
777adri
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Nov 6, 2005
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1
|
|
Review Date: Jun 1, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
will use it only at 2.8 and it is the best
|
|
Cons:
|
weight ? is there any alternative ?
|
|
|
The problem is you like to trow away all you former photo's. I bought the lens because the "normal" photo's you can make with a G11 nowadays. 300mm2.8 is hard work bud the results are the pictures are special in every respect of photographing like kinds of sports. Portraits are fine because you can take distance. In my opinion if you are to close the subject will act and the photo's become useless. I will only use this lens and when i am to old to carry i hire a caddy.
|
|
|
Jun 1, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reviews
|
Views
|
Date of last review
|
|
117
|
280837
|
Dec 28, 2016
|
|
|
Recommended By
|
Average Price
|
|
97% of reviewers
|
$3,740.57
|
|
|
Build Quality Rating
|
Price Rating
|
Overall Rating
|
|
9.93
|
9.16
|
9.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
