Canon EF 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO

Ive asked about this lens before, but most replies gave me a resounding NO NO leave it alone, but now my bad back is telling me, if i want to keep following my first love Wildlife, its this lens or change tack, i hate portrait/sport/and indoor photography, Urban is a maybe im just not sure which way to go, do i get the Canon EF 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO, or buy something else or just get by with my 18-200 any ideas please thank you...Ray

Why not get the 70-300mm L? It's not to heavy considering the build quality, it has excellent image quality and IS, and it's just a few dollars more than the DO.

happyduck wrote in post #16489862
Ive asked about this lens before, but most replies gave me a resounding NO NO leave it alone, but now my bad back is telling me, if i want to keep following my first love Wildlife, its this lens or change tack, i hate portrait/sport/and indoor photography, Urban is a maybe im just not sure which way to go, do i get the Canon EF 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO, or buy something else or just get by with my 18-200 any ideas please thank you...Ray

rent it.

My uncle gave me his copy after he moved to a 400 5.6. I haven't used it a ton, because I'm always shooting shorter FL.

I think people on here will post charts and parrot things they've read about it and they probably have no experience with it. This has to be one of the least used lenses on the forums I'd imagine.

I'd say it's kind of a specialized lens, and it sounds like it's for someone like you. It's light and small. and if you can't lug around a big lens, it might be a winner. it isn't winning awards for sharpness, which is what people will bring up.

if you need a lightweight zoom with good reach and IS it's a contender.

again, just rent it and see what you think.

the DO isn't a light lens in that range, it's a heavier lens than many:

70-300DO- 25.4oz
70-300IS- 22.2oz
70-300L- 24.9(although hood, and tripod ring will make it heavier)
55-250IS- 13.8
55-250STM- 13.2
70-300VC- 27oz

so again, it's a no, no leave it alone...especially if you are buying it for weight savings...the DO seems to be a good lens if you want a short, heavy, expensive lens...

if i were in your shoes, and concerned with weight, i'd get the 55-250STM version...here's a comparison of it to the DO
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=4​&APIComp=1

Based on DreDaze's data, the 55-250STM is the clear winner in the weight department - slightly more than one-half the weight of the other contenders including the 70-300DO and 70-300L. And, if you accept the dpreview results, its optical quality is better than all of the Canon contenders except possibly,the 70-300L. And it even rivals the 70-300L on crop-sensor cameras.

Get the 55-250STM and save your back.