Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L IS USM review

This lens is about cramming in as much light as possible without sacrificing (serious) loss of quality when fully open. It is just wonderful for wildlife or some sports photography in low lighting. I find it practical to hold and shoot over prolonged periods - and it doesn't absolutely need a gimbal/lens plate or heavy tripod (but both help). However many remark on its weight - especially if it is attached to a heavy EOS-1 body. So you will pay a price in both weight and cost. If you don't do wildlife/sports, you could be better advised to get the EF f4. I do wildlife which, somehow, always seem too distant (e.g. eagles) and in dull/overcast conditions. For this there are of course better solutions: EF f4 400, 500 or 600mm. The latter is my main (very heavy, very clumsy) tool - so I seldom use the 300mm unless something overfills the frame. But the 600mm always needs a gimbal/heavy duty tripod and is impossible to carry for longer than a few minutes. Getting it to a distant hide is a big job! If you wildlife and need to be mobile, the EF f2.8 300mm is probably the best choice. Good luck!

This lens is about cramming in as much light as possible without sacrificing (serious) loss of quality when fully open. It is just wonderful for wildlife or some sports photography in low lighting.

I find it practical to hold and shoot over prolonged periods - and it doesn't absolutely need a gimbal/lens plate or heavy tripod (but both help). However many remark on its weight - especially if it is attached to a heavy EOS-1 body.

So you will pay a price in both weight and cost. If you don't do wildlife/sports, you could be better advised to get the EF f4.

I do wildlife which, somehow, always seem too distant (e.g. eagles) and in dull/overcast conditions. For this there are of course better solutions: EF f4 400, 500 or 600mm. The latter is my main (very heavy, very clumsy) tool - so I seldom use the 300mm unless something overfills the frame. But the 600mm always needs a gimbal/heavy duty tripod and is impossible to carry for longer than a few minutes. Getting it to a distant hide is a big job!

If you wildlife and need to be mobile, the EF f2.8 300mm is probably the best choice.

Good luck!

This is my upgrade lens. I used the 100-400L IS lens for birding before this lens. I use this lens on 7D with or without TC's.

Pros:
- Well built
- Weather sealed
- Sharp wide open
- Bokeh is amazing
- Mind blowing colours
- Very good resolution
- Very fast on 7D
- Almost noiseless focus. The IS kicking in before the shutter is completely pressed is the only noise I hear
- Glass coating looks very good
- Amazing piece of glass
- I purchased this lens after Canon announced the version II lens. By this time, the price is pretty much mature and stable and reasonable for this kind of lens
- Works very well with the 1.4X version II TC
- Works very well with some loss in AF speed but high image quality with the 2X Version III TC

Cons:
I can't really think of any. I mean it's heavy as it's a f2.8. But that's expected for this focal length and f stop.

Very sharp, and with intangibly better feel of the images compared to the cheap telephoto lenses. This copy has a dead-on focus, which is expected here, but rarely happens with the cheap ones. Pleasant bokeh. The colors are slightly on the warm side, and there is a volume, almost 3D feel in the images.

If you have the $$, buy the 300mm f2.8 now. If your a birder and a have a strong arm, you might consider 500mm f4.

The 300mm f2.8 is a must own lens, and yes this lens is a 6.

Some of my pics here:

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