Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Trying out my darkest lens, the 300f4L, with my new EF-S focusing screen for the 60D to see how dark the view really is. It works fine with my 53 year old eyes, yeah it's a little darker but worth it for me. Both of these indoors, manually focused, pretty dark conditions. Apologies for ISO 6400 on a 60D, but if I can focus manually in this light then it works for me.

With the EF-S focusing screen on the 60D, it also allowed me to track the birds differently, once I grabbed focus (center point BBF) I could then track them with MF better than AI servo since at these distances/speeds I always have trouble keeping the center point on my target (and I can keep the framing simpler when I had the pair of eagles, not having to keep one on a focusing point).

The seagull is a mild crop, the eagles are pretty heavy crops, not perfect but better than I can do with AF alone on this camera/lens combination. The 60D does not have MFA, and this helps work around that. My take is that with me shooting with this camera and lens combination, phase detection is the fastest and least accurate, MF with the new focusing screen is in the middle for both speed and accuracy, and live view is the most accurate and slowest way for me to focus now. Combining AF and MF with the focusing screen works well for me so far.

Always a fun lens to use.

Its fun to use

Photo from budcam's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (767738)

With x1.4ii

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/DPkn​h3

One with the x2 converter on

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/DwB3​nJ

From my dog walk this evening

Still a great lens

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/E4Fe​M9

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Ekmb​eS

Methodical wrote in post #17800670
Nice shot^^^. I still love my 300. It's one of my lenses that have survived the buy and sells. I don't plan to get rid of it either because of how versatile it is - portraits, micro, wildlife and sharp.

Jorgac wrote in post #17841386
nice shot!

^^ Thanks fellas Indeed, a really versatile glass. ^^

Hey Patrick, Really like your work, something to aspire to. I have a question, when using the 300 are you using the IS, or is the lens on a tripod/monopod? Or do you use it ever?

mazda21 wrote in post #17935728
Hey Patrick, Really like your work, something to aspire to. I have a question, when using the 300 are you using the IS, or is the lens on a tripod/monopod? Or do you use it ever?

^^ Thanks brotha I noticed a hit/miss when IS is turned on so it's always OFF and handheld. ^^

patrickf117 wrote in post #17935824
^^ Thanks brotha I noticed a hit/miss when IS is turned on so it's always OFF and handheld. ^^

Hosted photo: posted by shutterpat in
./showthread.php?p=179​35824&i=i250641156
forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive

Great capture - as always.

patrickf117 wrote in post #17935824
^^ Thanks brotha I noticed a hit/miss when IS is turned on so it's always OFF and handheld. ^^

Hosted photo: posted by shutterpat in
./showthread.php?p=179​35824&i=i250641156
forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive

Wow! No IS and handheld. Very impressive! Again great work Pat.

Spring is coming and the birds are back...