Product reviewsCanon EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 IS USM Lens

A little cumbersome but a great lens

I bought this lens after a recommendation for a relative who is a keen photographer and have used it regularly since purchase. It is a great lens and does what it says on the tin. The image stabiliser has 2 settings, one for still and one for motion shots and you can either allow the camera to automatically focus or focus yourself to improve the versatility of your shots.

The only downside to the lens is that it adds weight to the camera bag and it can be a bit cumbersome to change until you get used to it. You will need to hold the lens to ensure you can line up the shot but probably that goes without saying to experienced photographers (I'm a novice so it took me a while!) Apart from that I've been really, really pleased with the images.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: lizamira

Canon 70-300 IS USM

The lens is very noisy while focus with IS, you can hear long whirring. The photos taken at 300mm are soft and lacking sharpeness. It's ok at 100mm. It's ok for the price, as always you get what you pay for. It's a good lens for someone who takes low resolution picturee.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: cameracentreuk

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens review

Very well made, far superior in quality to kit lens, trade off is weight, noticable if carrying around your neck when out & about all day especially with a battery pack.
Was very happy with the quality of pictures taken as an amateur snap shot photographer who has no interest in chromatic abberation & other such technical jargon. only negative comments relate to focal distance which made taking full zoom photos of birds heads needing considerable cropping to get a decent sized image. I have subsequently sold & re ordered a sigma 120-400mm which has not arrived yet. I am hoping the extra focal length will help me attain the results I desire although this is still to be proven.Read full review...

Good lens but just a little heavy and clumsy for its length and aperture.

I bought this lens to replace my 100-300mm USM. It is much larger and heavier than my old lens but has the advantage of image stabilisation. It works well in every way and has the added features of IS type 2 which allows stabilisation whilst panning moving subjects (not tried this feature yet) and a lock which stops the zoom barrel extending through gravity when tilting the lens down (something which could be a little annoying on my previous telezoom). The focus ring has moved from the rear to the front on this model which I found a little inconvenient at first but I don't often focus manually so I'm sure I will get the hang of it in time.
Its extra size and weight does make it feel a little clumsy which is why I've only given it 4 stars but otherwise I am very pleased with its performance.Read full review...

Close to L quality but at only one third of the price

This is a really good lens and for those who can't afford, don't quite need or aren't willing to invest in an L series lens shouldn't find themselves disappointed with this one.

The build quality is pretty decent and there is a lock to keep the focal length at 70mm to prevent the barrel from opening and risking damage.

The USM focusing is much quicker and quieter than the traditional DC motor and the AF can be temperamental in low light but there aren't any complaints in moderate to bright light. With the widest aperture dropping from f/4 @ 70mm to f/5.6 @ 300mm, the low light performance is much less than inspiring when fully zoomed in but that issue is prevalent with most if not all similar lenses at this price. However this lens can take wonderfully detailed shots of the Moon without much need for post processing since such shots can be taken at a much smaller aperture.

In general, images shot with this lens are surprisingly sharp, even when fully zoomed in at 300mm, though you do occasionally get a bit of colour fringing with high contrast images but it's nothing that can't be removed with some post processing. The bokeh is smooth and quite round too. The front element does rotate as you're focusing so it's not very practical to use a CPL unless you're happy to keep adjusting it every time the front rotates.

The IS has two modes, both of which work quite well. Mode 1 is for hand-held shots of an object in a fixed position where the IS compensates both vertically and laterally and Mode 2 just compensates vertically i.e. this mode is best suited for panning shots.

One observation to make is that if you're accustomed to kit lenses or the lower end of Canon's range of lenses, you may find the weight of this lens a bit overwhelming at first on a crop-sensor body save the 7D but you'll forget about the weight quite quickly and of course if you use a tripod regularly, this observation is barely important.

One missing feature that may disappoint, especially at this price, is the absence of a focal distance window.

Given that this lens can cost nearly three times as much as its non stabilised 75-300mm USM predecessor, you may question if the premium is worth it. There's more than just a slightly wider field of view and IS - the 70-300mm has one more aperture blade so the bokeh can be smoother than that of its predecessor; it also feels more solid and resilient and it's far less prone to light flares entering than the 75-300mm so if any of those upgrades address serious reservations you have about the 75-300mm, the premium could be worth it. The IS also allows you to be a lot less patient when taking your shots with the 70-300mm.

To sum this lens up, it offers a lot of bang for your buck with its most noteworthy weakness being its less than great low level light performance, especially when zoomed it at 135mm or higher.

I feel the lens offers a good trade off between build + image quality + features and pricing. At a third of the price of the L equivalent, it offers very good value and will satisfy all but the most demanding photographers.

I'd give it 5/5 but not 10/10 - more like 9/10.Read full review...

Canon EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 IS USM Zoom Lens in Mint Condition (£185)

Is it durable? Yes, as durable as any long lens can be. 90% of my photographic equipment is made by Canon and nothing has fallen apart but that's because I take care of it. All of my cameras and lenses are properly bagged just in case. I keep this lens attached to one of my 30Ds (a pair) ready to take the quick photo. I have a wide-angle zoom attached to the other 30D. Image sharp? Yes, except at the edges but this is to be expected with zoom lenses. Who would be interested in this part of an image anyway? Good value? Yes, as a secondhand purchase in mint condition with everything working I can honestly say I am pleased with my purchase. Buying secondhand is always risky so you must do a little research to determine what might go wrong.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: sirdavidbike

Excellent lens easy to use with superb results.

I got this to take some wildlife and astro pictures.

It does work beautifully with the camera, it may take a second or so to focus correctly but once done you can zoom in and out without disturbing the focus.

For most purposes the image stabiliser is excellent and you won't need a tripod but the camera is quite heavy with it mounted so for more than a few minutes' use you will be glad of one.

I think the extra price for the automatic features in particular the image stabiliser makes this worth the price.

I wish it came with a case though (my only gripe!).Read full review...

95% of the performance for 50% of the price

It was a toss up whether I bought this or the lovely L series equivalent.
I chose this firstly because it is so much lighter and secondly, it's a lot cheaper.

I had a chance to try both lenses out side by side and I have no doubt that I got the right one.

This is light and easily held and the Image Stabilisation is superb. A half press on the shutter release button and the image in the viewfinder stays rock steady.

I will be taking this on safari and the ease of handling was a big factor in my choice. If I had the luxury of setting up a tripod for each shot I may have taken the L lens but instead I saved hundreds of pounds and got a lens more suited to the use I shall be putting it to.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: baffztronics

Good alternative to a L lens. Beautiful optics.

Surprising this is a top cloass lens. Normally using only L lenses and loving my 70-210 f2.8 L lens this came quite as a surprise. I want the extra length and this lens delivers beautifully sharp images with very little aberation and a delicious bokeh. The IS works really well and this is really needed as it is only f4.0 at best.
Lovely lens and well recommended for anyone wanting a wide range zoom with a long top end. Of course if used with an APS sensor camera this could be as long as 480mm.Read full review...

Great lens for on the move wildlife photography, very good value for money.

I had been using a Canon EF 70-300mm non Image Stabilised lens for bird photography, which produced good results. However, cropping showed slight out of focus images.
Upgrading to the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM Lens improved image quality no end. As soon as the shutter button is pressed half way any image camera movement is immediately negated, the focusing is really fast, and the resulting images very sharp.

The lens can also be locked for transit purposes, the stabilisation can be switched off and the stabilisation can be switched for static or moving subjects.

It is relatively compact, especially at the 70mm end, fairly light, so good if carried for extended periods of time. Combined with reasonable cost is a great lens for sport and wildlife.

It can be bettered by the L series Canon lens but at around 4 times the price and a much bulkier lens. However many start with this lens and upgrade to the L series bringing many good bargains to the market.Read full review...

Best macro lens going

Having had this lens before i soon found out i had made a mistake by selling it as i missed getting those really close up shots of dragonflies and insects, i bought the Canon 100mm macro but with no stablisation but di not like it very much so i sold that on and with the money i bought the Canon EF 70-300 lens with macro capability, no i will not sell this lens. This has to be one of the iconic Canon lenses still in use today.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: socameras