Canon 70-300 Question: I own the Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 USM IS. It's served me well for the past 10 years. The focal length is very useful, the image quality is excellent for a...

JJS Loc: SE Michigan & SW Florida

I own the Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 USM IS. It's served me well for the past 10 years. The focal length is very useful, the image quality is excellent for a consumer grade lens, the auto focus is pretty fast, the image stabilization works well and it's easy to carry around. But it's an old design, makes a lot of noise and has always felt cheaply made. Plus it's kind of ugly. I'm considering an upgrade to the version II that came out a few years ago. Advantages would be lightening fast silent auto focus, improved IS and a modern sleek design. It can be had right now for $450 ($500 if you include the plastic lens hood with the Canon logo on it..Grrr)

My question is have any of you done the same? Do you regret it or was it worth the upgrade?

royden Loc: Decatur, GA

I'm looking at the version ll also. Canon Refurb store has it for $440 if memory serves. Comes with 1 year warranty.

royden Loc: Decatur, GA

Oops. It's $359.00.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I haven't made this change, instead going from your version to the L zoom back in the past. But, based on all the reviews of the v II, your thinking of the upgrade to the v II is a valid idea. The price for the level performance of the new lens is certainly right. (And, you need the hood.

)

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

I got version 1, has worked great for several years, and silent/ fast focusing to this day. Will be going to Alaska with me in late August.

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

I made the move a few years ago when it came out. It's an excellent lens and I've taken a few detailed landscape shots with it and the results were really good. I think it's worth the move.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

JJS wrote:

I own the Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 USM IS. It's se... (show quote)

I have it, I use it, It is the BEST lens you can buy for that money - period ! IQ is right up there with the best of ANY lens - and I do shoot 300 2.8's also. - https://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/70-300mm-is-ii.htm
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Canon 70-300IS II nano @300
Canon 70-300IS II nano @300...

(Download)

Selene03

I have an use the lens on my "kayak camera," the camera I use in my kayak and other small boats for birds and wildlife. I think it is a great lens, especially for the price right now! I find it very sharp (using it with an sl2) as I don't want to take really expensive equipment on the water. I also like that it is very light weight so I can maneuver it well at the same time I am kayaking. It is a really great lens for the price!

Photocraig

I upgraded to this lens after a theft of the original 70-300. All said is true to my experience. The focus is silent and very fast, the IS seems flawless with no visual feedback in the viewfinder which I saw infrequently with the old model.

I shot a captive Tiger, cheetahs and wolves at the Animal Ark Wildlife Rescue in Reno, NV. The shots were super sharp and the lens was quick to focus and stabilize.

Ken Rockwell's review is very telling and positive. Any lens that compares favorably with the 100-400 L at less than $500 is a winner. It is light to pack, carry and handhold. At the new low price, it is a no brainer. My lens shade is a knock off from Amazon for $8, maybe. No problems, but no Canon Logo, either. (Talk about a small cost savings that raises more bad feelings than its worth. Japanese Marketing mystifies me at times.)
C

bleirer

Will it work with the Canon 2x extender?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

bleirer wrote:

Will it work with the Canon 2x extender?

No. None of Canon's 70-300 zooms (even the L model) are designed to allow connection via any version / strength of Canon's extenders. There's not space at the end / bottom of the lens such that Canon's extenders can be physically attached. Some might identify the L version will work over a limited zoom range. So what, given the 100-400L ...

melueth Loc: Central Florida

imagemeister wrote:

I have it, I use it, It is the BEST lens you can buy for that money - period ! IQ is right up there with the best of ANY lens - and I do shoot 300 2.8's also. - https://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/70-300mm-is-ii.htm
.

Have you ever used this lens with your Sony plus adapter?

ML

Atchy Loc: Essex England

Love my L version. Discard the huge Canon lens hood and use a 67mm screw in version.

JJS Loc: SE Michigan & SW Florida

royden wrote:

I'm looking at the version ll also. Canon Refurb store has it for $440 if memory serves. Comes with 1 year warranty.

Thanks for the tip. I've always have had good luck with Canon refurbished. Can't tell them from new. I checked a while ago and it seems to me they did not have this lens in refurbished. Now that they do it may seal the deal!

JJS Loc: SE Michigan & SW Florida

CHG_CANON wrote:

I haven't made this change, instead going from your version to the L zoom back in the past. But, based on all the reviews of the v II, your thinking of the upgrade to the v II is a valid idea. The price for the level performance of the new lens is certainly right. (And, you need the hood.

)

I've considered the L version. Fantastic lens but cost and size are an issue since I want to keep this one pretty simple. I hope to make a move on the 100-400 L soon and am planning my strategy on explaining the need to my better half.