70-300 DO IS USM - WORTH THE CASH?

[New Shooter]

I've been offered a decent discount on the new Canon "DO" lens. It looks good, feels good, the websites seem pretty positive, etc and I need to go longer than the 28-135 I currently use as my default lens (which has been a dream to use). I've been offered the lens at #900 quid - whats that, $1600 US...

What do you think? I am not interested in the L's that top at 200 which are popular here...and probably cost as much if not more, but does anyone regualrly use a lens on a digital (with the multiple and all that) at up to 300?

If so, do you think this lens is worth the dosh?

JD

[samdring]

I presume cos you used the word quid that you are in uk but the hash confuses me.

If you are in uk, it can be found cheaper at retail than £900 - got mine for £870 at Jessops but did not keep it long - very clear I had a poor copy.

[Jesper]

I have it and I like it, the optical quality is quite good, much better than the (much cheaper) 75-300 but probably not as good as a 70-200 L.
For a non-L lens, it's expensive.

I got it mainly because I wanted a high-quality telezoom lens but not a big, heavy, white and conspicuous L lens. I bought it as B&H in the USA for US$ 1,299.

[New Shooter]

Team

Is nine hundred pounds excessive for very crisp/sharp quality in an inconspicious styling? Lots of people here seem to like walking around with one of those big white lenses...but I thought subtlety had a certain price? Is this lens worth the money or should I put it towards the new XL2 fund (about 7 times the telephtoto lens price)?...

JD

[ingenus]

samdring,
how did you get it at that price from Jessops????? Current web price is £1050! Park have it at £899 - very competitive as usual.
Iain

[Merc]

I've had mine for a couple of weeks, very pleased so far. IS is really worth while.

Jessops will price match - just take a copy of any current photo magazine with the cheapest prices you can find.

[Aylwin]

I've been itching to get one since it came out. I finally took the plunge a few days ago. I traded in both my 75-300 IS and my 28-135 IS (plus cash) for it. While I like the 28-135 IS, it just doesn't get much use anymore since I got the 17-40L.

Together with my 50 f/1.4, I feel that I now have the ideal 17-300mm compact system. This is important for me because we travel around with small kids. That means Daddy's "toys" need to be as light and take up as little space as possible. I think the 70-300 DO IS is going to be my main walk-around snapshot lens from now on. :)

By the way, below are the first shots I took with the lens (view from my balcony). No post processing done except for slight cropping and size reduction.

http://www.cal-family.org/download/CRW_5618.jpg

http://www.cal-family.org/download/CRW_5623.jpg

http://www.cal-family.org/download/CRW_5624.jpg

[mapollo]

Jessops will price match - just take a copy of any current photo magazine with the cheapest prices you can find.

Yes it's true :D I picked up my 300d from Jessops this week for which they matched the price from Cameras2u. I just had to take in a printed copy of the web page and they had to call C2u to check wether the 300d was in stock there.

David.....

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have this lens and the 100-400 IS

Were I to choose just one.. I'd get the 100-400mm,.. but I do love the 70-300mm DO for a more compact, less objectionable alternative. I use it on the 10D and it makes for a very compact light alternative to a big camera with the 100-400mm.

A simple stroll through the park attracts no unwanted attention.

[samdring]

samdring,
how did you get it at that price from Jessops????? Current web price is £1050! Park have it at £899 - very competitive as usual.
Iain

Iain
Others have already beat me in reply - they are right - trawl through UK mags get cheapest, take mag to Jessops and they phone their HQ for price match clearance. Never had refusal (17-40, 51.4 mmf thingy, 100-400, 28-135)
I get all my 'stuff' from Jessops and do it all on price match cos I like the local chap, its easier should I need to return for repair and I dont like paying too much!

[jonnyhorizon]

i am debating on what to replace m70-300 old IS with something better
the image quality seems poor at the long end
my need is for wildlife and they are always far away
the 100-400L is somewhat large for hiking but it is top on my list because of the IS and extra length
the 70-300 DO looks good for its size but would like to get longer
can you use a tele-extender (1.4 or 2.0) on the DO?
...

[Belmondo]

can you use a tele-extender (1.4 or 2.0) on the DO?
...

No. Someone else asked this question a while back, so I checked (I have both pieces), and they will not work together. The rear element extends beyond the mounting ring.

Sorry. A small 98-420 zoom would really be useful. Too bad.....that would've been a good combination. The 100-400L provides a nearly ideal focal range for me and it works really well, but it is kinda' big for just carrying around.

[Jesper]

can you use a tele-extender (1.4 or 2.0) on the DO?
...

No. Someone else asked this question a while back, so I checked (I have both pieces), and they will not work together. The rear element extends beyond the mounting ring.

Well, not the Canon EF 1.4x or 2x tele-extenders anyway. There might be extenders of other brands that do work (although I don't know which one, I don't have them).

[ron chappel]

Yes,there could well be another brand that fits.

I've heard several times how sigma,tamron,etc TC's have different shaped elements and tend to fit more model lenses

[Cadwell]

Yes,there could well be another brand that fits.

I've heard several times how sigma,tamron,etc TC's have different shaped elements and tend to fit more model lenses

The Sigma EX TCs have the same physical design as the Canons. They will only fit lenses which have recessed rear elements.

[Radtech1]

can you use a tele-extender (1.4 or 2.0) on the DO?
...

No. Someone else asked this question a while back, so I checked (I have both pieces), and they will not work together. The rear element extends beyond the mounting ring.

Sorry. A small 98-420 zoom would really be useful. Too bad.....that would've been a good combination. The 100-400L provides a nearly ideal focal range for me and it works really well, but it is kinda' big for just carrying around.

BUT...According to the instruction book that came with my DO it WILL take the Extension Tubes, with full electronic coupling between the camera body and lens.

Hope that helpss.

Rad

[jonnyhorizon]

that does help
seems i must be careful to match the right extender
i will try to find one at the local shop that we can test
let me know if there is anyone that actually has one working
appreciate it
...

[Mark Kemp]

I have an old 2x from a company called Teleplus. Bought it from Jessops a few years ago, don't know if you can still get them. They seem to make TCs to fit most makes including Canon. Relatively cheap, I think mine was about £50.

I am pretty sure it will fit with any lens as the elements in the TC are all within the body. No sticky out bits like the Canon TC. It certainly fits on all my lenses, standard and L.

Like a lot of 3rd party stuff its cheap but not top quality. Not nearly as good as a Canon TC, but then you get what you pay for and if it is the only one that fits then it's the best you can do!

Anyway have a look around maybe Teleplus are still in business.

Seems there are some on e-bay http://search.ebay.com/canon-teleconverter_W0QQsokeywordredirectZ1QQsonewuserZ1

[CyberDyneSystems]

that does help
seems i must be careful to match the right extender
i will try to find one at the local shop that we can test
let me know if there is anyone that actually has one working
appreciate it
...

Johnny,

I just want to be sure you understand the difference between "Tele-Converters" and "Extension tubes"

The 1st (T-cons) increase the focal length (in mm) the latter.. the extension tubes do not effect focal lenght and only allow you to focus on objects closer to the camera.

As for T-cons that MAY work... the Sigmas do NOT.. but I would think that the Kenko T-cons would be a good bet. I wish there were a store nearby that I could try some out.

[jonnyhorizon]

yes t-cons are what i am after
mikes camera in denver had a DO on the shelf that i may be able to test a t-con with
that means if it works i would hate to them turn arounfd and buy it on-line
i would also like to get my hands on the 100-400 to see how big it really is
...j

[Mark Kemp]

If it is any help, I have a Lowepro Rover light, which is half camera bag, half daypack. I can just fit the 100-400 in the camera compartment and carry the full pack all day. So it isn't out of the question for outdoor photography.

[jonnyhorizon]

i have a lowe pro nature treker that will take the lens
the dilema is - most of the better wildlife shots i have are because i had the tele lens around my neck as i walked
if i had to stop and take off my pack the animal would be gone
the exception is what i see from my vehicle
thanks...
ps: it seems i need three camera bodies around my neck the 100-400 my 17-40 and my 100macro
as it is i have external lens cases on my hip belt and am constantly switching lens. i try to walk with my 70-300 on because the other lens are for shots that are not as hurried
i missed a wonderful Badger shot last week in the canadian rockies because i was walking with my 17-40 on
even with the long lens on my hip belt i missed him by the time i switched
...

[Mark Kemp]

Yep - its a rule of photgraphy, you always have the wrong lens on no matter what happens right in front of you. You can bet that if you had been walking with a 100-400 on the camera the badger would have been nowhere in sight, but there would have been a fantastic rainbow or something that was gone by the time you switched to the 17-40.

I wouldn't reccomend walking with the 100-400 on the camera. It will hang around your neck for a few minutes at a time, but it is too big and heavy for more than a few minutes. I sometimes walk about with it, but I usually hold the lens barrel rather than relying on the camera strap. Not something you want to do for more than a couple of minutes when changing position or something. I reckon if it swung about sharply you could do yourself an injury!

I think that Lowe also do a very large top loader that you could attach to the front or side of the trekker, but I would try before you buy as it is pretty large.

You could always wait for a 500 megapixel camera, then you could keep a 17-40 on all the time and just crop 8 or 10 megapixels out of the middle for a zoom shot :lol:

[eric1]

a Tamron 1.4 will work. the Tamron SP 1.4 will NOT.