Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM, reviewed by oingyboingybob -- Lens Reviews in photography-on-the.net forums

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Apr 23, 2018 11:51 | #1

I've had this lens now for around 2 weeks and I am happy with it. It's comparatively cheap, light in weight and produces good IQ but maybe not sufficient IQ for professionals.
Lens creep is there but there is a lock feature, activated only when the lens is not extended.
Obviously much lighter and slower than the 70-200 f2.8L IS II which I sold and replaced with this as I rarely took it out on walkabout due to the weight - I may well miss the IQ and speed occasionally but if the lens ain't used then both of those attributes are irrelevant.
Auto focus is rather good, very quick and very quiet and accurate as far as I (and Reikan FoCal) can tell.
Bought new for £285 from E-infinity - the price has subsequently already dropped a little so it's a bargain IMO.

Canon EOS 1D X • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM @226mm • 1/640 • f/7.1 • ISO 800

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Canon EOS 1D X • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM @70mm • 1/2500 • f/7.1 • ISO 800

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Sony A7iii, Sony A6300
Tamron 28-75mm, Sony 200-600mm
Samyang 18mm
Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 mkii, Sigma MC-11

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duckster

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Apr 24, 2018 16:39 | #2

Nice photos.

I have been using the 70-300 for a couple of months, mostly shooting sports and I have really liked it. I have borrowed the 70-200 f2.8 and the 100-400L lenses and they are great, but in my use (hobby photographer), I can't tell much difference in the image quality that I get. The 70-200 is certainly better for low light but other than that the 70-300 has been great. And a bit lighter/easier to carry as well

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oingyboingybob
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Apr 30, 2018 12:38 as a reply to @ duckster's post | #3

Right place, right time with right light (and using a 1dx body). Maybe not professional quality but for a relatively inexpensive lens I think this is pretty good.

Canon EOS 1D X • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM @300mm • 1/2000 • f/7.1 • ISO 800

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Sony A7iii, Sony A6300
Tamron 28-75mm, Sony 200-600mm
Samyang 18mm
Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 mkii, Sigma MC-11

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duckster

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Aug 14, 2018 10:13 | #4

Have been using the 70-300 more this summer and continue to be impressed with the images that it produces. Much better than my skill as a photographer

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urbanfreestyle

I am a squirrel who loves rubbing bottles and I have Nuts in my drawers, too!

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Aug 14, 2018 10:57 | #5

Seems this lens is going up in price! looked on ebay and £350 ish!!

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oingyboingybob
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Aug 14, 2018 11:58 | #6

urbanfreestyle wrote in post #18684018

Seems this lens is going up in price! looked on ebay and £350 ish!!

Bear in mind the price I mentioned was for a grey import. :-)

Sony A7iii, Sony A6300
Tamron 28-75mm, Sony 200-600mm
Samyang 18mm
Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 mkii, Sigma MC-11

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duckster

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Aug 14, 2018 14:37 | #7

Still $450 here in the U.S, which is what I paid last December.

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oingyboingybob
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Aug 27, 2018 05:00 | #8

Just one more taken with this lens.

Canon EOS 1D X • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM @267mm • 1/200 • f/5.6 • ISO 1250

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Sony A7iii, Sony A6300
Tamron 28-75mm, Sony 200-600mm
Samyang 18mm
Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 mkii, Sigma MC-11

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duckster

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Sep 23, 2018 15:20 | #9

I have now been using my 70-300 IS II USM for a couple of cross country meets and continue to be impressed with the lightning fast focus and IQ.

Canon EOS 7D • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM @165mm • 1/1250 • f/8 • ISO 320

IMAGE: https://photos.smugmug.com/Cross-Country-2018/i-8fxxzhm/0/6740b59f/XL/IMG_4115-XL.jpg

IMAGE LINK: https://troybracker.smugmug.com …-Country-2018/i-8fxxzhm/A

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raksphoto

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Post edited over 1 year ago by raksphoto.

Jan 13, 2020 22:37 | #10

This lens does seem to have certain sweet spots, where it is very sharp. As others have noted, it's not really a replacement for the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II, due to low-light, image quality, and robustnest. But when you know you have plenty of light for stopping down around a stop give or take, and that apeture is less than the DLA of your camera, this lens can resolve really well, and it's definitely much lighter to carry on location.

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Canon EOS 7D Mark II • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM @300mm • 1/800 • f/6.3 • ISO 100

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