Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L USM Lens Sample Photos and Specifications

marxz		01-Mar-2008 14:28
I picked up a used copy (of course, being a long discontinued model) just a few days ago. I wouldn't normally be interested in a lens like this as 90% of my shots are at 35mm or wider and being a "pov photographer" hobby shooter there was just NO WAY I could justify (or even pretend to afford) a new 300 f 2.8 IS model. However at less than a quarter of the new price WITH a 1.4x and 2x TC's thrown in it was a bargain that could not be overlooked. All I can say is that I'm amazed, and have spent the last 4 days stunned, by the image quality that comes out of this lens, even with the 2x converter fitted it produces sharper images than my 70-200 L lens. Sharp even at 2.8, dreamy/creamy background blur (ie "Good boke/bokeh" if you wish to use that term) A difficult lens to work with though, big, heavy (at least for someone like me more used to wielding a 17-35mm f/2.8 L on their camera), razor thin plane of focus wide open, and, with a TC fittedwhen using anything other than the center focal point, poor focus ability on "prosumer" models... Totally magic though on the 1D I tried it with from the shop. Being without IS it needs a tripod or monopod unless you're shooting in full sun at ISO 400 or higher... and at 3.2Kg (without camera) don't expect to be hand holding it long - I have no problem using the 70-200 f/2.8 for a few hours hand held but this behemoth is strictly a few minutes of hand holding. Apart from that I'm glad I picked it up... now I just have to find a way to plan at least some of my shoots around its use.

Brian McGeough		11-Jul-2005 15:38
There are plenty of bird pictures taken with this lens on my site most are with the 2x ef mkII teleconverter hence the 600mm in exif datahttp://www.pbase.com/bmcgeough/british_birds