The new Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM (1 Viewer)

[kristoffer]

Has anyone else looked at this with interest? Perhaps it is a bit too short for birds since it can´t take an teleconverter, but for general wildlife use it is a compact and probably sharp alternative.

And look how small it is extended, here is a small preview of it;

http://www.ronmartblog.com/2010/09/sneak-peek-canon-ef-70-300-f4-56l-is.html

 

[neilyb]

I don't see anything about it but the size which would attract me away from the 100-400 (which is pretty darn compact as it is). No, i think it is a strange lens which is not quite suited for wildlife and not quite right for portraits. An updated 100-400 would have been nicer to see.

 

[Adam W]

I don't see anything about it but the size which would attract me away from the 100-400 (which is pretty darn compact as it is). No, i think it is a strange lens which is not quite suited for wildlife and not quite right for portraits. An updated 100-400 would have been nicer to see.

Totally agree with all of that, dont see much point in this lens at all.

 

[hollis_f]

Somebody at Canon obviously has a fetish about this focal range. We had three (or was it four?) versions of the 75-300, the 70-300 DO, the 70-300 and now the 70-300 L.

 

[HokkaidoStu]

I guess this probably makes a great lens for photographing kids playing sports outside on a sunny day or pets in the park..........that kind of consumer just doesn't want to lug around a 50 % heavier (and quite a bit more expensive) 100-400 lens. In Japan this new lens will retail at around ¥130,000, not so bad considering.

For a birder though it surely isn't long enough (or fast enough to attach a t/c), for only very slightly more you can get a 400 5.6.

Agree there are way too many lenses in this focal range, Sigma also has 3 and Tamron has 2. Someone must be buying them I suppose.

 

[Chris B.]

Personally I'm considering this lens... but not for birding. I have a 100-400 which is the only medium zoom I have and it's quite heavy for a travel lens. This 70-300 would be a nice intermediate lens to take on trips but it's going to be pricey as almost all "L" glass is. Equally promising is Tamron's new 70-300 with VC (their version of IS). Last I read though, they've not even posted a release date for a Canon mount. I hope it will give the Canon a run for it's money...

 

[china guy]

Here are 5 pics using the old EF 70-300 IS (Mountain Bulbul, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Abberant Bush Warbler, Russet Sparrow and Marron Backed Accentor) - the pictures do the talking - don't be scared of buying this lens!!!!
Although we now usually use a prime 300 F4 - we still take out our 70-300 when we need something lite and compact - especially when we have long days out in the field doing bird survey work.
Great lens - fantastic value for money - it's certainly earned us a bob or two!!!!!

 

[Kevin Conville]

Somebody at Canon obviously has a fetish about this focal range. We had three (or was it four?) versions of the 75-300, the 70-300 DO, the 70-300 and now the 70-300 L.

And.... four versions currently of 70-200s.

In some ways I like Canon's laser-beam focus towards medium and long zooms and primes. I've said for years it's their forte. Meanwhile, I lament their schizophrenic attitude with camera bodies and general shortcomings with their wide lenses.

I think all these 70-something zooms are best for outdoor family and sports use. Also wedding and event. I can't see much advantage for nature shots.

 

[kristoffer]

Great to hear, I just bought one second hand for a nice price

Here are 5 pics using the old EF 70-300 IS (Mountain Bulbul, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Abberant Bush Warbler, Russet Sparrow and Marron Backed Accentor) - the pictures do the talking - don't be scared of buying this lens!!!!
Although we now usually use a prime 300 F4 - we still take out our 70-300 when we need something lite and compact - especially when we have long days out in the field doing bird survey work.
Great lens - fantastic value for money - it's certainly earned us a bob or two!!!!!

 

[china guy]

I think all these 70-something zooms are best for outdoor family and sports use. Also wedding and event. I can't see much advantage for nature shots.

more pics with the old 70-300IS - White-crowned Forktail, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Plain-tailed Warbler, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, and a Female Baikal with a group of Common Teal - that last shot showing how we most use this lens today - as versatile easy to carry piece of glass for decent record shots

 

[Kevin Conville]

No offense intended China Guy, but none of these images are very sharp. I suspect they've been heavily cropped?

 

[china guy]

No offense taken Kevin - but trying finding other comparable images of these species!!!!!
Not all bird photography involves a nice leisurely country walk - or a stake out in hide with tripod
And that's where this smaller zoom come into its own - a lite easy to carry tool - with an IS for quick hand-held photography.
The Abberant Bush Warbler has been included in a new work on Bush Warblers of the world.

 

[macshark]

For those looking for a general purpose telephoto zoom lens in this focal range, the new Tamron 70-300 VC may be another option. The MTF charts on Tamron's website look excellent (especially on a 1.6x crop body), comparable to the MTF charts of the new 70-300L IS lens from Canon.

Nikon mount version of the Tamron 70-300 VC has been shipping since the end of August and there are a few good looking sample shots out there. However, I haven't seen any detailed technical reviews yet. Canon mount version is expected to ship by the end of September.

 

[kristoffer]

Does this new 70-300 L got a more effective image stabilizer then the 100-400L?

 

[macshark]

Does this new 70-300 L got a more effective image stabilizer then the 100-400L?

This is what Canon claims. The earlier non-L EF 70-300 IS had a more effective image stabilizer than the 100-400L and the newer EF 70-200 f/4L IS had an even better IS system, so it should be fair expect 1 to 2 stops of better stabilization compared to the 100-400L on average...

 

[alanrharris53]

According to Warehouse Express in the UK the new 70-300L is going to be 4 times the price of the old non L version (£1600 vs £400 approx).

It will have to be a might big improvement to make me upgrade mine (which I don't use for birds very often as it isn't really long enough) especially as it isn't any faster than the old one. An upgrade for the old one is still probably the 70-200 f2.8 IS

The image stabiliser is pretty good on the old version - I can hand hold it at 1/60th or sometimes 1/30th sec. And any slower than that is difficult with things that move in any case.