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

[dicktay]

@South_paw
I have both.
IS will not help with moving objects also you are shooting at a lot smaller apertures with poorer focusing with the 70-300.

For motorsports and possible poor lighting - If 200mm is enough - Then get the 70-200 F4L (it focuses a lot faster although you may want to pre focus in dim light) or even better the 70-200 F2.8 L - It is my lens of choice (F4 L) that I own for shooting Motor Racing (track) events and drag racing if I don't need the extra 100mm (I use them with a Canon 350D (Rebel XT)

You don't say what equipment you have now.
For rallies you may be a lot closer to the forest roads so you may be able to use something shorter and faster (possibly with a flash) so even a 50mm F1.8 would be ok or possible something even faster and or longer.

Hope this helps.
Richard

[dicktay]

@South_Paw.
Even though this is for the UK you may find this thread interesting.
http://www.photography-on-the.net/fo...d.php?t=292705

[Croasdail]

I have a bunch of big L stuff so I know what a good lens is . But my favorite all around walk around lens was my 70-300 IS. No, it wasn't perfect. But as a compromise for general purpose, it fit the bill nicely. I was stupid enough to have sold the lens on ebay because I listened to too many people who told me it wasn't any good. That was my mistake. I plan on buying another again before the summers travel season starts up. It is plenty good for your 11x14 prints, and yes, the IS pays off for those late day or early morning scenic shots. I liked it. I think you will too as long as your emphasis is creating images to be printed rather then to be looked at 200% magnification on screen.

[Dunlop]

I have been mulling over selling this lens, and going for a 70-200 F4 L. I don't really need the IS(but i must admit, it does work well). Anyway, This was shot this morning.

resized for web, A little sharpening in Canon DPP. 300mm, 1/320, F6.3, ISO 200




100% crop, resized for web, sharpening in DPP

[twebster]

I bought the 70-300mm IS lens last year and used it for about 2 months. The IQ was very, very good for a consumer grade lens but the build quality is not even good compared to Canon's other consumer grade lenses. I put about 3,000 images through my copy of the 70-300mm IS lens (it was my primary dragonfly photography lens) and had to send it back to Canon to have the internal element supports replaced. I just flat wore it out in that 2 months. I have since replaced it with the 300mm f 4L lens as my primary dragonfly lens. The results from the 300mm f 4L lens are sharper and I'm not worried about wearing out this lens anytime soon. If you only use this lens for occasional use it is a fine lens yielding good IQ. If you plan on using it a lot then you are better off buying a 300mm f 4L or the 70-200mm f 4L lenses, IMHO.

[jm4ever]

Dicktay

Since you have both lenses I was wondering if you could take a few shots of a few things at 70mm wide open and some shots around 200mm to compare the two images.

Also just how good is the IS? I know that it doesn't freeze fast moving subjects but what if someone or something is walking in lower light. Would they be blurred if shooting at 1/60 of second?

The decision between these two lenses is giving me a headache.

Thanks
James

[trhoppe]

I know its twice the $$, but I settled for spending the dough and picked up a 70-200F4IS along with a 1.4tc. The tests by lightrules comparing those two combos steered me to the 70-200. The 70-200F4IS beat the 70-300 up and down, even with the 1.4tc. The F4IS seems to be considered pretty much Canon's sharpest zoom.

I figured the extra $600 for lots of sharpness and less of a loss in resale value was worth it. I figured I would lust after the red L if I go the 70-300 anyways

http://www.pbase.com/lightrules/73v72f4is

-Tom

[Mork350D]

Originally Posted by jm4ever

Dicktay



Also just how good is the IS? I know that it doesn't freeze fast moving subjects but what if someone or something is walking in lower light. Would they be blurred if shooting at 1/60 of second?


James

Hope im understanding the question right, what you have to remember is the IS will compensate for your movement but not for the subject you are shooting, you still have to have a fast enough shutter speed to stop the movement of the subject. Hope that makes sense.

[jm4ever]

Originally Posted by Mork350D

Hope I'm understanding the question right, what you have to remember is the IS will compensate for your movement but not for the subject you are shooting, you still have to have a fast enough shutter speed to stop the movement of the subject. Hope that makes sense.

Yes I guess it does. It sounds like IS will only help with stationary objects

Thankyou

[buddy4344]

I have the 70-300 IS and also the 100-400L IS. Both are great in good lighting. I like that the 70-300 is lightweight for going to kids soccer/field hockey, etc. vs. the huge 100-400 weight. The 70-300 will also autofocus in good lighting with the Kenko 1.4x whereas the 100-400 will not. I will shoot a few shots tomorrow morning (before work) at 100 and 300 wide open with each for comparison. Can't do it tonight due to schedule conflict.

[dicktay]

@ jm4ever

Here are some for the 70-300 IS.
Full size jpg straight out of the camera are on my site:

http://www.poseruniverse.net/Photogr...300_IS_Top.htm

I havn't tried it for the 70-200 F4 L yet. If the weather is ok today I can make some test shots and have them up latter this evening - It is now ~6:35 AM where I live. (Sydney Australia).

As far as IS goes I think it is great. I have two IS lenses - the 70-300 and the 17-85 IS. Here are some early tests I did with ISO 1600 and hand held at a railway station at night. Have a look at the people on the stairway pic 1/10@f11, particularly the full size original - the stairs and signs on the buildings are sharp but the people show subject movement (they are shot side on)

http://www.poseruniverse.net/Photogr...n_1600_IS.html

This was again with the 17-85: ISO 1600 1/10 @ F6.3 I don't have the focal length used readily to hand, but it would have been fairly wide angle. Here the girls are walking head on into the camera and show subject movement. This was taken in London whilst on vacation last year.
The URL for the larger pic is here:
http://www.poseruniverse.net/Holiday.../London9_L.htm



If I could afford it I would have IS on all my lenses.

I feel the 70-300 IS is a good lens and its IQ meets my needs (web posting or prints up to A4). I have had it on my camera a lot lately where I need the extra 100mm mainly for shhoting nature Birds & spiders in webs etc. I havn't had it all that long so I am still learning with it. The last 10 pics (birds) have been taken with it. All have been PP. It will be in my bag next time we go on vacation and there is the slighest chance of any wildlife etc pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3409451...7594418801428/

Will advise when 70-200 pics are up.
Hope this helps.
Richard

[jm4ever]

Dicktay

Thanks for your response. I must say you have some very nice images on those links you posted. For an ISO of 1600 they look really good.

It sure does look like the 70-300 is capable if some nice IQ. I look forward to seeing your 70-200 pics.

James

[dicktay]

It's overcast and a bit drizly here now (11:20 AM) so I'll see what happens this afternoon.

In the meanwhile all the pics here at this drag racing event were taken with the 70-200 (hand held) . It was my second outing with it.
http://richardtaylor.zenfolio.com/f190781620/

The first outing is here - A1GP -
http://richardtaylor.zenfolio.com/f486795281/

[dicktay]

@jm4ever

Here are 3 pics wide open at (F4) F=70/~135/200mm
The page is under construction and F6.3 to F32 will not be up for a couple of days. I think I need something with a lot more detail to photograph. I didn't know what "Sharp" meant 'till I took these - Even at F4.

Link to pics - Full size original jpgs are available now as well.

http://www.poseruniverse.net/Photogr...00_F4L_Top.htm

Hope this helps.
Richard

[gef]

Here are a couple:

300mm f/10 1/800 ISO 400

click image for larger view.

210 f/10 1/1000 ISO 400 (cropped to center)

click image for larger view.

I haven't bee able to get out with this lens as much as I would like since I only got it late last fall. So far I have to say it's a really good lens for the money and I love the IS!