Canon EF 300mm f4 L IS USM review

This is a good lens and well worth the money. If you can afford the f/2 in IS then go for it. But the f/4 with IS is better than an f/2 without the IS. If you use it right and within its limits you will not be disapointed. It is better than using a 100 to 400 zoom in my opinion. Just has a better ability to shoot a tack sharp photo. I tried the the Big Bertha 550 zoom and Tokina zooms and you just can't beat a Cannon. If you have a nice camera don't underuse it by having a cheap lens. Match you camera with a good lens otherwise you will never know the capability of the camera. Whether you own a Canon or a Nikon in a nice model, match the lens with the camera. I did not do that with my first Canon EOS 20 a few years ago and I never got the tack sharp pics no matter what I did. I got a EOS 7D and a Canon EF 300 f/4L IS, and I finally succeded in getting the kind of shots I was looking for.

Another great out of box experience. In daylight, low-light, moving car, even night - this thing focuses fast, and it does not fight my old EOS20d. In my hands, the IS seems to work great and I have had a lot of acceptably sharp hand-held images during the first few days. Great color as one would expect from L-glass.

I rented the 70-300mm, 100-400mm, and this 300mm for hand held bird photography. This lens was the best by far. It is super sharp and blew away the 70-300mm and is much lighter than the 100-400mm, which makes it possible to get sharp images hand held. Also, it takes the new 1.4x extender quite well. I use it as just the 300mm for forest birding and with the 1.4x for shore birding.

I was watching a professional photographer on the Oregon Coast, working with this great Canon lens, using a tripod and capturing an image of a small flower on the ground. After we talked, I knew that I wanted this 300mm L lens. I have the 70-200 f/4L lens, but did not have a prime lens like the 300mm. So, I saved up and bought it, and I have been giddy ever since. The images I get are really sharp, with great color, contrast, and depth. I entered five shots in the county fair and won a blue ribbon,a white ribbon, and one honorable mention. So, if you have the bucks and the time, this fantastic lens will produce winning shots for you.

A lot of Canon's longer glass is extremely expensive and heavy. Canon has a heart and created a great line of professional f/4 lenses, many with image-stabilization. The benefit of the 300mm f/4L IS USM lens is that it is much lighter and easier to handle than it's more expensive f/2.8L version. And even though you're limited to f/4, the IS works very well and enables shutter speeds of 1/125sec, and even lower with a steady hand. Another great feature is the integrated lens hood which telescopes outward for use and inward for storage. It also works with Canon's teleconverters, but you'll lose an additional stop or two, which may be too much for low-light. The AF is very good and since it is a prime lens, it is a little sharper than the 70-200mm. It also has a very close focusing distance just under 5ft! So, if you're into extreme close-ups, this lens will be uncomfortably close. You'll be very happy with the reach, weight, and image quality from this lens. Canon has done an excellent job with its professional f/4 line of lenses. They're cheaper than their f/2.8 counterparts and as the cameras get better at hi-ISO, I can see them becoming incredibly popular. CON: There is a slight jump in the viewfinder image when the IS kicks in. It's only for a fraction of a second, but it can be startling in the heat of the moment. Integrated lens hood feels a little cheap, but it is effective.