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gwhitegeog
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Registered: Jun 16, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4
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Review Date: Mar 9, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Great lens, sharp, very compact, smooth operation, affordable filter size
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Cons:
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None at all - the lens is good VFM for what you get
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This is really great lens and one that I have been hoping Canon would produce for some time. I really dont understand the negative comments, at all.
One of my criticisms of Canon L lenses is their size - when you are a travel photograper like me, you like to take a compact set of kit with you. The girth of many L series lenses (not to mention the size of the circumference of the lens hood) takes up so much space in the bag. This lens is much better and also provides a sensible alternative to the many 70-300 type zooms around from many companies, not just Canon.
Well done Canon - your best for a while!
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 Mar 9, 2011
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genefixer
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Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Jan 22, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 6640
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Review Date: Mar 8, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, contrasty IQ at all focal lengths. Nice focal range. Quick accurate AF.
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Cons:
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Price but as they say you get what you pay for.
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Mar 8, 2011
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dlord
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Registered: Nov 23, 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Mar 3, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,499.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Focus speed, stabilization, Image quality......... everything. Built like a tank.. Could be used in self defense..
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Cons:
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None
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I love this lens.... I don't understand the negative comments other than about the price. My filter mount does NOT rotate with lens zooming action. I find the sharpness to be great wide open throughout the zoom range. Images have pop. My new favorite lens...
Compare the price to other L lens. I waited for the $100 instant rebate to begin. I don't have a problem with the price. There are other "discount" lens available if price is the main issue. You get what you pay for.
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Mar 3, 2011
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martinpperry
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Registered: Feb 21, 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Feb 25, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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compact,sharpness,build quality
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Cons:
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I really can't fault it
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I have had this lens for a few weeks now and I love it (and I am fairly picky). It is relatively compact and feels well balanced on both my 5dII and 40d. It feels 'right'. The only gripes I have heard from people have been about price but prices have come down and I picked mine up for just over Ģ1000. I have a 35L which was the same price and I would call that expensive but you get what you pay for. IMO the 70-300L lens is actually a hell of a lot for the money in terms of build quality and its versatility. I am also surprised about its capability to produce really nice bokeh and the IS is superb. I can only give it full marks.
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Feb 25, 2011
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Julius
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Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Jan 26, 2002
Location: United States
Posts: 1436
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Review Date: Feb 25, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,475.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Tack sharp from 70-300mm at any focal length even wide open. The ususal unmatched quality of workmanship of the L lenses.
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Cons:
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None (Heavy but expected to be)
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This is one incredible zoom lens with sharpness only matched by my 70-200 f/4 EF L IS lens.
This lens is razor sharp wide open at any focal length and even at 300mm does not have any visible chromatic aberration, color fringing.
This lens is now glued to my 7D and while my 5D has the 24-105L lens on it and I am pretty well covered in most situations walking around having these two cameras on me.
It is expensive if not overpriced a bit, but well worth every Penny of it.
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Feb 25, 2011
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arn_old
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Registered: Oct 7, 2004
Location: N/A
Posts: 25
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Review Date: Feb 21, 2011
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Just to add to the previous post, this behaviour of aperture in Program mode happened when using Auto ISO.
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Feb 21, 2011
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arn_old
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Registered: Oct 7, 2004
Location: N/A
Posts: 25
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Review Date: Feb 17, 2011
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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build quality, size
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Cons:
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soft at 300mm (much better at 200mm)
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Perhaps I had a malfunctioning unit, but the lens was soft at 300mm. Way too soft for an L lens of this price. There appeared to be significant improvement at 200mm, but in a lens like this the 200-300mm performance should be good.
There is this one thing to note about the lens though - at least on a 7D, the camera *always* selects an aperture of (at least) f/7.1 when using program mode at 300mm. Even if one pushes the ISO up to 3200. 70-200 f4 and f2.8 IS:s that I've shot with always select the largest aperture (f4 or f2.8 at 200mm) in program mode. So, that would suggest that canon considers wide open performance at 300mm sub par. So no, I didn't warm up to the 70-300L, there was no "wow" factor at all for me. I was on the verge of giving a 6 for overal rating (for this unit at least), because of the price/performance ratio.
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Feb 17, 2011
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gnorty
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Registered: Feb 12, 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 5
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Review Date: Feb 12, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Tack sharp quick autofocus at all zoom ranges, great contrast, best IS I have seen
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Cons:
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No tripod collar, no compatible Canon teleconverters
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Best L glass that I have ever owned. As others said I do not understand markhbfindlay review below. He must have got a dud because my lens is fabulous. The IS works flawlessly - I can handhold 300mm at 1/50th of a second - unheard of just a few years ago. Focus tack sharp corner to corner and quick at all focal lengths. Built like a tank. Takes a little while to get used to zoom and focus rings reversed but not a big deal. Just wish that Canon produced teleconverters that you could attach to this lens. Also wished that the tripod collar was included for this price. This piece of L glass is in a class of its own.
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Feb 12, 2011
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GKN100
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Registered: Sep 18, 2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Feb 10, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very sharp, excellent IS, compact size, fast AF, weather sealed
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Cons:
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only f5.6 at 300mm, but thats in the spec!
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As many have said before, on paper, this looks an ordinary lens. I was looking for a telephoto lens with more reach that 200mm, so I looked at several options including getting a loan of a 100-400 and the telephoto I previously owned - 70-300IS (non L).
I'm very glad I have chosen this - it performs well under all conditions, including wide open at 300mm. The excellent IS meant I get a very high keeper rate, especially when compared to the 100-400mm. An excellent travel lens in particular. Very sharp, excellent colour and contrast.
Many have mentioned the zoom and focus rings being switched - this did feel unusual to begin with, but I adapted to this in no time.
Overall a bit pricey, but where I live it was about the same price as the 70-200F4 IS, and more than 25% cheaper than the 100-400.
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Feb 10, 2011
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warthog
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Registered: Jul 8, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 212
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Review Date: Feb 4, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,529.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, compact, tank-like build, incredible AF and IS
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Cons:
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price, no tripod ring included, not compatible with any Canon teleconverters, zoom ring and focus ring flipped, telescoping barrell
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Despite the cons above, I'm so in love with this lens. It is sharper than my 20-35L, 24-105L, and maybe even better than my 70-700 2.8L IS. The autofocus and IS work better than any Canon lens I've ever used. The contrast and color are terrific. While heavy, I like the wider shorter profile -- it fits very comfortable in my hands. It is going to take getting used to the focus ring being closer to the body than the zoom ring, but once you get your rings straight the MF is precise.
I have no complaints about the performance or build quality. My only gripes go to the design, which I suspect result from packing this focal range in this barrell. Not being able to use teleconverters stinks, as does having a telescoping, rotating filter mount. But the performance is so, so nice I don't care. If Canon would just cut the price by $300 and include the tripod ring, it'd be perfect.
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Feb 4, 2011
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Frank35440
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Registered: Jan 31, 2011
Location: Germany
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Jan 31, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Great IS, fast AF, very sharp
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Cons:
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price
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I bought it as an upgrade for the 70-300 non-L. Itīs my 1st L lens. The difference on IQ to the non-L is just amazing, especially @ 300m. The IS performs really great, I can take photos with 1/60-30 sec @ 300mm. AF is very fat and reliable.
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Jan 31, 2011
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mgkaplan
Offline
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Jan 23, 2002
Location: United States
Posts: 170
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Review Date: Jan 27, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, Fast AF, Outstanding IS, Light
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Cons:
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This is an absolutely outstanding lens. I was less than excited with the specs when the lens was initially announced, but when I put my hands on one, I quickly realized what a gem this lens is. The optical quality is clearly better than other (L and non-L) lenses that I have used in this focal range. Razor sharp from corner to corner, and throughout the zoom range. The IS is incredible. I can easily handhold at 1/50 at 300mm. Autofocus is right on and very fast. This is clearly one of the very special lenses.
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Jan 27, 2011
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lesgage
Offline
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Dec 8, 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 1140
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Review Date: Jan 26, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,499.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Its light, got a very good IS
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Cons:
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Not as sharp as the 70-200 F2.8 IS III, but what is...if this is your only lens for tele, you may not like it, but for trabvel and landscapes its just fine
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It just great for the right use...close up of birds, no, landscape lens yes...great IS ...focus is good...
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Jan 26, 2011
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hagejsh
Offline
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Registered: Jan 23, 2011
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jan 23, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Lens not yet used
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Cons:
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Lens not yet used.
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I use the FM website to help me determine future purchases. I was considering the Cannon 70-300 EF f4-5.6 L IS. I love the 70-200 EF 1:2.8 II. I doubt the quality of the 70-300 could improve on this lens. I shoot with a Cannon 5D MK2 and a 7D. There is a travel niche where I could see a place for the 70-300. The 70-200 EF1:2.8 is a bit heavy for a travel lens. However, the review by Markhbfinday made me take heed. Does he have a duff, or perhaps could one be a bit daff? I will be waiting and reviewing the site and taking a test run before making any purchases. That certainly is a very outlying review. I can't thank FM enough for this site as it has been of immense help in making previous purchases.
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Jan 23, 2011
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William Popw
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Registered: May 24, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 9
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Review Date: Jan 20, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,599.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Great focal length range; razor sharp; light weight
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Cons:
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Expensive; no tripod ring; flimsy Canon lens case
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I too am skeptical of the reviewer who judges the 55-250mm EF-S lens to be sharper than this one. Clearly he purchased a bad copy. I tested the 70-300 against my 70-200 f4 IS, and it was as sharp at all focal lengths, plus it has greater reach, so I've sold the 70-200. At 300 this lens is very sharp, almost as sharp as my Canon 300mm f4 IS.
I must admit, I have not tried the 55-250. I understand it is an excellent lens, especially for the price, but you just have to look at The-Digital-Picture.com lens comparison utility (at http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=249&Camera=9&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&LensComp=278&CameraComp=9&FLI=1&API=30) to see that the 70-300 is sharper at all aperatures.
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Jan 20, 2011
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arn_old
Offline
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Registered: Oct 7, 2004
Location: N/A
Posts: 25
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Review Date: Jan 19, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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I haven't shot with this lens enough yet to form a rating, but I have to step in to comment about the previous review. If the user finds the 55-250 EF-S to be sharper than the 70-200 f/4 L IS and the 70-300L, well... There is simply something wrong there.
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Jan 19, 2011
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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79
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170285
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Nov 14, 2016
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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94% of reviewers
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$1,454.36
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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9.77
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8.34
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9.5
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