Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM?
Discussion
I'm in a real quandary as to whether or not I should buy this lens. Having read quite a few reviews there appear to be an equal amount of people who are distinctly unimpressed with it as those who rave about it.
What attracts me to this lens is its relative light weight and compact size which will be especially 'useful' when I go traveling. My concerns being its supposed lack of sharpness, slow aperture and high price (£1049.99 at Jessops).
It's available for £769 at 7dayshop but I'm concerned about their delivery times (I'm leaving in less than 2 weeks) and the fact that the lens is likely to have been imported (not a huge issue).
So, to stop my waffling, is it worth £769?
If not, is there another lens which you would recommend (must be too big/heavy)?
What attracts me to this lens is its relative light weight and compact size which will be especially 'useful' when I go traveling. My concerns being its supposed lack of sharpness, slow aperture and high price (£1049.99 at Jessops).
It's available for £769 at 7dayshop but I'm concerned about their delivery times (I'm leaving in less than 2 weeks) and the fact that the lens is likely to have been imported (not a huge issue).
So, to stop my waffling, is it worth £769?
If not, is there another lens which you would recommend (must be too big/heavy)?
Andy M said:
I'm in a real quandary as to whether or not I should buy this lens. Having read quite a few reviews there appear to be an equal amount of people who are distinctly unimpressed with it as those who rave about it.
What attracts me to this lens is its relative light weight and compact size which will be especially 'useful' when I go traveling. My concerns being its supposed lack of sharpness, slow aperture and high price (£1049.99 at Jessops).
It's available for £769 at 7dayshop but I'm concerned about their delivery times (I'm leaving in less than 2 weeks) and the fact that the lens is likely to have been imported (not a huge issue).
So, to stop my waffling, is it worth £769?
If not, is there another lens which you would recommend (must be too big/heavy)?
I'm in exactly the same quandry! I was all set to get the DO, but as you say, some of the reviews give it a bit of a slating. I'm currently erring towards the 100-400L that everyone on Pheads seeems to have
stuh said:
I'm in exactly the same quandry! I was all set to get the DO, but as you say, some of the reviews give it a bit of a slating. I'm currently erring towards the 100-400L that everyone on Pheads seeems to have
I'd love to go for the 100-400L but it's supposedly an absolute monster - big and heavy, which isn't good when you're trying to keep both weight and bulk to a minimum
I am fortunate enough to own both the 70-300 and the 100-400.
To be honest, the 100-400 only comes out for 'special occasions', whereas the 70-300 goes everywhere with me. I got the 70-300 because it is a much more viable genral and travel lens, I was leaving the 100-400 at home too much.
It is 'L' glass, it's just not classed as an L as it is not 'ruggedised', though to be honest the thing feels incredibly solid and well built.
I have had no problems with sharpness, and have really only encountered 'flare' in some extreme situations in which I would expect any lens to have problems.
The IS is 3rd generation (as opposed to 2nd on the 100-400) and is superb, and it focuses in a heartbeat, I have had some really good shots of flying birds with this lens using AI Servo.
I am off on hols too on Saturday, and I know I will definitely take the 70-300 with me, will maybe take 100-400 but unless I have a specific reason it will stay in the hotel room.
The 70-300 is incredibly unobtrusive and 'subtle' compared to the 100-400. I find the 100-400 attracts attention which can be welcome or unwelcome depending on the situation - I lent my 20D with the 100-400 to rex on Sat to take pictures of his son playing football and he got asked several times if he was an official photographer and could they buy some pics of their son! On the flip side, people tend to get out of your way and let you take pictures at public events when you have a big white lens. I however prefer to not be noticed most of the time when taking pictures.
Try the 70-300, and if it doesn't have the reach, then sell it on eBay for more than £769 (not difficult, people always pay over the odds on there) and get the 100-400 instead, though I doubt you will.
I promise you the 70-300 will not disappoint.
To be honest, the 100-400 only comes out for 'special occasions', whereas the 70-300 goes everywhere with me. I got the 70-300 because it is a much more viable genral and travel lens, I was leaving the 100-400 at home too much.
It is 'L' glass, it's just not classed as an L as it is not 'ruggedised', though to be honest the thing feels incredibly solid and well built.
I have had no problems with sharpness, and have really only encountered 'flare' in some extreme situations in which I would expect any lens to have problems.
The IS is 3rd generation (as opposed to 2nd on the 100-400) and is superb, and it focuses in a heartbeat, I have had some really good shots of flying birds with this lens using AI Servo.
I am off on hols too on Saturday, and I know I will definitely take the 70-300 with me, will maybe take 100-400 but unless I have a specific reason it will stay in the hotel room.
The 70-300 is incredibly unobtrusive and 'subtle' compared to the 100-400. I find the 100-400 attracts attention which can be welcome or unwelcome depending on the situation - I lent my 20D with the 100-400 to rex on Sat to take pictures of his son playing football and he got asked several times if he was an official photographer and could they buy some pics of their son! On the flip side, people tend to get out of your way and let you take pictures at public events when you have a big white lens. I however prefer to not be noticed most of the time when taking pictures.
Try the 70-300, and if it doesn't have the reach, then sell it on eBay for more than £769 (not difficult, people always pay over the odds on there) and get the 100-400 instead, though I doubt you will.
I promise you the 70-300 will not disappoint.
V6GTO said:
Andy,
They are about 8 1/4" X 4 1/2" when the hood is turned around and protects the lens...
...which is pretty good on a lens with this magnification and opens up to this...
...although this has 3 extention tubes on it as well.
Martin.
Martin,
Thanks for the pic's - they've confirmed to me that the 400 isn't the right lens for me right now (perhaps in the future
...). Loos great though!
Andy M said:
Hi Bee Jay,
Thanks for your reply - do you mind me asking how much you paid for the 300 and where you bought it from?
Thanks!
Andy.
I bought it from B&H in New York when I was on business there for $1200 which worked out at about £650, so the price you have is damn good!
Canon Lens warranties are global, body warranties are regional...
Bee_Jay said:
I bought it from B&H in New York when I was on business there for $1200 which worked out at about £650, so the price you have is damn good!
Canon Lens warranties are global, body warranties are regional...
Cool
Think I'll be ordering from 7dayshop in the morning
Just incase something goes wrong, does anybody have a telephone number for 7dayshop? Worryingly they don't post a number on their site...
Andy M said:
stuh said:
70-300 DO arrived this morning.
Have taken some cracking pics of anything far away i could find
Amazingly compact for a 300mm, although reassuringly heavy!
Where and when did you order?
Plus, stop the faffing - post a few pic's!!
Park cameras, yesterday about lunchtime. I've ordered 4 lenses from them in the last week, plus a 580EX, and they've all arrived next day!
I'll post up some pics in the morning
>> Edited by stuh on Thursday 3rd February 23:39
stuh said:
Park cameras, yesterday about lunchtime. I've ordered 4 lenses from them in the last week, plus a 580EX, and they've all arrived next day!
I'll post up some pics in the morning
>> Edited by stuh on Thursday 3rd February 23:39
Cool
Do you mind me asking what you paid?
I'm currently trying to choose which wide angle lens to go for - I have a good price on a Sigma 12-24 EX DG HSM but can't decide whether or not to push the button just yet
Andy M said:
Park cameras, yesterday about lunchtime. I've ordered 4 lenses from them in the last week, plus a 580EX, and they've all arrived next day!
I'll post up some pics in the morning
>> Edited by stuh on Thursday 3rd February 23:39
Cool
Do you mind me asking what you paid?
I'm currently trying to choose which wide angle lens to go for - I have a good price on a Sigma 12-24 EX DG HSM but can't decide whether or not to push the button just yet
£849 - I've seen it cheaper at 7dayshop, but i tried ordering another lense from them last week and it didn't go very smoothly. Happy to pay a few quid for prompt and helpful service
Well the 12-24 looks excellent on V6GTO's "benchmark" Noble pic
luca brazzi said:
I've ordered 4 lenses from them in the last week, plus a 580EX, and they've all arrived next day!
Tell us what you bought then.
I know! I just can't stop myself. Once I took the first pics with the 28-135, as opposed to the 18-55 and saw how good the quality was, it all went horribly wrong.
Plus of course all the good folks on here showing off their amazing pics! So my photograpic "habit" has gone something like this:
2 weeks ago buy 20D with 18-55 kit and 512MB CF
1 week ago get 28-135 IS on reccomendation from PHeaders, 2GB CF card and Lowepro camera bag.
Few days ago 10-22 EFS
Yesterday 70-300 DO and 50mm F1.4
If the other half finds out i'm a dead man
That just leaves a few polarising filters, a tripod, oh and maybe a 100-400L for next week
stuh said:
stuh said:
I've ordered 4 lenses from them in the last week, plus a 580EX, and they've all arrived next day!
Tell us what you bought then.
I know! I just can't stop myself. Once I took the first pics with the 28-135, as opposed to the 18-55 and saw how good the quality was, it all went horribly wrong.
So my photograpic "habit" has gone something like this:
2 weeks ago buy 20D with 18-55 kit and 512MB CF
1 week ago get 28-135 IS on reccomendation from PHeaders, 2GB CF card and Lowepro camera bag.
Few days ago 10-22 EFS
Yesterday 70-300 DO and 50mm F1.4
If the other half finds out i'm a dead man
That just leaves a few polarising filters, a tripod, oh and maybe a 100-400L for next week
I'd be interested in your experiences with the 10-22, it's on my "trying to stop myself ordering it" list
stuh said:
I know! I just can't stop myself. Once I took the first pics with the 28-135, as opposed to the 18-55 and saw how good the quality was, it all went horribly wrong.
So my photograpic "habit" has gone something like this:
2 weeks ago buy 20D with 18-55 kit and 512MB CF
1 week ago get 28-135 IS on reccomendation from PHeaders, 2GB CF card and Lowepro camera bag.
Few days ago 10-22 EFS
Yesterday 70-300 DO and 50mm F1.4
If the other half finds out i'm a dead man
That just leaves a few polarising filters, a tripod, oh and maybe a 100-400L for next week
I bet your bank manager loves you!
So anyway, forget all that - where are the pic's?!!
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