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Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM vs Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
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May 7, 2019 08:32:47   #
ggab Loc: ?
 
I am looking at one of the fast 300mm Canon L Lens. My wallet will not allow me to buy a new lens :(.

My question is, is the ver II worth the prox $1600.00 premium over the ver. I?
I would like responses from those that have used both.
I am not a professional and would shoot with an EOS 7D MKII, typically with a Canon extender 1.4III and 2.0III. Some hand held, some tripod/gimbal mounted. Sports, Birding etc.
I have a 100-400 IS L USM II and a Tamron 150-600 Gen2 as well as a 300mm f/4 IS and 400mm f/5.6.
I would probably sell the 300 f/4 and 400 f/5.6.

Thanks
George

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May 7, 2019 08:40:27   #
Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York
 
The newer version of any lens does not necessarily make it better. As for spending extra cash, I really try to work with what I currently have. You might try renting the lens to see if it is suitable and forgiving. As for extenders, they cause a lens to lose f/stops. That could cause a great photo to become mediocre. I wish lens manufacturers consider lowering the price on some of their best lenses. That won't happen especially if you can buy it on E-Bay for less.

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May 7, 2019 08:42:14   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
The lighter physical weight and the improved IS of the v II make a real difference in the usefulness of this lens. Optically, both are near the apex of the sharpest lenses Canon has ever created. If you don't envision this lens being an everyday, handheld option, the older model from a tripod is an economical approach.

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May 7, 2019 08:52:09   #
ggab Loc: ?
 
Scruples and CHG_Canon, thank you for the rapid reply.
It would probably be a staple in my nature/sports kit.
How would the old lens work with the current extenders? I am familiar with the light transmission reduction that comes with the extenders. Even using the 2x, my aperture would only increase to f/4 at 600mm. This is far better than what I have now.
If it would work well, I can see eliminating one or perhaps two lens from my current kit. I suspect this would reduce my total load when hiking.

I guess I am the only one that can decide if the differences are worth the $1600.00 delta.

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May 7, 2019 08:58:52   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
ggab wrote:
I am looking at one of the fast 300mm Canon L Lens. My wallet will not allow me to buy a new lens :(.

My question is, is the ver II worth the prox $1600.00 premium over the ver. I?
I would like responses from those that have used both.
I am not a professional and would shoot with an EOS 7D MKII, typically with a Canon extender 1.4III and 2.0III. Some hand held, some tripod/gimbal mounted. Sports, Birding etc.
I have a 100-400 IS L USM II and a Tamron 150-600 Gen2 as well as a 300mm f/4 IS and 400mm f/5.6.
I would probably sell the 300 f/4 and 400 f/5.6.

Thanks
George
I am looking at one of the fast 300mm Canon L Lens... (show quote)


The newer version and your extenders are specifically matched.
The older version is not, will work but if you want excellent IQ get the newer one to match the teleconverters.
So if you can afford the premium it is well worth the money for the better shots.

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May 7, 2019 09:03:07   #
ggab Loc: ?
 
Architect1776 wrote:
The newer version and your extenders are specifically matched.
The older version is not, will work but if you want excellent IQ get the newer one to match the teleconverters.
So if you can afford the premium it is well worth the money for the better shots.


Thank you for your insight and perspective.
This, of course raises the next level question, has anyone tried and compared the older lens with new extenders vs the new lens and new extenders?

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May 7, 2019 09:04:48   #
Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York
 
I get what everyone else is putting onto the table. Perhaps renting the lens may keep the premium price at bay. Besides my wallet is not the problem, my wife can't accept the cost with my kids in college! She would kill me twice and bury me in the backyard where our dog poops when it doesn't want to go for a walk.

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May 7, 2019 09:05:07   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
The series III extenders are optimized for the series II L-lenses. Yes, the III extenders will work with all compatible versions of EF lenses as well the older extenders with the newest lenses. Canon identifies the series III extenders being optimized specifically for the series II lenses to address accuracy and responsiveness of the AF system when the extender sits between the EOS body and the EF lens. I use my 300 more than the 100-400 zoom, so much more I've started to contemplate letting the zoom go.

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May 7, 2019 09:08:07   #
ggab Loc: ?
 
Scruples wrote:
I get what everyone else is putting onto the table. Perhaps renting the lens may keep the premium price at bay. Besides my wallet is not the problem, my wife can't accept the cost with my kids in college! She would kill me twice and bury me in the backyard where our dog poops when it doesn't want to go for a walk.



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May 7, 2019 09:09:10   #
ggab Loc: ?
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
I use my 300 more than the 100-400 zoom, so much more I've started to contemplate letting the zoom go.


The 300 verII and extenders are that Good??
Or, do you use it without the extender and crop?

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May 7, 2019 09:29:18   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
ggab wrote:
The 300 verII and extenders are that Good??
Or, do you use it without the extender and crop?


I've recently been posting work with both the 2x and 1.4x extenders, including twice last week, linked below.

Feathers & Fur @ extended 600mm II
Feathers & Fur @ extended 600mm

Additional examples can be found from my UHH name. Click the URL link that is anyone's user name and then list their 'topics created'. Another UHH member to investigate topics created would be Regis

Many of my titles indicate the lens used, or look for airshow posts in the Photo Gallery, or a few pages back in the list of topics created such as older topics like

Featuring the 300L and 2x extender

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May 7, 2019 09:34:23   #
ggab Loc: ?
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
I've recently been posting work with both the 2x and 1.4x extenders, including twice last week, linked below.

Feathers & Fur @ extended 600mm II
Feathers & Fur @ extended 600mm

Additional examples can be found from my UHH name. Click the URL link that is anyone's user name and then list their 'topics created'. Another UHH member to investigate topics created would be Regis

Many of my titles indicate the lens used, or look for airshow posts in the Photo Gallery, or a few pages back in the list of topics created such as older topics like

Featuring the 300L and 2x extender
I've recently been posting work with both the 2x a... (show quote)


Thank you. I will check some of the work.

I looked at DXO Mark and compared the two. I noticed that the newer lens likes full frame cameras more.
The difference between the two when shooting with the 7D MKII is minimal. When I switch to comparing with even the EOS 6D, the Ver. II skyrockets.

I am presuming, as I haven't checked yet, that you shoot with a FF camera.

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May 8, 2019 06:43:09   #
Donkas1946 Loc: Southern NH
 
I currently have ver 1 of both the canon 300 2.8 is and the 500 f4 lenses and have used both the ver iii 2x and 1.4. As I said both are ver iii. I was closed to purchasing the new 300 2.8 ii because of the weight difference but chose to buy a used, new condition, copy of both for less than the cost of the new 300 2.8 ii. Using the 1.4iii on both show very little if any distortion and the 2xiii very little, nothing that can’t be fixed in photo shop in about 5 mins. Personally i think I got a better bang for my buck. But yes the new 300 2.8 ii is great I did try it but I don’t think laying out my cash for one lens versus my aforementioned was a good choice. The image quality between my copy of the ver 1 vs 2 was not worth it. Just my opinion. I should also add that I use the aforentionednset ups on the 7d mkii.

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May 8, 2019 06:51:54   #
ggab Loc: ?
 
Donkas1946 wrote:
I currently have ver 1 of both the canon 300 2.8 is and the 500 f4 lenses and have used both the ver iii 2x and 1.4. As I said both are ver iii. I was closed to purchasing the new 300 2.8 ii because of the weight difference but chose to buy a used, new condition, copy of both for less than the cost of the new 300 2.8 ii. Using the 1.4iii on both show very little if any distortion and the 2xiii very little, nothing that can’t be fixed in photo shop in about 5 mins. Personally i think I got a better bang for my buck. But yes the new 300 2.8 ii is great I did try it but I don’t think laying out my cash for one lens versus my aforementioned was a good choice. The image quality between my copy of the ver 1 vs 2 was not worth it. Just my opinion. I should also add that I use the aforentionednset ups on the 7d mkii.
I currently have ver 1 of both the canon 300 2.8 i... (show quote)


Thank you for your experience, It pretty much confirms the DXO Mark tests on the 7D MKII
George

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May 8, 2019 06:59:31   #
Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England
 
ggab wrote:
I am looking at one of the fast 300mm Canon L Lens. My wallet will not allow me to buy a new lens :(.

My question is, is the ver II worth the prox $1600.00 premium over the ver. I?
I would like responses from those that have used both.
I am not a professional and would shoot with an EOS 7D MKII, typically with a Canon extender 1.4III and 2.0III. Some hand held, some tripod/gimbal mounted. Sports, Birding etc.
I have a 100-400 IS L USM II and a Tamron 150-600 Gen2 as well as a 300mm f/4 IS and 400mm f/5.6.
I would probably sell the 300 f/4 and 400 f/5.6.

Thanks
George
I am looking at one of the fast 300mm Canon L Lens... (show quote)


I once owned a secondhand Canon 300mm f2.8L IS and, coincidentally, used it on a 7D mark II with a Canon 2 x TCIII and can honestly state that it was a tremendous lens. In fact, the combination was brilliant - even with the 2 x TC. I have to say that I doubt the mark II is worth the extra $1600, tempting though it is. But, as far as I am aware, it has does have better IS and is a little lighter. I also owned a Canon 100 - 400mm f4.5 - 5.6 mark II and had that on my 70D. I was never a fan of my Canon 400mm f5.6, probably because it wasn't stabilised, and sold it after a few months. If I owned the kit you currently have, I would sell the lot and buy one (or two) secondhand Nikon D500 bodies, a Nikkor 500mm f5.6 PF ED VR + Nikkor TC14EIII and a secondhand Tamron 150 - 600mm G2 (alternatively a secondhand Nikkor 200 - 500mm f5.6). I used to own a D500, Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR + TC14EIII and a Nikkor 200 - 500mm f5.6. As a system, it blew my old Canon kit out of the water (with the exception of the Canon 300mm f2.8L IS). I now own a Sony A9/A7III system and will not be going back to Canon or Nikon. Good luck, I doubt you will be disappointed with either of the Canon 300mm f2.8 lenses.

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