Canon 28-300L : Thinking of picking it up thoughts?

Will be using it to shoot events like tough mudder and civilian military combine. Figure the range would work exceptionally well. Wouldnt hurt to bring it alone on travel trips as well. Thoughts?

I have the Canon 35-350L, and the 28-300L before (made the change as I was using the longer portion of the zoom range outdoors, so I was willing to give up IS and the 28-35mm range).

I think it's a great lens, and even moreso on my new 6D as opposed to my 7D, the full frame sensor really makes the zoom range make sense, and I feel like the sensor is more "forgiving" to glass than the 1.6 crop sensor.

I also have a 24-105L. Is it sharper wide-open than the 35-350 & 28-300L? Yep, but is it by enough where you can't make up the difference in post if you want? Not in my experience. And I'm no post-processing guru, just the basics at best.

It's heavy, but considering how it's built like a tank, unless you have a physical limitation to it, I don't think it's a big deal. And yes, it's big, but smaller than carrying around 2-3 other lenses at the same time.

In short, I think that if you picked it up, you'd realize what a useful tool it is and hold onto it. And if you're able to stop down even a little, I beleive it can stand up well to any zoom in it's range. As I'm sure you've already done, the image quality threads show what it can do.

Not to mention, using it at events like tough mudder are to me the perfect application for the lens. Outdoor action with varying focal length needs and little opportunity/desire to change lenses, yet a desire to travel light and simple to avoid carrying around a giant bag of glass.

Go for it.

The lens was from around 2004, it's not a bad lens but has limits. I found when I did own a 28-300L years ago that at smaller apertures diffraction effects start to kill performance. F/11 and f/16 are the optimum working apertures for this lens.
Like any push/ pull lens, some concerns were with this movement some dust may move around onto the mirror. I never did notice that happening, I still own a 35-350L and like the 28-300 I was or am happy with their results, as long as the user understands their limits, they work best in outside daylight. But the application you want to use it will work fine, it is built like a tank and heavy at if I remember near 6 lbs. Good luck with your choice.

The first two guys who commented on the post both owned a 28-300L before, and now own 35-350L's....interesting, and I never would have expected that.

gocolts wrote in post #16302427
The first two guys who commented on the post both owned a 28-300L before, and now own 35-350L's....interesting, and I never would have expected that.

First I'm not a guy, second what's your point ? Least we had constructive input to the OP question.

TJays wrote in post #16302561
First I'm not a guy, second what's your point ? Least we had constructive input to the OP question.

Your a chick???

TJays wrote in post #16302561
First I'm not a guy, second what's your point ? Least we had constructive input to the OP question.

Easy there killer! I just found it interesting that we both had similar experiences not only with the 28-300L (that's the constructive input part), but that we both changed to a 35-350L (that's the point, and an interesting one IMO). There can't be that many like us out there....

gocolts wrote in post #16304435
Easy there killer! I just found it interesting that we both had similar experiences not only with the 28-300L (that's the constructive input part), but that we both changed to a 35-350L (that's the point, and an interesting one IMO). There can't be that many like us out there....

I apologize for my blunt reaction towards you, and hope the OP makes a good choice. And you are correct, there are not many now days that shoot with 35-350L's. Again sorry, but a warning in about 28 days my claws may return.

TJays wrote in post #16304676
I apologize for my blunt reaction towards you, and hope the OP makes a good choice. And you are correct, there are not many now days that shoot with 35-350L's. Again sorry, but a warning in about 28 days my claws may return.

No worries. I have a wife and also a man cave to hide out for a reason...I get it.

Hey what are chicks doing in here? I thought this was the HeMan Wemenz Hater Club?? lol.

gocolts wrote in post #16304689
No worries. I have a wife and also a man cave to hide out for a reason...I get it.

Thanks gocolts

Interesting on two people getting the 35-350L. Not a lens i have come across.

Like any equipment there are those who like or dislike. It's an older L series that works very well in daylight, for me I like the 35-350 range it gives me. I have it glued to my 7D, my results with this combination are great for outdoor fast moving shots. Best of luck with your decision on the 28-300.

If you are willing to sacrifice the wide end, the 70-300L is probably one of my favorite lenses out there. The IS is great, it's very sharp wide open at both ends and covers you up to 300mm. It's also light and has a traditional zoom vs the push-pull.

pdrober2 wrote in post #16305208
If you are willing to sacrifice the wide end, the 70-300L is probably one of my favorite lenses out there. The IS is great, it's very sharp wide open at both ends and covers you up to 300mm. It's also light and has a traditional zoom vs the push-pull.

It's also funny someone mentions this lens! Small world I guess....but the reason I sold my 28-300L, is that for the price of the proceeds, I could buy the 70-300L ($1,100) and the 35-350L ($700). The 70-300L is a great lightweight lens for racetracks on my 7D, and the 35-350L is a great "do it all" lens on my 6D, whether it's while hiking or whale watching in Hawaii, me or my wife's marathons, -just a convenient general purpose lens for being active outdoors.

I would have loved to keep the 28-300L and pick up the 70-300L as well, but I just couldn't justify that much money being tied up in two lenses which were so close together in zooming range. That being said, I only currently own 6 lenses for both camera bodies (6D & 7D), and I find the 70-300L and the 35-350L both get used enough to warrant their co-existence.