Canon 300mm f2.8?

[fslshooter]

Does anyone know if the Canon telephoto EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM autofocus lens will achieve tack sharp focus at distances up to 120 feet or so when shooting wide open?

[gmen]

In my latest thread in the sports section - http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=64107 - all the images are shot on a 300mm f/2.8L.

The first 8 pics are with 1.4x extender (1, 5, 6 & 8 ) and the 2x extender (2, 3, 4 & 7) at f/4.0 and f/5.6 respectively (i.e. wide open) and the last shot is at f/2.8 on the plain 300mm.

All the images are shot at 1/1000s, just the ISO varies. I've applied a little unsharp mask (300%, 0.1, 0) and added a little contrast for the web.

I simply don't stop my 300mm down when I'm shooting football. It's stonkingly good.

Hope that helps a little.

[ssim]

This is one of the sharpest lenses that I have ever had. I cannot categorically say about the sharpness at 2.8 at 120 feet but everything that I have shot with this lens has been spectacular. In many cases I don't even have to apply sharpening to the images before taking them to the web. It works equally well with the 1.4TC and is still very good with the 2.0TC.

[KennyG]

Quite simply, this is the best lens Canon make, no argument, no discussion. If you can't get a sharp image wide open with the 300 2.8IS, then you won't get it with anything.

Of course, everything depends on your technique. Hardware can only go so far and won't make up for a poor photographer.

[dirty]

my only complaint when I rented it - I wish I had a 2nd camera with a small lens on it...
Such a nice lens to work with but wow, you'll be lucky to get just their ear in a shot closer than 10ft ;)

[fslshooter]

Thanks guys -- that's exactly the information I hoped for.

[Anders Östberg]

Jumping in a bit late, but just had to say this is the best lens I've tried. You don't stop down for sharpness with this one, only for depth of field control. It also has creamy smooth bokeh, very pleasant background blur.