Canon 300 F2.8 IS

[seandudding]

I have read in many places that this is one of Canons best lenses. It ha s the fastest auto focus ever when mated to the high end bodies.

Does anyone here own one, and is it that good??

I am very tempted to get one for wildlife.

[Andy M]

I can't believe it's faster than Canon's 135mm f2, but then again, I've never used the 300

[ehasler]

I've got one, and it's big, white and heavy!

I've not really compared it to any other lenses, but it is very nice to use, and gives great, sharp results even when mated to the 2x TC.

AF is quick - I've never timed it, so don't know if it's the quickest, but I've never had any complaints.

[seandudding]

ehasler

Yes I like the idea when I mate it to my 2x TC I have a 600mm F5.6 which will still AF.

[ehasler]

seandudding said:

ehasler

Yes I like the idea when I mate it to my 2x TC I have a 600mm F5.6 which will still AF.

Yep - it's one of the main reasons I bought the lens - a lot cheaper than buying a 500 or 600 lens!

You can't really tell much from a compressed image on the net, but here's a gratuitous car photo that was taken with the 300mm + 2x TC

[seandudding]

ehasler

You odviously use this lens for comercial purposes. Do you think it is justifiable to have sucha lens just for a hobby photographer??

[ehasler]

I am just a hobby photographer

Can I justify it? Not really!

[seandudding]

This is one of my two expensive hobies, track days been the other.

I know buying the sigma is the sensible thing. But I like white lenses :-) and the IS.

[ehasler]

The IS is really handy - especially so when your arms start shaking when the weight gets to you...

The Canon lenses hold their value pretty well too, so I figured that if I ever wanted to sell it, I wouldn't actually lose too much money.

And having been shooting in the sun at Le Mans 2 years ago, when it was high 30's, the white paint really helps. My camera body (and mine!) was almost too hot to touch, but the lens was much cooler.

[Ian_H]

I've got one and I have to say it is a fantastic lens either by itself or with a convertor on and is probably my most used lens on the front of a 1DMKII. Here are a couple of web sized exmaples






one with the 1.4 convertor on



and another

[graham@edinburgh]

I'm sorely tempted to flog my 400 and get one of these and a couple of TCs. The 400 is only 5.6 anyway, plus doesn't have IS.

[seandudding]

Does anyone know the cheapest place to get one of these. Kerso is quoting £2500

[Gemm]

Just go for 400 f2.8.

Edited by Gemm on Friday 9th February 14:29

[gfwilliams]

can you get these for nikons? I've got a F4 70-300, would you recomend using one, or will it slow it down too much?

GFWilliams

[poah]

nikon have a 200-400 VR F4, 200 f2 VR but are on the wrong side of 4k lol

[monkeyhanger]

seandudding said:

Does anyone know the cheapest place to get one of these. Kerso is quoting £2500

DigitalRev have it for around £2400 but you might have to pay VAT & Import Duty...but they'll refund that.

I love my 120-300 but i'd have the Canon without a second thought if i wasn't saving for a 1DMK2 (or 3 if it ever appears)

Edited by monkeyhanger on Friday 9th February 16:53

[graham@edinburgh]

Gemm said:

Just go for 400 f2.8.

Behave - that's a deposit on a house

[rhubarb]

I'm looking at the Sigma 120-300 f2.8 at the moment. It's not white, but by all accounts it's almost as good as the canon 300 f2.8 - apparently 95% of it - and gives you the flexibility of a zoom as well. It's also a good deal cheaper as well.

Anyone use one of these, is it really as good as the reviews make out?

[V6GTO]

Will you be happy with only 95% detail and clarity?

Martin.

[seandudding]

The things that put me of the Sigma is:-

Aparently the Autofocus need some practise to master, plus the 300mm is a little optomistic, most people claim it's 270mm.