Compare Prices on Canon 0345B002
The short version:
Pros:
The optical quality is gargantuan, the rush is terrific, and it compares well to the 70-200mm lens that people like to say blows this out of the water (I absorb they are nasty - but we will fetch into that later) and finally, the stamp cannot be beaten. Remove it.
Cons:
No hood, extends as it zooms, and the quality of the describe in indecent light dwelling lessens a runt.
The long version:
I am writing this in simple terms. I found several, several reviews on this lens but they were all in technical terms and leaves you scratching your head a minute. So, if you are like me maybe this review will relieve you.
I bought this lens a couple months ago from US1Photo.com (check these guys out. They regularly have essential sales and terrific customer service) . I exhaust this lens with a Canon 40D.
I steal several types and styles of pictures so I needed a lens that would do the best job at several things and have a very affordable trace (apt at or less than $1,000) . I looked through current, faded, third party (Tamron, Sigma, etc) lenses, and read too many reviews and looked at too many images to count, and spent four hours in a photography store playing with lenses before I decided to employ money and engage advantage of this lens. All in all I spent about a week's worth of time in research and testing before I bought this lens.
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Edit:
Okay, so amazon won't let me do a link here. This is how you secure me.
~Go to Flickr
~Then type in a "/" then "photos" then "/" and last type in "gman_five0"
And that should lift you there.
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Test of comment #1:
~The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM does not track keen objects very well and the farther to the destroy of the zoom the slower the tracking.
(Flickr Gallery page 2)
This, I have found, to be completely despicable. I have worn the lens at several sporting events and found that it tracks rather nicely. I was able to track every step of a base-runner from first despicable to second, bound, and recovery after the play without losing ONE shot.
To discover what I am talking about check out my gallery on Flickr. The older ones are NOT done with this lens or camera and taken, actually, several years ago. I will reference the pictures in examine.
Safe, Got There By a Mile, Breaking Up That Double Play (please label that as time goes on from the date that this was posted the pictures may have been re-moved) . Also, "Superior" was traditional instead of another shot taken at the same time and angle with a 70-200mm IS lens.
To grasp these shots I stale "AI focus" and the "H" settings on my camera for quicker tracking and the H settings for about 6 frames per second.
Test of Comment #2:
~The 200-300mm range is nice in theory, but a tack-sharp photo from the 70-200mm f/4L at 200mm is going to witness better cropped than a 300mm full-frame photo from this lens.
Again, I found this to be bad. Though I have no dependable "chunky sized" characterize for this if you comment relieve with an email address then we can arrange a viewing of one. Otherwise, bewitch my word for it, I have several lenses and this one stacks up well.
(Ref Flickr Gallery)
The pictures from the Dance Theater and Tashina were all taken at the 200-300mm focus lengths. Again, they are not bulky sized because of photo pirates, but if you email me we can eye about rotund sized shots.
Test of Comment #3:
~The IS motor is loud
I do not know what these people are talking about, but if you call that loud...
On the other hand, I have heard (once), the sound of the IS motor, but if you are not listening for it you will not even inspect it.
Things I have found about the lens:
If you utilize some time with the lens will be one of your best friends. It is a big lens especially for people on a budget (like me) . To grasp the best pictures you cannot honest twist it on and go to shooting. Recall the time to LEARN about the lens (change shutter speeds, ISO settings, aperture, white balances, etc) and it will prove you where it shines - unbiased like the L series lenses and the 70-200mm IS.
This lens has a solid manufacture and feels like it will last forever. Then again, as you zoom the lens does extend and is plastic. So, gape out if you are doing sports. You may secure it knocked off. It did well for me, though. Extending while zooming makes putting a hood on the lens a bit (very little; so dinky that you cannot notify) awkward and it looks kinda goofy.
I like the lens because it is not as burly as the 70-200mm lens and it is extremely mobile. It is as mercurial as some other lenses, not as like a flash as some, and quicker than others. It will give you astronomical quality pictures. It does have its limits, however: in grievous light situations not being able to hold it abet a couple stops and collect a wider aperture will not give you the same shot as a 70-200mm. Then again, like I said, it doesn't plunge to that f/2.8 and does not cost all that money. This has been the single drawback for me about the lens.
I spend this lens for portraits (Tashina, Samantha), for sports (gaze gallery), and music (Shawn Pander - Look Gallery) . So, it's splendid versatile. I have yet to exercise with it flash, but that is because I simply do not like to exhaust flash. I have yet to utilize it in a studio setting, but when I do I will amend this review and add a couple of those pictures as well.
This lens comes highly recommended from me. I am not a gargantuan time, highly paid, or well known photographer. I unprejudiced like to shoot and like what I shoot to be of the best quality that I can have AND afford at the time. So, if you are like me and cannot exercise the needed $1,500 - $1,700 on a 70-200mm IS lens then employ your money on this lens. You will not be sorry for it.
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On another imprint, comments are welcome. This is my first ever review on here so let me know if there anything else that you would like to know about and I will do my best to reply the interrogate in the most insensible terms as possible.
After debating between this and the 70-200 L series I decided to lift this lens. I have been pleasantly surprised by the results. I also bear the 17-85 and the 50mm 1.8 lenses and I have found that I have gotten the "most exquisite" results from this lens. The pictures have been very fascinating from my 20D - even in the 200mm - 300mm range. I've also been tickled with the quality of the bokeh.
The famous drawback I seek is that the AF tends to hunt a handsome amount when confronted with shameful disagreement images. That being said, I stale it for some flying bird shooting at the wildlife refuge and was surprised to peek how many of the shots were in inviting focus. However, it was a dinky bit of all or nothing. Several shots were also wildly out of focus. Since the lens is fairly uninteresting to focus, you never know what you're gonna net with such a snappy spirited object against the distant sky.
I had great more consistent results when shooting soccer, softball and football in the park. The AF race did not point to an reveal for any of these activities and the results were kindly.
I wish the lens were a shrimp less expensive but I the prints I have gotten from my 13 X 19 printer have been worth the extra money.
I bought this lens as a replacement for the earlier 75-300mm IS lens. I was generally glad with that lens, but it had clear limitations - I needed to shoot at f8 or f11 and bump up the ISO to bag a decent shutter hurry.
This original version seems enchanting at pudgy zoom even wide commence, allowing me to exhaust a lower ISO setting. Size is similar to older version, but the IS seems more effective - looking through the lens when it kicks in you can actually sight the image become more stable and less shaky. I got this over the Canon 70-200 f4 L because of the extra near, smaller size (slightly) and the images I've seen from both are very similar.
UPDATE: There have been reports of soft images when using this lens in a verticle orientation - however I have not experienced this on my copy. I'm gay to say that after months of using this lens, I collected contemplate it mammoth.